Wavy quality issue.

[jsc]

If you have wavy edges on one side but not the other (up vs. down, left vs. right), whichever side the waviness is on is possibly due to that side of the bed being higher than the other side. Double check your bed levelness, and try dropping the side that has the waviness.

You can easily test this by turning the z-knob through one click counter clockwise to drop the bed a tad when the waviness occurs. If it goes away, then leveling is your problem.

[JohnnyRobot]

What is the correct Z height to aim for when leveling? I've heard different things from different sources. I've heard business card stock, post it note, and standard copy paper.

Does it depend on my layer height?

I feel like I've been doing this too long to be asking these questions

[jsc]

No it doesn't depend on layer height. Z height is independent of leveling. First get it level, then set z height. Whatever works for you, but it has to be the same all the way around. See the M2 tips thread for a few different methods for leveling, in the tips forum.

[jimc]

i have never been a fan of the business card/paper thing. there is no standard to it. i like measurements. get yourself a set of feeler gauges. i set my height to .005". that should be close for most people. everyone is different so you may need to slightly tweak from that point. remember the lines of plastic should just touch each other. no gaps and not squished together forming ridges or waves like you have there.

[JohnnyRobot]

I've been burning the midnight oil tonight. Trying to get a project done by Tuesday. I used a business card instead of my usual printer paper. The difference was night and day.

My method before was to tighten the leveling screws while sliding a sheet of printer paper back and forth between the nozzle and the bed until I felt resistance.

That's what was causing the problem.

I did the same process with a business card, and my print came out fine. I think that a business card is a bit too thick. I had some 1st layer sticking issues.

I will be following jimc's advice and get some feeler guage tomorrow.

[jsc]

That was jimc.

[JohnnyRobot]

Oops. Fixed it.

[jsc]

When you get feeler gauges, please let us know which one ends up working out best for you.

[JohnnyRobot]

Jsc,

When you get feeler gauges, please let us know which one ends up working out best for you.

I'm getting the great results with a .254mm (.010") feeler gauge.

A beautiful first layer. No more waves!