# TAZ6 - PETG first layer issue **URL:** \ **Category:** LulzBot TAZ\ **Created:** [November 22, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/taz6-petg-first-layer-issue/22645 "2020-11-22T21:21:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.lulzbot.com/tigermike/32/11045_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/TigerMike)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/taz6-petg-first-layer-issue/22645/1 "2020-11-22T21:21:50Z")
Not sure if this is a Z-offset issue or a bed level issue, or a bed flatness issue. I’m attempting to print a large spiral and the first layer appears quite good except in two areas. The upper right portion of the bed has a slight issue and the lower left is terrible where the filament is either not adhering properly or something else. The bed was cleaned with iso-alcohol and a thin coat of glue stick applied. Nozzle temp is 235c and bed temp is 80c. First pic is upper right, 2nd pic lower left. Any thoughts? Thanks, Mike ![201122 TAZ6 PETG-01](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/lulzbot/original/2X/5/5d1cc924a65168855bead2ee74a2195430eb6606.jpeg) ![201122 TAZ6 PETG-02](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/lulzbot/original/2X/6/6873b1e6fe32799b35715ad1370ed647a5d56e62.jpeg) ![201122 TAZ6 PETG-03](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/lulzbot/original/2X/a/a71598583d7114eb87c7f84444aa4f446904a3de.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![intelinc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@intelinc](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/intelinc)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/taz6-petg-first-layer-issue/22645/2 "2020-12-01T23:17:00Z")
Interesting. A print that big will surface any problems with bed levelling that might otherwise go unnoticed. Since the issue presents itself at opposite corners, it could be a tilt not properly offset by the autolevel process. Have you [shimmed the bed on your taz](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/solved-taz-6-auto-leveling-is-0-5mm-off-now-perfect-to-0-01mm/6250/24)? ---
**Author:** ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.lulzbot.com/tigermike/32/11045_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/TigerMike)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/taz6-petg-first-layer-issue/22645/3 "2020-12-02T01:06:14Z")
Hi Ryan, Thank you for the response. Here is what I did since I posted this some 10 days ago, and my findings. First, I believe you are correct that there was a tilted bed situation and it was not compensated for during the auto bed leveling. Also note that PLA is a little more forgiving on the first layer while PETG with glue stick did not like that difference in bed height, hence my post. I recently purchased the Wham Bam magnetic bed with removable PEX flexible steel bed. My original PEI bed with about 2 years of use needed replacing so now was a good time to remove it and install the Wham Bam. After installation my test print had similar not-so-good results. I removed and inspected the Ningaflex bed corners and found the front right was a bit more squished than the front left which suggests the front right corner of the bed being a little low. The rear bed corners had similar differences with respect to the rear left and rear right. I swapped the front bed corners and also swapped the rear bed corners. Reinstalled the washers and made another test print. I was much better but still a little off. I decided to Print new bed corners out of PETG. I replaced the front right bed corner with the new PETG one. I did a test print and it looks real good so that is where I am now. The picture shows my TAZ6 with the new Wham Bam steel bed and you can see the new blue bed corner on the front right. On top of the bed I show the original Ningaflex bed corner along with a spare blue PETG corner. The test print as shown is a PLA print and I inserted blow up images of the front left and front right corners. The first layer is near perfect in my book. Since then I completed the large spiral print in black PETG. All is good now! Side note: I printed a couple of ‘L’ brackets which are clipped to the rear of the steel bed frame for easy placement of the flexible PEX steel sheet. Regards, Mike ![201201 Taz6-00009](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/lulzbot/original/2X/4/4bc63248453757f35ee3a964dd390e6a6e1f6ac2.jpeg) ![201201 Taz6-00003](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/lulzbot/original/2X/c/c88c936b60c1fec362b3cb320a8ca7f9f6d62088.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![intelinc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@intelinc](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/intelinc)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 2:03am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/taz6-petg-first-layer-issue/22645/4 "2020-12-02T02:03:20Z")
Glad you solved it! I also recently added a magnetic bed (PrintedSolid) when my PEI needed replacing. And I also had to create [new corners](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4651954/comments) to compensate for the difference in thickness without the PEI sheet. I prefer this setup on my lulzbots for one big reason: the less I have to physically pry-off parts (I print a lot of PETG), the less the bed gets force applied to it that might impact its bed tilt metrics. I run a bed leveling routine as infrequently as possible, and the magnetic bed does help keep the bed level unchanged across prints. Enjoy! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.lulzbot.com/tigermike/32/11045_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/TigerMike)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/taz6-petg-first-layer-issue/22645/5 "2020-12-02T22:34:11Z")
Thank you. I too hate to pry-off parts with enough umph that may possibly alter any bed leveling not to mention gouging the PEI surface. And, I really don’t care for PLA however I do like PETG for making prototypes. FWIW, I recently discovered a really nice PLA from 3D-Fuel called Pro PLA. It prints real nice and is easy to sand and drill if needed. Might be worth checking out. (Note that I have only printed with Pro PLA on my 2nd printer, a Prusa MK3.) My new Wham Bam magnetic bed + the flexible steel sheet with PEX layer sits a little over 2mm above the glass bed, and, is around .33mm above the leveling washers. In other words, what was a Z-offest of around -1.18mm is now +0.54mm. So far I’m leaving the height positions of the homing button, wiping pad and leveling washers alone. The only alteration I did was replace the front right bed corner with a newly printed PETG one. -Mike