Elephant foot: how to remove the flared base

The base of the part is wider than the model: the first layers stay too hot and get squashed.

Causes

• Bed too hot
• Z offset too low (nozzle too close to the plate)
• First layer too thick or with high flow
• Soft material under the weight of the part

Fixes in order

1. Check Z offset and move the nozzle 0.02 mm away.
2. Lower the bed 5 °C after the first layer.
3. Enable “Elephant foot compensation” at 0.1–0.2 mm.
4. Reduce first-layer flow by about 5%.

Common mistakes

• Compensation too high: leaves a step at the first layer
• Dropping the bed too much and losing adhesion