# The first print is not perfect

**URL:** <https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/the-first-print-is-not-perfect/5678>\
**Category:** LulzBot Mini\
**Created:** [March 2, 2018, 3:38am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/the-first-print-is-not-perfect/5678 "2018-03-02T03:38:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Skylor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Skylor](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/Skylor)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 3:38am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/the-first-print-is-not-perfect/5678/1 "2018-03-02T03:38:44Z")

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Hello,

I received the Mini today and tried two model. The printed model looks good, but I found a problem in both models. The problem is that there always no melted filament when the printer starts to print. After a short time, the melted filament came out. So the first layer is not complete. I tried to reduce the retract distance from 6.5 mm to 4.5mm, but the problem is still there. How to solve that?

Thanks,

Skylor

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**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:** [March 2, 2018, 4:15am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/the-first-print-is-not-perfect/5678/2 "2018-03-02T04:15:58Z")

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This is common with these printers. Typically the extrusion begins 20-30mm into the print. The hotend needs to be primed.

Using a 1-2 perimeter skirt is the easiest way to prime the hotend andd ensure filament is extruded at the start of your project.

There are also g-code modifications available to prime the hotend as part of the start sequence.

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**Author:** ![Skylor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Skylor](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/Skylor)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 6:16am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/the-first-print-is-not-perfect/5678/3 "2018-03-02T06:16:32Z")

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Thank you!

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**Author:** ![Rhoderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3bc359/32.png) [@Rhoderman](https://forum.lulzbot.com/u/Rhoderman)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://forum.lulzbot.com/t/the-first-print-is-not-perfect/5678/4 "2018-03-17T02:41:19Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> There are also g-code modifications available to prime the hotend as part of the start sequence.

Could you please show me how to modify the G-code in Cura to make it prime better? I’ve tried, and failed, a lot. I’ve learned to print a lot of skirt which almost always works, but what a waste of time and materials.

Is this the line I modify? And what do I change? I’m not a G-Code type of person, but hoping to learn. Thanks!  
 ![startcode extrude.png](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/lulzbot/original/2X/0/0b50889c26fc746d87c7dfdaaa938496c49a862b.png)