Process
First layer
Also known as: primera capa · first layer · capa inicial · adhesion a la cama · adherencia
Short definition
The first layer is the one deposited directly onto the bed and it determines whether the part stays put for the whole print.
Full definition
It is where most prints are lost. A correct first layer looks like slightly squashed lines touching each other, with no gaps and no piled-up material; if the lines are rounded and separated the nozzle is too high, and if they look translucent with burrs it is too low. The deciding factors are surface cleanliness — finger grease is the silent enemy — Z-offset, bed temperature and levelling. It is worth watching the first layer before walking away: it is the best-spent minute of the whole print.
Related terms
- Z-offsetZ-offset is the fine distance between the nozzle tip and the bed on the first layer, normally adjustable while the printer is running.
- Heated bedThe heated bed is the heated surface you print on; keeping the first layer above a certain temperature stops the part from contracting and lifting.
- BrimA brim is a flat single-layer ring the slicer prints attached to the part's outline to increase its contact area with the bed.
- WarpingWarping is the deformation where the part's corners lift off the bed because the material contracts unevenly as it cools.
Process
Updated
Sources
- [1]First layer issues | Prusa Knowledge BasePrusa Research · Manufacturer · accessed July 27, 2026