Lines and spaces visible on the first layer using carbon effect plate

[Ferrax]

Hello everyone, I am facing this problem:

When using the Carbon Effect Plate, I get these ugly lines and spaces on the bottom surface. I would like to have a clean bottom surface without these annoying lines and spaces, so I can fully enjoy the carbon effect.

Specifications:

BambuLab A1 printer

Carbon Effect Plate

0.20 Standard Quality.

The filament is calibrated with these specifications:

PLA Basic Black BambuLab

Temp: 215

Pressure Advance: 0.02

Flow Ratio: 0.97

This is what I have tried so far:

Leveling the bed with the carbon effect plate

Reducing the width of the first layer line from 0.5 to 0.4

Reducing the height of the first layer from 0.2 to 0.08

Using Hilbert Pattern for the bottom surface

Adjusting the initial flow ratio, various tests were performed from 1 to 1.04

Slowing down the printing speed to 30mm/s

This is the first print where I actually noticed the problem.

This is the second print where I tried the Hilbert curve.

This is the third print where I tried the Hilbert curve and the line width, height, and flow settings.

As you can see in the third print, I got very close to the desired result, but there are still some small lines and spaces visible.

Notes: I noticed that increasing the initial flow rate above 1.03 began to cause quality issues, further worsening the first layer.

Unfortunately, even after trying everything, the lines and spaces remain visible.

Thank you in advance for helping me solve this problem

[eried]

how about lowering the Z height?

[ZenithUK]

You’ve already put a lot of effort into this as you can quote numbers for your filament characteristics.

I have 2 suggestions for you.

1. This Bambu Lab wiki article gives some tips when you’re suffering poor quality first layers. The main point is to check the tightness of the hotend screws as that is a frequent cause of “cat’s tongue” effects. A1 Series First Layer Print Issues - First Layer Too Low, Hotend Moving | Bambu Lab Wiki

2. You mentioned Initial Layer Flow Rate but you increased it rather than decreased it. I use this profile to determine the ILFR for a given material at a given temperature with a given nozzle. It’s usually in the 0.90-0.95 range for me.

Initial Layer Flow Ratio - Calibration Test - Free 3D Print Model - MakerWorld

With time you can sort of use an educated guess for the parameters. I tend to set ILFR at 0.95 as a matter of course when using smooth or effects plates.

[Ferrax]

@eried

how about lowering the Z height?

I honestly wouldn’t know how to do that. , I read that the machine’s G-Code needs to be modified, but I can only find the Textured PEI Plate.

@ZenithUK

You’ve already put a lot of effort into this as you can quote numbers for your filament characteristics.

I have 2 suggestions for you.

1. This Bambu Lab wiki article gives some tips when you’re suffering poor quality first layers. The main point is to check the tightness of the hotend screws as that is a frequent cause of “cat’s tongue” effects. A1 Series First Layer Print Issues - First Layer Too Low, Hotend Moving | Bambu Lab Wiki
2. You mentioned Initial Layer Flow Rate but you increased it rather than decreased it. I use this profile to determine the ILFR for a given material at a given temperature with a given nozzle. It’s usually in the 0.90-0.95 range for me.

Yes, I put in a lot of effort and, above all, filament. .

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I’ll read and try out what you suggested right away, and I’ll get back to you after I’ve tried it out a few times.

@ZenithUK

With time you can sort of use an educated guess for the parameters. I tend to set ILFR at 0.95 as a matter of course when using smooth or effects plates.

Does this always lead you to achieve a satisfactory and perfectly smooth “glass” finish with the smooth pei plate and perfect transfer of effects with effect plates that have no holes or lines?

Other question, beyond that, I wonder, do you use other settings besides the initial flow ratio to achieve perfect bottom surfaces? If so, which ones?

Thank you!

[ZenithUK]

Good question.

I get more successes than failures by setting ILFR to 0.95 on smooth plates. I printed off Grant’s Omega Speedmaster clockface a couple of days ago using a carbon-fibre effect plate. It came out well, with detail on the effect and a shine to the surface. If you look really closely you might see a couple of underextruded lines but you have to specifically go looking for them. The details of the print itself along with the plate effect hide most first layer imperfections.

Apart from ILFR, the only other settings that I check are to manually calibrate the k number for new spools in Bambu Studio, dial in the filament flow ratio and dial in the max volumetric speed. Once a spool has been characterised like that then the filament profile can be locked in and saved. It takes a couple of hours of time and 10’s of grams of material to run the tests, but once they’re done they’re done.