First layer issues

[Hexxus]

I'm having issues with the first layer of my prints. If it gets past this initial issue, the rest of the print seems to come out very well. My thought was bed adhesion, but I've tried hairspray (LOTS of aquanet extra super hold, several layers, let it dry overnight) and gluesticks (disappearing purple in a crosshatch pattern). I seem to always get these little warped tears in my first layer. Any ideas?

Like this
[img]http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll17 ... x7qfnk.jpg[/img]

(nevermind the blob, the entire print came loose)
[img]http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll17 ... qx2xmx.jpg[/img]

If I get past this point without issue (or if I just ignore it and let it go), the prints usually turn out very nice.
[img]http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll179/brett_davis4/3D%20Printing/th_IMG_1053_zpsm0deym3k.jpg[/img][img]http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll179/brett_davis4/3D%20Printing/th_IMG_1050_zpskyu2eyet.jpg[/img][img]http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll179/brett_davis4/3D%20Printing/th_IMG_1066_zps13wvukem.jpg[/img]

[BenTheRighteous]

Hard to tell, but it looks like you might be overextruding. The new material has nowhere to go so it pushes the old material up and off the platform.

[geneb]

I suspect you're too high over the bed for your first layer. Try resetting your z zero point to .05 or .10 lower than it is now.

g.

[Hexxus]

I'll look into both ideas. I feel like it didn't do this on my first few prints (the fan shrouds, a couple other random objects which don't display this defect). Could it have come out of calibration just a bit?

[mhackney]

I agree with Gene, looks like you need to lower the boom (lower the nozzle) by .05mm to start. You have to keep in mind that these machines are living, breathing beasts. Dimensions do change with temperature, humidity and the moon's gravitational pull. Read my posts in my signature, you'll learn that I print a 1 layer high object first thing every morning to fine tune my printer for the day - plus a lot of other useful information. The STL for the test object is in the thread.

You may also have some slop (looseness) in your arms (the joints with the carriages or delta platform) or maybe even the hot end. Give everything a good wiggle and see if you feel anything. I mention this because of the regularity of the lifted areas.

[Hexxus]

You guys were right. Nozzle height was too high. Not sure how it got out of whack, but I went through and did some re-calibration and it's printing better than ever now.

Thanks again for your help!

[img]http://content.screencast.com/users/BMD ... 5_0038.png[/img]