User's Manual Part 2

CHAPTER 8. OPERATIONAL TIPS 211
pulling the tape o↵, at which point the rest of the build will
likely be warped.) Lay down a uniform layer of tape, with no
gaps and n o overlap p i n g of the edges of the strips of tape. The
painter’s tape will need to be repl a ced when its surface becomes
less adhesive, typically after about five to ten prints at the same
location.
For ABS filament, the above build plate preparation approaches
(hair spray, glue stick, or painter’s tape) work; in addition, ABS
will also stick to PEI sheets, PET sheets, or Kapton tape, or
the build plate may be spread with “ABS juice” – a slurry mad e
from ABS and acetone (which dissolves ABS).
8.2.2 First layer height cal ibr a ti on
For proper adhesion, as well as a smooth base layer, it is im-
portant that the initial layer of the object print at the correct
height above the build plate: just a little “smoosh e d ” so that it
adheres. Wh en the Z height of th e first layer is well-ca l i b ra t ed ,
the lines of the first layer should be slightly touching. If there
are gaps in the first layer between the lines of material, then
the Z height is to o high; if the lines of material are overlap-
ping and aren’t forming a smooth surface (or material is getting
dragged or smeared by the print nozzle), then the Z height is
too low.
To adjust the calibration, connect to your printer’s local
web interface (e.g.,connecttoyourprinter’slocalIPaddress–
see Chapter 5 ), select “Calibration”, and click on “Zoffset
down”. This action will lower the Z home by 0.05mm (ab out 1/2
the thickness of a sheet of paper). Continue to lower the gantry