<p>The bed and filament temperatures you are using are the usual ones for PLA, so it probably is not the case that the filament is flowing too much and oozing out of place (*).</p>
<p>So most likely the problem is with the slicer. Things to look for:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Most slicers print the first layer in a slightly different way than all other layers (to improve adherence to the bed) and some parameters may be off:</p>
<ul>
<li>Easiest check: repeat the print with a different slicer; if it goes better it was a slicer setting that needs finetuning.</li>
<li>More involved check:
<ul>
<li>For Cura make sure &quot;initial layer height&quot;, &quot;initial layer line width&quot;, &quot;initial layer horizontal expansion&quot; and &quot;initial layer flow&quot; have the default values.</li>
<li>For Prusa Slicer reset &quot;first layer height&quot;, &quot;first layer extrusion width&quot; and &quot;elephant foot compensation&quot; to their default values.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><p>Additionally, most slicers will disable the fan for the first few layers. Change the setting so that the fan is only disabled for the first layer.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>(*) That is of course unless you got a bad batch of filament. Less probable than the slicer settings being off, but check with a completely different PLA filament to verify.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-06T15:07:03.753Z
Ok. I don’t think i have bad filament, i bought mine from hatchbox...
X Builder
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-04T19:44:26.520Z
2020-10-04T19:44:26.520Z
Kikos
<p>I have this issue with my 3D prints on my Ender 3 printer bed. The first 5-8 layers are wider than the rest (exaggerated illustration shown in the 3D rendering below), I think this is because the 3D nozzle is so close to the bed during the first few layers of the print, thus creating a rim/bulge out at the bottom. However, I can't lower the bed any further, else the model will not stick to the bed like it is supposed to.</p>
<p>How do I fix this issue and still allow the nozzle to stay close enough to the bed to make the model stick properly?</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/H0RCA.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/H0RCA.jpg" alt="3D model rim issue" /></a></p>
<p>Additional information:</p>
<ul>
<li>I am using a glass bed</li>
<li>printing with PLA,
<ul>
<li>that I print at around 185-200 °C</li>
<li>and for the bed, I heat it at about 50C °C.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>I Tried:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>I have tried lowering the bed. Outcome: the print doesn't stick to the bed as it should and just falls off.</li>
<li>Lowering the heat of the bed. Outcome: The same thing.</li>
<li>Increasing the initial layer height. Outcome: The same plus the additional layers on top all go out of wack.</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-02T18:59:31.927Z
This is sometimes called "elephant foot", and the corrections vary. What kind of printer, what filament, what print temp, and what bed temp are you using?
Davo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-03T07:00:30.480Z
This defect is called "Elephant foot", it is caused by temperature imbalance, insufficient cooling or a nozzle too close to the bed, a more descriptive answer is found [here](/a/5867).
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-03T22:22:39.073Z
OK. I have tried all of the things suggested in the other Stack Exchange post, and none seem to be working. see edited question above. @0scar
X Builder
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-03T22:31:01.207Z
Elephant foot, classic. What temperatures you tried? "lowering" can be a lot...
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-03T23:08:27.300Z
You should increase the nozzle to glass distance and use an adhesion layer like glue stick or dedicated 3D printing spray. Then you will be able to increase the distance while maintaining adhesion.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-04T18:04:58.923Z
What pre-print nozzle priming are you using? A priming line in the slicer's start gcode? Skirt? Without good priming, first few cm of extrusion won't stick and will get dragged around, ruining the rest of your first layer.
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-04T18:06:54.780Z
Note: I'm talking about the adhesion problem after you fix your bed height, which is the cause of your elephant's foot.
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
<creality-ender-3><adhesion><bed>
Issue with rim of first 5-8 layers of my Prints
X Builder
# Issue with rim of first 5-8 layers of my Prints

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-10-02)

I have this issue with my 3D prints on my Ender 3 printer bed. The first 5-8 layers are wider than the rest (exaggerated illustration shown in the 3D rendering below), I think this is because the 3D nozzle is so close to the bed during the first few layers of the print, thus creating a rim/bulge out at the bottom. However, I can't lower the bed any further, else the model will not stick to the bed like it is supposed to.

How do I fix this issue and still allow the nozzle to stay close enough to the bed to make the model stick properly?

[![3D model rim issue](https://i.sstatic.net/H0RCA.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/H0RCA.jpg)

Additional information:

* I am using a glass bed
* printing with PLA,
  + that I print at around 185-200 °C
  + and for the bed, I heat it at about 50C °C.

**I Tried:**

1. I have tried lowering the bed. Outcome: the print doesn't stick to the bed as it should and just falls off.
2. Lowering the heat of the bed. Outcome: The same thing.
3. Increasing the initial layer height. Outcome: The same plus the additional layers on top all go out of wack.

**Tags:** creality-ender-3, adhesion, bed

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This is sometimes called "elephant foot", and the corrections vary. What kind of printer, what filament, what print temp, and what bed temp are you using?  
> **username_2**: This defect is called "Elephant foot", it is caused by temperature imbalance, insufficient cooling or a nozzle too close to the bed, a more descriptive answer is found [here](/a/5867).  
> **username_0**: OK. I have tried all of the things suggested in the other Stack Exchange post, and none seem to be working. see edited question above. @username_2  
> **username_3**: Elephant foot, classic. What temperatures you tried? "lowering" can be a lot...  
> **username_2**: You should increase the nozzle to glass distance and use an adhesion layer like glue stick or dedicated 3D printing spray. Then you will be able to increase the distance while maintaining adhesion.  
> **username_4**: What pre-print nozzle priming are you using? A priming line in the slicer's start gcode? Skirt? Without good priming, first few cm of extrusion won't stick and will get dragged around, ruining the rest of your first layer.  
> **username_4**: Note: I'm talking about the adhesion problem after you fix your bed height, which is the cause of your elephant's foot.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2020-10-04. Score: 0

The bed and filament temperatures you are using are the usual ones for PLA, so it probably is not the case that the filament is flowing too much and oozing out of place (\*).

So most likely the problem is with the slicer. Things to look for:

* Most slicers print the first layer in a slightly different way than all other layers (to improve adherence to the bed) and some parameters may be off:

  + Easiest check: repeat the print with a different slicer; if it goes better it was a slicer setting that needs finetuning.
  + More involved check:
    - For Cura make sure "initial layer height", "initial layer line width", "initial layer horizontal expansion" and "initial layer flow" have the default values.
    - For Prusa Slicer reset "first layer height", "first layer extrusion width" and "elephant foot compensation" to their default values.
* Additionally, most slicers will disable the fan for the first few layers. Change the setting so that the fan is only disabled for the first layer.

(\*) That is of course unless you got a bad batch of filament. Less probable than the slicer settings being off, but check with a completely different PLA filament to verify.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Ok. I don’t think i have bad filament, i bought mine from hatchbox...  

---

