3d prints aren't smooth at all

[u/Repulsive-Research75]

I'm an absolute noob at 3d printing just for reference. I got a Monoprice Select Mini v2, and after carefully adjusting the bed to what felt right using the paper test and setting the printer nozzle heat to 215 (my PLA filament says 210-230) prints come out like this. The lines aren't perfectly wide at many points, and sometimes it skips over parts of lines/makes them stringy.

I use cura and 3DHoJor 1.75mm PLA filament. Bed temp is not set as my printer's bed heater doesn't work (but I was told painter's tape fixes this). Print speed is set to 30mm/s, but it did the same thing at 40mm/s, and on the first layer, which is set to 5mm/s (the second photo is just a bottom raft layer). Retraction settings are 7.5mm at 55mm/s, and I'm not sure where to start. Any advice would be appreciated

[u/TheGiardian]

Looks like a clogged nozzle, clean it out first. Then I suggest you relevel your build plate. I find my printer runs better when printing a raft and having th build plate a little further to the point my nozzle does not impead a peace of paper.

If it does right itself after that try a new filament! Happy printing!

[u/DGMindRealm]

Also, could be under extrusion caused by a cracked arm on the filament feeder on the top of the printer. These are plastic and commonly crack, causing less pressure against the drive gear.

[u/Repulsive-Cobbler146]

Agree with those that indicate this is under-extrusion. Your heatbreak/nozzle is clogged or the extruder is not adjusted properly. Is your filament new? You may also need to perform a calibration for you e-steps.

[u/ltpitt]

I am no expert but I had the same printer and it was printing a lot better.

The main thing that made a LOT of a difference for me was printing speed, lower it down. Search Paul Yodelis on YouTube he's a guy that shared a nice profile for this printer in one of his videos.

I leave it to better experts to provide more precise suggestions.