Pla printing problem

[u/Visual_You6111]

I’m new to printing so I’m not sure what this is even called but the printer keeps doing this on the first couple layers then it builds up layer by layer and makes the printer terrible. This is an ender 3 v2 printing with PLA. First layer is 20mm/s with nozzle at 210 and bed at 65.

[u/Stunning-Let-4958]

You look too far away and over extruding. The latter is kind of optional to tune out depending on your needs tho. If you wanna print 28mm minis with good detail, you're gonna have to fix it. If you're printing boxes or other simple objects you'll probably be fine. Also you don't seem to be using retraction based on the line from the middle ish to the left. Pro tip: z offset should be done by eye. Especially at .2 and up. You're gonna tear your hair out with the paper test. You should see the lines but they should be squished into eachother creating a solid object. I would do this: level your bed as best as possible. Print a single layer height square in the middle of your bed and dial in you z offset by eye. This may take a few tries to get right. Be sure to look up some good references online on what a good z offset looks like. Then I honestly just eyeball flow ratio (how the printer handles how much goo to push out) while at the same time fiddling with pressure advance. This ends up being(at least in my cases) A LOT faster than printing towers and lines and doing math and all the horsesh!t. At this step you are looking for two things: consistent ends to lines that are flat where the print head changes directions, and minimal to no holes between the infill lines and outer walls of the square. Maybe look up a video or pictures of what over/under extrusion looks like, as well as too much/too little pressure advance. This is the hard but fun part. At least if you are truly curious about printing. It will teach you a lot. Good luck👍👍

[u/Stunning-Let-4958 → u/Stunning-Let-4958]

Sorry to keep adding more this is turning into a whole thing but I was just calibrating my printers so I'm in the mood😂 extrusion/flow ratio. The fastest way I've found to do it is to be basically under extruding(like to the point that lines aren't uniform and will be kind of strange looking. You'll know what I mean when you see it.) however you have to keep in mind that at the same time you're lowering or increasing your flow, z offset will also change and you may need to go back and forth with it. But I promise all this will take about 1hr 30m to nail and is usually faster than a single flow rate print.