No extrusion on the first layer of the 3D print is a common problem among new 3D printer users, but happily, it is also easy to fix! There are four possible causes for your extruder not extruding material at the start of your print. We’ll go through each one in detail below and explain which options help you address the problem.

Common Solutions

No Extrusion on the First Layer of the 3D Print

Before starting the print, the extruder was not primed

When left idle at a high temperature, most extruders have a nasty propensity to leak plastic. The hot plastic inside the nozzle oozes through the tip, leaving a void inside the nozzle. This idle oozing can happen at the start of a print when you first preheat your extruder and at the end of the 3D print as the extruder cools down. If your extruder has lost some plastic due to oozing, it will take a few seconds for the plastic to start coming out of the nozzle again the next time you try to extrude. You may see the same delayed extrusion if you try to start a print after your nozzle has been oozing.

To avoid this problem, prime your extruder before starting a 3D print so that the nozzle is full of plastic and ready to extrude. In Simplify3D, one of the most frequent ways is to use a skirt. The skirt will create a circle around your part, priming the extruder with plastic. If you need more priming, go to the Additions tab in your slicer and increase the number of skirt outlines. Some users may want to extrude filament from their printer manually.

No Extrusion on the First Layer of the 3D Print

The start of the nozzle is too close to the bed

There won’t be enough plastic to come out of the extruder if the nozzle is too close to the build table surface. The nozzle’s top hole is effectively covered, preventing plastic from escaping. If the print does not extrude plastic for the first layer or two, it begins to extrude around the third or fourth layer as the bed continues to decrease along the Z-axis; this is a simple way to spot the problem.

Go to the G-Code tab in Simplify3D’s process settings and use the useful G-Code offsets to address this problem. This allows you to fine-tune the Z-axis position without changing the hardware. Entering a 0.04mm value for the Z-axis G-Code offset, for example, will shift the nozzle 0.04mm away from the print bed. Increase this amount in small increments until the space between the nozzle and the build platform is large enough for the plastic to escape.

Also, check the z-offset setting on your 3D printer controller; you can modify it before your 3D printer starts printing.

No Extrusion on the First Layer of the 3D Print

Driving gear stripped the filament

Most 3D printers use a tiny gear to move the filament back and forth. This gear’s teeth bite into the filament, allowing it to precisely control its location. When the driving gear tries to move the filament back and forth so many times, there will be nothing to grip on the filament. If you observe a lot of plastic shavings or if your filament appears to be missing a portion, the drive gear may have removed too much plastic.

Please check the Grinding Filament section to resolve this problem.

Also, we recommend preferring dual gear extruders for better grip and reduced filament stripping.

No Extrusion on the First Layer of the 3D Print

The extruder has become clogged

If none of the following solutions work, your extruder is likely clogged. Clogging can occur when foreign debris becomes caught inside the nozzle, when hot plastic lingers inside the extruder for an extended time, or when the extruder’s thermal cooling is insufficient. Outside of the intended melt zone, the filament begins to soften. If you need to disassemble your extruder to fix a clogged extruder, on some occasions, it is better to change the nozzle instead of cleaning it. Don’t hesitate to contact your printer’s manufacturer first.

Also, check out how to change the nozzle guide.

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