Set First Layer thickness?

[Ironsight]

Is there a way to set a first layer thickness of say 0.2mm, then print the rest of the part at 0.1mm?

It's much easier to get good adhesion with a first layer of 0.2mm than it is with 0.1mm (Bed leveling doesn't have to be as perfect). I've tried manually modifying the gcode txt file directly, it works sometimes but other times it gives me a HUGE layer shift when starting the second layer. It's also extremely tedious.

Thoughts?

[Davide Ardizzoia]

But WHY don't you use raft ?

Best Regards
Davide Ardizzoia

[Ironsight]

I don't think a raft is going to help the adhesion problem. Whether it is a raft for the first layer of the object, getting the bed level within 0.1mm isn't easy for me (across all of the printing surface).

0.2mm is MUCH more reliable which is why I want to print first at 0.2mm instead of 0.1mm.

[Davide Ardizzoia]

Raft is your friend.
Set the first layer thick and large enough to compensate for irregularities and you're in business.

Our preferred settings are (0.4mm nozzle):

Lower layer: 4.2mm spacing, 0.5 thick,, 2mm wide
Upper layer: 1mm spacing, 0.3 thick, 0.8 wide

This way we always get perfect adhesion (as long as plate type and thermal conditions are met for current polymer).

Best Regards
Davide Ardizzoia

[Ironsight]

I never realized the raft had so many options!

That sounds like a great idea I will give it a try.

Thanks!

[PenskeGuy]

Unless I'm really missing the point, Bed Roughness does what you want. It increases the first layer thickness and recalculates the flow to compensate. It can be used in combination with +/- Z-Offset to get whatever layer thickness and material deposition you like.

[Davide Ardizzoia]

Penske, you're right as long as you don't have issues with bed adhesion.
Personally, as I am messing with virtually all polymers I've come to the conclusion that a raft will save me LOT of time (surely it's using more time and material to get the job done....but my rate of wasted prints has now reached near zero values)

Now if only Jonathan could set the interface layer at more than 45% with object fill pattern (and make it for a wider base)....removal would be PERFECT.

Best Regards
Davide Ardizzoia

[robertfuchs]

Raft is your friend.
Set the first layer thick and large enough to compensate for irregularities and you're in business.

Our preferred settings are (0.4mm nozzle):

Lower layer: 4.2mm spacing, 0.5 thick,, 2mm wide
Upper layer: 1mm spacing, 0.3 thick, 0.8 wide

This way we always get perfect adhesion (as long as plate type and thermal conditions are met for current polymer).

Best Regards
Davide Ardizzoia

Hello, Davide.

Please could you show me on which fieds I shall insert those values? I know that it must be under the Support tab, but as far as I could see, there is only one option possibility. Sorry for the trouble, but as a newcomer, even that I read the manual, I could not understand how to perform your suggestion. Thanks for your attention and help.

[Ironsight]

Penske, you're right as long as you don't have issues with bed adhesion.
Personally, as I am messing with virtually all polymers I've come to the conclusion that a raft will save me LOT of time (surely it's using more time and material to get the job done....but my rate of wasted prints has now reached near zero values)

Now if only Jonathan could set the interface layer at more than 45% with object fill pattern (and make it for a wider base)....removal would be PERFECT.

Best Regards
Davide Ardizzoia

Alright I've tried the raft setting had to tweak it a bit because I'm printing small parts, but it seems to work really well.
I never understood what bed roughness meant and it does sound like what I was looking for, but now I think I would prefer the reliability of a raft vs bed roughness.

Thanks again.

[Ironsight]

Hello, Davide.

Please could you show me on which fieds I shall insert those values? I know that it must be under the Support tab, but as far as I could see, there is only one option possibility. Sorry for the trouble, but as a newcomer, even that I read the manual, I could not understand how to perform your suggestion. Thanks for your attention and help.

Hey, on the Support tab at the bottom left it says "Raft Grid Options (in [mm])"

The top 3 values of Stride, Thick, and Width correspond to where he said "Upper layer: 1mm spacing, 0.3 thick, 0.8 wide" respectively.

Likewise the bottom 3 values correspond to "Lower layer: 4.2mm spacing, 0.5 thick, 2mm wide"