3DPrinting

UPDATE: turns out the issue was the mode l was trying to print!

After lubricating everything, removing then retightening screws from all over, cleaning the bed, scrubbing the nozzle, it looks like my issue was actually from the model I was printing with. It had a razor thin edge as its base, and the printer either a) printed a very thin line of filament, which could easily shift due to having no structural support or b) did not print a first layer as the bottom may have been seen as not touching the base. Either way, my fix was moving all my print files down by 4mm, creating a flat base for the print as it cuts off the thin edge! For my use case, this was fine as shaving off 4mm from the bottom does not affect the functionality of the mask.

This also explains why the smaller models I tested printed fine (a Benchy + a controller mount), as both had very flat bases.

original post:

When trying to print larger models (in PLA), I run into an issue where the filament does not correctly adhere to the printing bed. I have tried cleaning the nozzle with steel wool and washing the build plate, but the issue still occurs. It is probably something to do with the settings on larger prints, as smaller models (controller mount, Benchy) all print perfectly fine.

In all occurances, it seems like the first few layers do not correctly join together, and the print becomes a thick web of filament string (not a fine web, but a thick one where the strings are about the thickness it was printed in)

Does anyone have an idea on what could be causing the issue?

the models I am trying to print:

• https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6783537/files (the mask of the Hollow Knight guy)
• https://www.printables.com/model/19648-channelled-nail-from-hollow-knight (his big sword, at around 0.6x scale all dimensions)

I am using OrcaSlicer and a Bambu A1 (note: I no longer recommend Bambu printers, this was bought before the firmware updates that blocked third-party software support outside of LAN only mode)

My slicer settings are close to default, but with gyroid infill, 3 walls, and tree supports. Those settings work with smaller prints, so I'm decently sure they are not the problem. My printer was sitting unused for a few weeks with the filament exposed, so perhaps the filament became too wet? But small prints work fine. No idea what is causing this issue though.

edit: I have printed a large first layer test print, and I see many imperfections on the surface. What does this mean?

on the print bed

on the floor

edit 2:

Tightening the four small screws behind the heating assembly did not fix the issue. What else could be going wrong?