Step 13.42 — Print it, and set the first-layer squish¶
Step 42 of 54 · Chapter 13 — Initial startup
Parts:
- the flex plate, cleaned · already on the bench
- Prusament ASA, already loaded · consumable
- IPA · consumable
Do: Upload from the slicer using the physical printer from Step 13.41, start it, and watch the whole first layer. Live-adjust Z in 0.01 mm steps while it lays down; Mainsail's "Z Offset" babystep control does the same thing:
SET_GCODE_OFFSET Z_ADJUST=-0.01 MOVE=1 ; closer to the bed
SET_GCODE_OFFSET Z_ADJUST=0.01 MOVE=1 ; further away
Check
On smooth PEI the bottom has no gaps between the beads and no ridging, and you can still see the individual lines.
What you're looking at
The photo is Voron's own example of correct first-layer squish: beads that touch with no gaps but are still individually visible. Babystepping moves Z live while the layer prints; Z_OFFSET_APPLY_ENDSTOP turns that live adjustment into a saved value.
Note the total you end on (Mainsail shows it next to the Z-offset buttons) and let the cube finish. Only then make it permanent: Z_OFFSET_APPLY_ENDSTOP, then SAVE_CONFIG. SAVE_CONFIG restarts Klipper and would abort a running print — never send it mid-print. Keep the cube.
Caution
Do not use Z_OFFSET_APPLY_PROBE: this machine's Z reference is the LDO nozzle probe, not the inductive probe. After the save, stepper_z: position_endstop in the saved block has moved by the amount you babystepped; babystepping alone is discarded on restart. (survey §3.3)
Tip
completely featureless and glassy is too much squish. Do not touch input shaper or pressure advance until this print has finished successfully.
Source: Voron docs image voron_cereal.png · Voron docs — first print · Ellis' Print Tuning Guide — first layer squish
