I’m just starting to print with Elegoo Rapid PLA+ (bed 40-60, nozzle 200-230) and I’m having some problems getting the first layer to stick. The filament is new and I dried it for 8 hrs and it’s stored in air-tight containers with desiccant. This is the first I’ve used any PLA on this printer. I generally print with PETG (Elegoo Rapid PETG & others) and have NOT had any trouble getting good adhesion. I’ve never used glue stick on any of my printers and would rather not. I’m using a Textured PEI build plate & my A1 is new, about 3 weeks old and I maybe have about 25 prints on it so far.
Have my nozzle temp at 220 first layer and 215 after. Bed temp 55 for first layer and 50 after (even tried 65 first and 55 after but that didn’t help). First layer print speed was at 50, but I reduced it to 45 to try to enhance sticking. My layer height was at 0.2 for everything but I tried going to 0.25 on the first layer to promote more adhesion. Everything I’ve tried so far hasn’t helped. It starts the print Ok but a bit later it stops sticking.
The dumbest question at first: Do you have cleaned you plate properly with dishwashing soap and warm water?
I normally always clean my plate with IPA between prints, but after a certain running time you notice (and see) that even with IPA you only smear the grease on the plate. Cleaning with warm water and dishwasher soap from time to time works wonders.
I’ll go with 60° for the bed on every PLA print … but a month ago I switched for PLA/PETG to CryoGrip Pro Plate (Frostbite), and even with 35° for PLA it sticks really strong.
Yes, I always clean with IPA before a print. Thanks for the soap & water washing suggestion, I hadn’t heard about that before. Seems to have fixed the problem. Good to keep that in my back pocket so I’m ready if/when it happens again.
I did also make a few other minor adjustments to some other parameters but I think the cleaning was the major factor. Really appreciate the help, it would have taken me a while to stumble across the cleaning.
Yep, Rapid PLA+, I was using a profile with higher speeds I found on Makerworld but I had so many issues with rounded edges that I went back to this. Still this isn’t perfect but I think my issues now are the cooling fan location on the P1S at the higher speeds and longer prints (I tend to have worse outcomes near the door and better near the back)
