Flashforge creator pro 2 with PLA, standard quality preset, textured removable magnetic bed on the build plate.
The first lines are straight, but as it makes more parallel lines to build the layer, it starts to develop a scalloped pattern. This creates issues with smoothness when it fills back to join it from the other side later. I’ve leveled the build plate, although I suspect it’s not perfectly flat and maybe slightly higher in the middle. Is this my problem? It appears to have the pattern even away from the middle if that makes sense.
Ignore the people saying overextrusion unless every single layer has issues like that. It’s almost certainly bed leveling issues: you’re too close. When you run your first layer calibrations you’re looking for a test patch that is smooth to the touch. If you have sharp ridges you’re too close, bumps between the lines: too far away.
If you’ve got your test patches all coming out golden and are still having issues that’s another story but in most cases of new printing foibles it’s bed leveling.
+1 on this. The wobbly stuff on the side is just being squished out to the side.
I have both problems in different locations in the same test print first layer (see the second photo I posted).
What I’m concluding is that when the calibration locations (front center, left/right rear) are level at the ideal height, the center of the build plate is too high. This is either due to convexity of the build plate OR droop of the extruder due to very slight bending of the beam it travels on. I don’t know how to fix either of these problems.
Just want to clarify that it’s actually the Z-offset that’s bad not bed leveling. Bed leveling is just ensuring the bed and extruder are perpendicular (squared) to each other. The Z-offset dictates how far the nozzle is from the print surface.
My bad, misspoke there. You’re right that it’s Z-height not bed leveling.
I tend to think of them as the same because they’re so inter-related when it comes to issues but they are distinct.