Why Do Bottom Layers Separate From 3D Prints?

1. What’s Wrong with My 3D Print?

When printing, you notice that there seems to be no problem with the first few layers of your 3D model, but then certain parts of the bottom layer don't seem to adhere to the previous layer properly, which is when your 3D print starts peeling off and becoming distorted. 

2. What Causes the Printing Issue?

This issue is typically referred to as bottom layer splitting or bottom layer separation. It is a phenomenon in which a certain part of the bottom layers fails to stick to the previous layer, causing a split. This is most commonly seen happening on the raft.The two possible causes of the issue are presented as follows:

• Normal layers are underexposed 
• The exposure time significantly differs between normal layers and bottom layers

3. Troubleshooting the Printing Issue

For Sonic Mini 4K, Sonic 4K, Sonic Mighty 4K, Sonic Mini 8K (S), Sonic Mega 8K (S)

• Set transition layer count at 6-10
• Adjust the Light-off delay time according to this Calculator

For Sonic Mini, Sonic, Sonic XL 4K, Shuffle series, or Transform series

• Lower the Up-Speed or lifting speed by 20%
• Increase the normal layer exposure time by 20%
• Increase the Light-off delay time by +1000ms or 1s

Light-off Delay time is essential in resin 3D printing. With the correct settings, each layer will be printed in a much more stable manner, resulting in better quality 3D prints. Please refer to this article to learn more about Light-Off Delay. If you’re unsure about your resin settings, please check Phrozen’s Official Resin Profile or use a Resin Exposure Finder to dial in your settings.

Contact Support

After reading this article, you can understand why some bottom layers split from previous layers and learn how to troubleshoot this issue. If you find any issues, feel free to reach out to Phrozen Support or your Authorized Reseller for further assistance. When contacting Phrozen Support, kindly send some photos or videos illustrating the issue.