Hello everyone,
I’m experiencing a recurring issue with my prints where the first layer fails to adhere properly to the build plate. Shortly after the print starts, the filament begins to lift off the bed, curl up, and then drag into previously laid lines, causing the first layer to mix together and fail completely.
Because of this, I usually have to stop the print before it even gets past the first layer.
I wanted to ask the community whether this is considered:
- a known or common issue,
- something that can be fully resolved with correct settings and preparation, or
- mostly a user/setup-related problem due to lack of knowledge or calibration.
I’m trying to understand if this behavior is a kind of chronic limitation or if it’s realistically possible to achieve consistently perfect first layers once everything is dialed in correctly.
So far, the main symptom is:
- First layer filament not sticking well
- Edges lifting almost immediately
- Filament getting tangled as the nozzle moves
- Print failing before progressing
I’d really appreciate insights from more experienced users:
- Is this something you’ve fully solved on your machines?
- Are there specific settings or habits that made the biggest difference for you?
Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.
Since you didn’t mention it, I’m assuming you haven’t tried cleaning your plate? Failure to do this is the primary cause of adhesion issues.
Get in the habit of never touching the build plate.
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In my case, I don’t think the adhesion issue is caused by the cleanliness of the build plate.
I clean the plate regularly with a damp cloth and a small amount of alcohol-based cologne.
So, as far as I understand, plate cleanliness should not be the main source of the problem — or at least that’s what I believe.
This is going to be your problem. What you’re doing isn’t removing oils, it’s just spreading it around.
This is a very very common problem on the forum. There are hundreds of threads with your same problem and 99% of the time it’s due to improper plate cleaing.
Thank you for your reply, I will try your suggestion. 
You should be cleaning the build plate with mild dish soap (I use Dawn) and warm water, then allow it to dry, or use paper towels to dry. If you’re still having issues, you may want to try turning up the build plate temp (done in the filament settings).
Definitely try not to touch the printing surface of the plate as mentioned above. If you aren’t touching the bottom you can always try to flip the plate over and see if you’re still having issues (I’m not sure if you can do this with all printers, but I can on my P1S).
Another option if all else fails, get some glue. Either glue stick or liquid glue have made it possible for me to print ASA without any lifting or warping of the lower layers, however it can sometimes make removal more difficult depending on the plate, the glue, and the materials used.
