The common issue known as “Elephant’s Foot” occurs when the first layer of a 3D print is slightly larger than the rest, often caused by the weight of the object pushing down on the first layer before it has fully cooled. This can result in decreased tolerances and difficulty fitting pieces together, particularly in larger prints.
The good news is that there are simple solutions to this problem. From adjusting the bed temperature to adding a bed adhesion assistant, there are a variety of ways to avoid or reduce elephant’s foot in your prints.
First, ensure that your printing conditions are optimal by leveling the build plate and adjusting the nozzle height. A squished first layer can cause bulging, so it’s important to make sure that the build plate is level and the nozzle is at the correct height.
Next, try lowering the bed temperature incrementally by 5 °C until the print successfully completes without any bulging. If the problem persists after lowering the temperature by more than 20 °C, it may be caused by something else.
Another solution is to print with a raft, which can take the hit for the first layer and prevent bulging. Additionally, adding chamfers to the bottom edge of the print or checking the eccentric nut on the Z-axis can also help mitigate the effects of elephant’s foot.
It’s important to note that these solutions may vary depending on the specific printer and filament being used. It may be helpful to do some test prints and experiment with different settings to find the perfect solution for your specific setup.
Another possible solution is to use bed adhesion assistant like glue stick, Hair Spray, blue painters tape, or even a specialized bed surface like PEI, BuildTak or Kapton Tape, this will ensure that the first layer is sticking well to the bed and not lifting up due to the weight of the object.
Finally, it’s important to remember that elephant’s foot can be caused by a variety of factors, and it may take some trial and error to find the perfect solution for your specific setup. However, by following these simple tips and troubleshooting the issues that may be causing elephant’s foot, you can achieve high-quality prints every time.
