X1 and P1: first layer too low (scrapes the plate) or too high (separate lines that do not stick)

Symptom

On an X1 or P1 the first layer comes out wrong: either the nozzle is too low (it scrapes the plate, the part sticks too hard or so little plastic comes out that the nozzle clogs), or too high (loose, separate lines, gaps in the base and a part that does not grip and moves).

Likely causes, from most to least likely

1. A loose, skewed or dirty hotend: its two screws not tight or the nozzle tilted.
2. A dirty plate, which makes the lines separate in some areas.
3. Bed levelling off after moving the printer, leaving it unused for a long time or removing the bed.
4. A slicer plate type different from the one installed: with the Textured PEI Plate the nozzle goes 0.04 mm lower and, if you pick another plate, the first layer comes out high.

Checks to tell which one it is

• Look at the first layer: if it scrapes or barely lets plastic out, it is low; if the lines stay round and separate, it is high. A small flaw in a small area rarely affects the part.
• Remove the silicone sock and check whether the hotend is skewed or dirty.
• Check in Bambu Studio that the plate type is the one installed.

Before you start

Before taking anything apart, cleaning or adjusting it, switch the printer off and unplug it, unless a step says otherwise, and do not touch the nozzle, the heater block or the bed until they have cooled down. If in any doubt about electricity, heat or moving parts, stop and ask a professional.

Step-by-step fix

1. Check the hotend

   Re-tighten the two screws that hold the hotend. Remove the silicone sock and check whether it is skewed or dirty: if it is skewed, replace it with a new assembly.

   Check: The hotend is firm and straight.

   If that does not fix it: Wash the plate.

2. Wash the plate

   Wash it with warm water and dish soap as Bambu Lab's PEI cleaning guide explains, and do not touch the surface with your fingers.

   Check: The first-layer lines come out continuous.

   If that does not fix it: Level the bed.

3. Level the bed

   In Settings › Calibration › Print calibration, run automatic bed levelling; repeat it if you moved the printer, left it unused for a long time or removed the bed. When sending the print, keep bed levelling ticked.

   Check: The first layer is even across the whole plate.

   If that does not fix it: Check the plate type.

4. Choose the right plate

   Choose in Bambu Studio the plate type you have installed: slicing for another plate with the Textured PEI Plate installed loses the 0.04 mm offset and the first layer comes out high (and the bed temperature, low).

   Check: The first layer is slightly squished onto the plate.

   If that does not fix it: Adjust the offset in the G-code (next step).

5. Fine-tune in the G-code (temporary)

   In Printer settings › Machine start G-code, find G29.1 Z{-0.04} (textured plate): if the first layer is high, make it more negative (for example -0.05); if it is low, less (-0.03, or Z{0}). The range is -0.06 to 0 mm on the textured plate and -0.01 to 0.01 mm on other plates, for which you add {else} G29.1 Z{…} in the same place.

   Check: The first layer is good across the whole plate.

   If that does not fix it: This is a temporary fix that can spoil another area: fix the root cause and restore the default value.

Prevention

• Level again after moving the printer or removing the bed.
• Wash the plate regularly and hold it by the edges.
• If you changed the start G-code, restore the default once the cause is fixed.

Still not fixed?

Tell usi3d's AI about your case: choose your printer, describe what you see and add photos if you like. It proposes checks step by step, with their sources.

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Printers it applies to

Bambu Lab X1 Carbon, X1, X1E, P1S and P1P.

Official sources

This guide summarises the official documentation linked here:

• X1/P1 First Layer Print Quality Improvement Guide · Bambu Lab
• Bambu Lab Textured PEI Plate Troubleshooting Guide · Bambu Lab
• Model Warping, Falling Off, or Collapsing · Bambu Lab