User's Manual Part 2

CHAPTER 8. OPERATIONAL TIPS 209
8.2 Adhesion and adhesion problems
Sometimes during a print an object will come loose from the
build plate, usually resulting in the print being ruined.
The first layer of the print needs to stick to the build plate.
Preparing the build plate properly, to be st i cky so that that first
layer adheres, can aid in avoiding this occurrence.
It is also important that the in i t ial layer print at the correct
height above the build plate: just a little “squished” so that it
adheres, not too high so that it doesn’t adhere, nor too low so
that it is overly “squished” or dragged by the print nozzle.
If the printer has just been turned on and h eat ed u p , it is
also important that the extru d er is consistently emitted melted
plastic during the entire first layer, rather than “burping” and
failing to em i t melted filament at spots in the first layer. This
does not tend to be a problem with the Polar3D printer – but if
you do encounter a problem consistently extruding melted fila-
ment when the printer first begins extruding, consider printing
afewskirt loops to establish a smooth flow of filament, before
printing the actual object.
And printing at the p r oper temperature for yo u r filament is
important for adhesion.
Some objects, however, will need extra assistance for adhe-
sion. In those cases, printing a brim or raft may aid in keeping
the object in place.