Elephant's Foot
Easy to Fix
First layer is wider than the rest of the print, creating a bulge at the bottom like an elephant's foot.
What Does It Look Like?
Bottom layer wider than upper layers
Bulge at base of print
Dimensional inaccuracy at bottom
Difficulty with tight-fitting parts
Common Causes
First layer over-squished
Bed temperature too high
No first layer horizontal expansion compensation
Solutions (Try in Order)
Start with Priority 1 solutions. Make one change at a time and test between changes.
1
Raise Nozzle Slightly
Reduce first layer squish
Increase Z-offset by 0.02-0.05mm
1
Enable Elephant Foot Compensation
Slicer can automatically shrink first layer
Horizontal expansion: -0.1 to -0.3mm for first layer
2
Lower Bed Temperature
Less heat = less expansion
Reduce bed temp by 5-10°C
3
Add Chamfer in Design
Design compensates for effect
45° chamfer on bottom edges in CAD
Prevention Tips
- Save working settings for each filament type
- Perform regular printer maintenance
- Keep filament dry and stored properly
- Re-level bed before important prints
- Start with manufacturer-recommended settings
At a Glance
Severity:
LOW
Difficulty:
Easy
Category:
First Layer
Solutions:
4