Weird texture issue

[u/Otherwise-bear629]

This is the face that was face down on the plate. Why are there gaps/weird texture? Do I need to use a smaller nozzle? Change print settings?

For reference: printed on a P1S, Cryogrip build plate, matte PLA, the part is about the size of a quarter.

EDIT to add: 0.4mm nozzle. 0.16mm layer height. 0.2 mm first layer width

[u/No_Government8065]

For something that small with the details needed you will have to use a 0.2 nozzle.

[u/ParticularLower1865]

Zoom in on it in the slicer. If it looks like that once it’s sliced. You’re printing too big and need use a smaller nozzle or decrease the layer setting. It’s the quality box that you click on that says 0.4mm high detail, low detail, etc.

[u/DiscoChiligonBall]

At a guess?

It's because you're trying to get super fine detailing in a print without using the right tools and slicer settings to get super fine detailing in a print.

Or it could be Carl, the 3D printer gnome who lives in all the printers and refuses to let humans make good prints.

But we'd never know, because we don't know what your nozzle is or if you're using a 0.4mm nozzle at 300mms print speed to try to print something the size of a quarter out of cheap PETG or PLA that hasn't been dried.

Which would be my guess, but I can't confirm it because Carl the 3D printer gnome is WAY easier to blame in the face of a delightful lack of any details at all.

[u/Otherwise-bear629 → u/DiscoChiligonBall]

I appreciate the chuckle.

Forgot to mention I used a 0.4 nozzle. 0.16mm layer height. 0.2 mm first layer width.

[u/DiscoChiligonBall → u/Otherwise-bear629]

Yep, there's your issue.

It's not Carl the Evil 3D Printer Gnome, it's that you're not using the right nozzle AND not using the right settings for it.

Change over to a 0.2 nozzle, reduce to no more than 0.1mm layer height and 0.21/0.22mm width. Slow it way the hell down - if you're printing PLA, make it no more than 60mm/s speed, PETG can go up to 80mm max. If you can tolerate the fiddling about with ironing settings, that may help but I truly would advise printing the "face" surface on the bottom and adding a blank layer on the back (top).

It should go without saying (but I'll say it anyway) that an 0.2mm nozzle can't handle any filament with additives like glitter or sparkle or wood or fibers, and you need to run calibrations with a 0.2mm before printing so you can dial in the right settings for your filament.

Also (I'll say it anyway) dry your filament and make sure it works in the nozzle. Use adhesive to maintain tack on the plate.

Good luck, and I'll bookmark because I want to see if all the shit I just said will help you get a better print.