Suggestion for Prusa: provide 1st layer calibration examples!
If you look through these forums, the #1 question is about 1st layer calibration or getting the print to stick, which are related. In the online help the company acknowledges that this is the #1 problem for new users.
SO PRUSA here is a solution, if you are listening!!
Ssimply create a test file that draws some short lines across each of the squares silkscreeneed on the steel plate you provide with each machine. The lines should be various thicknesses with some running horizontal and others vertical.
THEN... back at the factory, run this test file and have one of you experts adjust the Z-axis until all the lines are the perfect height, thickness and "squish". Finally, get a shear and cut the plate into many squares, with each square having correct, too-high and too-low lines. Then provide one piece with each new machine! Also provides the test file. The user runs the file and adjust the Z-offset until it matches the test piece.This gives the customer a reference model to work towards, which is WAY better than relying on the a new USER to correctly interpret the drawings in the manual I can't count how many hours I have wasted trying to guestimate what a correct line "squish" should be. If I had a correct example in my hand in the beginning and a test pattern to duplicatet, I could have zeroed in on the correct setting right away, and saved endless hours of frustration. Come on Prusa, do this! It isn't an expensive fix to a serious problem experienced by most of your customers.
Suggestion
If you look through these forums, the #1 question is about 1st layer calibration or getting the print to stick, which are related. In the online help the company acknowledges that this is the #1 problem for new users.
SO PRUSA here is a solution, if you are listening!!
Ssimply create a test file that draws some short lines across each of the squares silkscreeneed on the steel plate you provide with each machine. The lines should be various thicknesses with some running horizontal and others vertical.
THEN... back at the factory, run this test file and have one of you experts adjust the Z-axis until all the lines are the perfect height, thickness and "squish". Finally, get a shear and cut the plate into many squares, with each square having correct, too-high and too-low lines. Then provide one piece with each new machine! Also provides the test file. The user runs the file and adjust the Z-offset until it matches the test piece.This gives the customer a reference model to work towards, which is WAY better than relying on the a new USER to correctly interpret the drawings in the manual I can't count how many hours I have wasted trying to guestimate what a correct line "squish" should be. If I had a correct example in my hand in the beginning and a test pattern to duplicatet, I could have zeroed in on the correct setting right away, and saved endless hours of frustration. Come on Prusa, do this! It isn't an expensive fix to a serious problem experienced by most of your customers.
The forum is not the ideal way to get suggestions to the programmers or hardware designers at Prusa. This is a user forum and it is a needle in a haystack situation for the employees at Prusa to find. I suggest you add it to GitHub or send them an email. I have done it a couple of times and I got a thank you in return.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog