MAKE / SHARE / SOLVE · SOUTH AFRICA FOUNDING COMMUNITY

THE PRINTVELD FORUM

Find your people.
Solve your next print.

Pick a board, join a thread, and share what works. A meeting place for South African makers at every level.

A shared space, with a little care.

Create your member profile to join in. Threads and replies appear immediately; moderators can remove contributions that break the rules.

← All forums · Print troubleshooting

PLA corners lifting: fix the first layer first—or reach for a brim?

PrintVeld · 2026-10-07

Our opening hot take: when PLA corners lift, adding a huge brim should not be your first move. Start by checking the plate is clean, the first-layer height is right, and the bed temperature and drafts suit the setup. A brim can hide a problem you will meet again on the next print.

The other side: on a broad, sharp-cornered part—or a job that has to finish today—a brim may be a perfectly sensible tool. Getting a usable print matters too.

Which camp are you in: diagnose first, or add a brim and move on? Tell us your printer, plate, PLA brand, bed temperature, first-layer settings and the change that actually stopped the corners lifting. Bonus points for explaining when your usual approach failed.

This is a PrintVeld discussion starter, not a universal fix. Let us compare actual setups and results. Disagree with the idea; help the maker.

Replies

Sign in to join this discussion.

Make this a good place to be.

Be helpful. Welcome beginners. Credit other people’s work. Keep personal details private. Share honest information and disclose when you’re promoting your own business.

THE FOUNDING COMMUNITY

Join PrintVeld.

PRINTVELD FIELD NOTES

PRINTVELD / SUPPLIER DESK

Keep the Finder useful.

Corrections, new products and store claims go to private review. A claim does not automatically grant access to a listing.