I’m printing with PLA on a “PEO” print bed (really a textured PEI), on my heavily modified ender 3, and there’s a pattern on the bottom of my first layer that I’m trying to get rid of. The top of the first layer looks fine, and changing the z offset in either direction doesn’t help. I’ve also tried slowing down the print speed because I thought the extruder might be skipping, but I’m still seeing it at 10mm/s. Any idea what could be causing it, and how to get rid of it?
Pic: https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/31cd6cef-16de-47b3-995f-197f7d0b432d.jpeg
Edit: the first layer went down from the bottom left to the top right, but the pattern I’m seeing is perpendicular to the extruder path
you’re layer adhesion is fine?
Do you see the pattern in the textured bed? what happens if you get some modeling clay or playdough or a kneading eraser, or anything like it and press it to the plate?
If it’s not just a texture coming off the build plate (guessing not on your comments?) and it’s not from your z offset/first layer height, then I would look at your temperature settings (might be too hot?) and check that your expected extrusion widths are matching what you are in fact getting.
Layer adhesion is great.
No, this pattern isn’t coming from the bed. The bed actually has a polygon pattern that I’m trying to get the plastic to pick up. Sellers on Amazon/ebay/Ali are calling it PEO, but it’s really just PEI with a fine texture that diffracts light. The pattern from the bed comes through really well on the perimeter of anything I print, but not the center.
I forgot to mention, but I also played with the extrusion multiplier (both directions) and it didn’t make a difference. I’ve also gone through the klipper docs and TeachingTech’s calibration guide, the printer is fairly well calibrated at this point.
How’s your temperature? Could be printing too hot. Both on the nozzle and the bed.