<p>You cannot distinguish wrong flow from wrong Z offset in just the first layer. You need more layers to distinguish. Fortunately, it looks like you've already done that.</p>
<p>There is never a reason for the first layer flow to be any different from flow for the rest of the print. If you're finding that you need 120% flow on the first layer (assuming 100% everywhere else), this means that the distance between the nozzle and the bed when printing the first layer is 20% larger than it should be. For example, if your first layer thickness is 0.2 mm, this means your nozzle is actually about 0.24 mm from the bed, and the Z offset needs to be adjusted to lower the nozzle by 0.04 mm.</p>

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2024-07-17T21:50:07.703Z
2024-07-17T21:50:07.703Z
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
<p>I had a problem with ASA part warping and not sticking to the build plate as shown by this <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/23453/how-to-deal-with-asa-warping/23460#23460">question and answer</a></p>
<p>Issue stem from under extrusion of the first layer and was solved by bumping first layer flow rate from 100 % to 120 %.</p>
<p>I am wondering, how does one differentiate between first layer flow rate being too low or global Z nozzle distance from plate being too large for the whole print? I've seem comments that adjusting first layer flow is just a hack and it does not address the original problem - whatever that may be.</p>
<p>Before initial layer flow rate increased:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/fbmiJF6t.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/fbmiJF6t.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>After initial layer flow rate increased to 120 %:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/LRMxMiDd.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LRMxMiDd.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

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2024-07-17T23:40:30.927Z
You asked for a "reputable source", but the question here is not one that calls for authority of any kind. It's a question of basic mathematics. If you want that explained I can potentially add it to my answer.
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
<z-axis><asa><z-offset><flow>
First layer flow rate too low or global nozzle Z distance too large?
sanjihan
# First layer flow rate too low or global nozzle Z distance too large?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-07-14)

I had a problem with ASA part warping and not sticking to the build plate as shown by this [question and answer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/23453/how-to-deal-with-asa-warping/23460#23460)

Issue stem from under extrusion of the first layer and was solved by bumping first layer flow rate from 100 % to 120 %.

I am wondering, how does one differentiate between first layer flow rate being too low or global Z nozzle distance from plate being too large for the whole print? I've seem comments that adjusting first layer flow is just a hack and it does not address the original problem - whatever that may be.

Before initial layer flow rate increased:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/fbmiJF6t.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/fbmiJF6t.jpg)

After initial layer flow rate increased to 120 %:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/LRMxMiDd.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/LRMxMiDd.jpg)

**Tags:** z-axis, asa, z-offset, flow
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You asked for a "reputable source", but the question here is not one that calls for authority of any kind. It's a question of basic mathematics. If you want that explained I can potentially add it to my answer.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-07-17. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

You cannot distinguish wrong flow from wrong Z offset in just the first layer. You need more layers to distinguish. Fortunately, it looks like you've already done that.

There is never a reason for the first layer flow to be any different from flow for the rest of the print. If you're finding that you need 120% flow on the first layer (assuming 100% everywhere else), this means that the distance between the nozzle and the bed when printing the first layer is 20% larger than it should be. For example, if your first layer thickness is 0.2 mm, this means your nozzle is actually about 0.24 mm from the bed, and the Z offset needs to be adjusted to lower the nozzle by 0.04 mm.


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