I’m about to make key chains where the finish side is facing down and wondered if there is a setting to have an iron-like finish on the bottom layer. Thanks
I honestly do not know what “iron-like” looks like.
Your choices for the top.
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As is, the original finish the printer provides
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Ironed, thus is where the nozzle is dragged through the top surface after printing has completed in order to attempt to provide a uniform ‘melted’ finish. The success of which depends on how simple the geometry is if the top surface (how many interconnected shapes form it)
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You design a top surface and go with whatever prints.
Your choices for the bottom.
The bottom surface quality is created due to the pressure between the build-plate and the nozzle, thus makes it uniform in level.
A textured build plate gives the texture, a smooth plate makes it wonderfully smooth and patterned plates leave a trace such as the carbon effect.
The bottom is always easier to control than the top.
It’s not a setting, but the build plate you choose to use
Smooth plate is probably what you want, but you can google a little for “build plate effects 3d printing” to see what kinda wierd stuff you can put on it. Carbon fiber weave pattern looks good in some scenarios
Sorry, I though the ironing feature in Bambu Studio was well known. I’ve attached an example. As far as I know ironing can only be done on the top or near top surface. I’m printing face down so all the bottom layer is flat.
It is, I mentioned it, yet you asked for an iron-like texture not the ironing feature.
It was like asking for a wood or stone like texture.
Ironing can only be done on the top, as I described in my reply.
I provided both top and bottom surface examples and suggestions.
You can play with setting a slightly higher flow ratio for the first layer to get more squish for a more uniform surface.
Here’s a picture borrowed from Reddit showing the bottom difference in using a textured build plate vs a smooth plate.
Infill pattern for the face down part will make a huge difference too. I would use monotonic lines for face down and on a smooth plate.
You can’t iron the part that touch the plate.
Still a newbie learning new things I purchased a Bambu Lab smooth/textured build plate, installed a never-tried-before 0.2mm hotend and first printed on the textured side, then the smooth side. The 0.2mm filament prints so tightly it was difficult to see any filament paths at all. Using the smooth side plate produced an even better finish.
I have marked this “solved” on MalcTheOracle’s post as he was first to suggest a smooth plate.
My thanks to all who made suggestions!

