The Initial layer is, generally, underestimated by the majority. It is, actually, the most crucial part of the entire print job. For that, it needs to be regularly observed.
We’re gonna study the initial layer parameters.
Cut Off: it slices the bottom of the print of the given measure, for example, 1,2 or 3 mm. You can utilize it with curved surfaces, this way it’ll have a flat surface instead of a curved one. You can also cut in half the entity.
Initial layer thickness: my advice is to set it to 0.3mm because of better platform adhesion and less problem during the job.
Initial layer width: from 110% to 125% (according to the material).
With these parameters, the material is extruded abundantly, giving it more chances to perfectly lay on the building plane.
Please, remember to always check on the first layer and to slow it down. The reason this phase is crucial is because of the high failure rate. Most of the prints fail during the first layer.
Additionally, it needs to be a little pressed on the plane, to avoid warping.
In the picture above, you can see the first part on the left. It’s when the first layer is not pressed properly and it’s too high. As you can see, the lines are disconnected and there are wide gaps in the middle of the blocks.
The central part is the correct display of the appropriate first layer.
The last part is when the first layer is too pressed, hence it is almost transparent. It’s a huge problem for the printer because it gets difficult to extrude the material.
Imagine source: https://help.prusa3d.com/en/article/first-layer-does-not-stick_2003