Cura features a host of settings that focus specifically on certain areas of your 3D print. These include but are not limited to speed, support, and flow settings. With these adjustments, you can tune your slicer to get the best possible final print.
In striving for a great print, a well-laid first layer is key, as it drastically reduces the chances of errors in the subsequent layers. If you’re having first layer problems, they’re more than likely going to affect the rest of the print.
In this article, we’ll take a look at Cura settings for the initial layer. We’ll go over first layer basics and give you some recommendations on values to start with for each of the initial layer settings. Let’s get started!
The initial layer in a 3D print forms the foundation of your entire model and helps ensure that the model stays firmly grounded to the printer bed. The main function of the first layer is to properly adhere to the build surface. If the first layer of your model isn’t sticking to the bed properly, the rest of the print likely won’t go very well.
UltiMaker Cura has more than 50 different settings that pertain to the initial layer, controlling build plate adhesion, supports, and fan speed, all the way down to the thickness of individual wall lines. Each setting will have a different optimal value depending on the 3D printer model and material.
For example, a 3D printer with a brass nozzle and no heated bed will need slower print speeds and less cooling when compared to one outfitted with a DiamondBack nozzle and a heated bed. It’s also important to note that these settings should be used in conjunction with others to ensure first layer clarity, such as selecting the right temperatures.
These two settings control the “squish” of the initial layer. Both settings are equally important when it comes to getting a good first layer.
The height of the initial layer dictates how well it’ll stick to the bed. A lower value might cause the layer to become squished because it won’t be sturdy enough for the subsequent weight of the rest of the print, causing what’s commonly known as elephant’s foot. It might also result in nozzle clogging if the bed isn’t leveled properly.
Having a slightly higher value than the rest of the print will provide better adhesion and help maintain the print’s intended measurements. A higher initial layer height also ensures that any irregularities in bed leveling are evened out.
The initial layer width is also important because it controls how much material will flow out of the nozzle for the first layer. A higher initial layer width means that more material will ooze out of the nozzle, helping ensure that the material sticks evenly to the bed. As such, all the initial layer lines should stick to each other very well.
Recently, UltiMaker Cura added new features to help combat the agitating, print-ruining elephant’s foot. By decreasing the values of the settings Initial Layer Outer Wall Flow, Initial Layer Inner Wall Flow, and Initial Layer Bottom Flow, the bulge of the elephant’s foot can be mitigated.
To start, the speed at which the layer is printed should allow the extruded material to properly cool while also giving it sufficient time to spread on the build surface. The material should be laid down evenly and stick to the bed properly. If the speed is set too high, both of these things are put at risk, and you might also experience under-extrusion.
The travel speed of the nozzle during this time also matters. If there are various sections in your model and the nozzle has to move around a lot for the initial layer, it helps to keep the travel speed slow. This helps keep the first layer smooth as there will be no sudden jerks. Otherwise, the edges of some of the sections might come off the bed easily.
The right temperature for the initial layer is crucial for its success. These settings focus on the nozzle and the bed. Let’s look at them one by one.
The initial layer temperature is important because it controls how well the plastic will flow out of the nozzle. A higher nozzle temperature means that the filament will melt sufficiently (reduced viscosity allows it to flow better). On the other hand, a lower temperature could lead to under-extrusion of the first layer. So, a slightly higher temperature ensures that the material flows smoothly and evenly for the first layer.
The initial bed temperature controls the temperature of the bed for the first few layers. PLA doesn’t need a heated bed because it doesn’t react much to temperature differences. However, ABS and PETG require a heated bed.
A higher bed temperature for the initial layer creates a warmer environment so the material doesn’t experience thermal shock. This can improve the quality of the first layer and also avoid any warping or curling issues.
When you’re laying down the first layer, you need to ensure that it cools down properly. We know that a higher printing temperature helps in getting an even flow of material. But, if we cool this plastic down suddenly with a fan, it can cause the material to cool unevenly. This results in some parts of the first layer being hot and some being cool. So, to make sure that the first layer has sufficient time to cool down and lay properly, you should keep the fans switched off for the initial layer.
Cura also provides an option to change the pattern of the initial layer. You can choose between line, concentric, or zig zag patterns. This setting changes the orientation of the filament lines on the first layer, which can have a small effect on part strength and change the appearance of the bottom face of the 3D print.
These settings literally exist to improve your first layer adhesion, and each one works differently to help get a good first layer:
Additionally, brims can now be made out of multiple materials as of the most recent Cura release (at time of writing). This solves a past issue wherein one material would be used to print all brims of a 3D print, causing a second material to become disconnected from its brim.
With the amount of settings for the first layer of the object, it’s often easy to neglect the several options available for the first layer of another important printed part: the supports.
UltiMaker Cura provides several settings for both standard supports and its all-new tree supports to hone in on support adhesion and quality. After all, if a support fails, the 3D print fails.
License: The text of "Cura First Layer Settings: Initial Layer Simply Explained" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.