# First Layer - weird lines **URL:** \ **Category:** LulzBot TAZ\ **Created:** [January 28, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/first-layer-weird-lines/20572 "2020-01-28T15:36:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![quantum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9e5f3/32.png) [@quantum](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/quantum)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/first-layer-weird-lines/20572/1 "2020-01-28T15:36:27Z")
Hi Folks I’ve been trying to work with Lulzbot support for months on this issue but have gotten nowhere. Partly because of their lack of responsiveness. Anyhow, I’ve got a TAZ 6 and I’ve started to have some odd first layer lines formed over the past 6 months. See the attached image. This is with changing the Z-offset from 1.18 on the bottom, to 1.19 in the middle to 1.21 on the top. No change. And yes I’m saving the setting between adjustments. I’m printing PLA and have tried ranges from 190-205 on a 60c bed. The higher temp seems to help but not much. Thoughts? Thanks Jim ![IMG_1296 copy](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/lulzbot/original/2X/1/120e77320ff1cf30ab21c2ddff0dccaede490a48.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![cg49me](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.lulzbot.com/cg49me/32/10029_2.png) [@cg49me](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/cg49me)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 8:41pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/first-layer-weird-lines/20572/2 "2020-01-28T20:41:40Z")
Are you watching your printer when it’s laying the first layer down? Is it moving irregularly? Are you printing directly onto the PEI? ---
**Author:** ![quantum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9e5f3/32.png) [@quantum](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/quantum)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/first-layer-weird-lines/20572/3 "2020-01-29T15:30:06Z")
I just did another print to be sure there was no irregular movement and I don’t see anything out of the ordinary. I am printing directly onto the PEI and the bed feels clean (I’ve scrubbed it with a rough pad and used alcohol.) Forgot to mention that I’m using 1.75mm PLA and 2.85mm both do the same thing. Here is the first layer on 1.75mm PLA I just printed. ![40x40x5 first layer only](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/lulzbot/original/2X/1/156d50427b039dd9b0bbcd5a37d406f602a89570.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![kcchen\_00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kcchen\_00](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/kcchen_00)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 11:54pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/first-layer-weird-lines/20572/4 "2020-01-29T23:54:33Z")
Check the belt mounts and bearing holders on the bed and x-carriage they can come loose over time. Tightening the belts may also help. ---
**Author:** ![cg49me](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.lulzbot.com/cg49me/32/10029_2.png) [@cg49me](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/cg49me)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 1:37am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/first-layer-weird-lines/20572/5 "2020-01-30T01:37:48Z")
Has your flow rate setting in Cura been bumped up somehow? Are you adjusting the filament size setting correctly when you switch between 2.85 mm and 1.75 mm? ---
**Author:** ![quantum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/b9e5f3/32.png) [@quantum](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/quantum)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 2:08am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/first-layer-weird-lines/20572/6 "2020-01-30T02:08:43Z")
I will check the x-axis bolt mounts and belts tomorrow. good idea. I got an email today from Lulzbot support suggesting that the default Z-offset is -1.3. They also provided a lengthy procedure document to use to calibrate z-offset. I plan to try that tomorrow as well. The -1.3 is way farther than what I was using. I’m using 70c bed, 195c default temp, and I’ve made flow adjustment for 1.75 vs 2.85. The initial layer flow I’ve been using is 110%. After trying a -1.31 z-offset, 70c bed, 195c temp, and 110% it looked a lot better but I had a lot of trouble prying the part off so I can’t tell if it really worked or not.