Elephant Foot
The first few layers of the print are wider than the rest — the bottom of the part bulges outward like an elephant's foot.
Medium severity
Adhesion
What It Is
The first few layers of the print are wider than the rest — the bottom of the part bulges outward like an elephant’s foot.
How It Forms
Three forces combine:
- Nozzle too close — The nozzle squishes the first layer, pushing material outward. More squish = more spread.
- Bed too hot — The first layers stay soft longer. The weight of the growing part above presses down, and the warm material deforms outward.
- Over-extrusion on first layer — Many slicers increase first-layer flow for better adhesion. Excess material spreads laterally.
The result: the bottom 1-3 layers are wider than the CAD model. Parts that should fit into holes don’t. Dimensional accuracy is worst at the base.
Visual Signature
- Flared/wider base visible from the side
- Parts don’t fit into designed pockets or holes
- Bottom of part wider than top when measured with calipers
- Most obvious on parts with vertical walls meeting the bed
Root Causes
| Cause | Calibration Variable | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle too close | Z-Offset | ↓ (too close) |
| Bed temp too high | Bed Temperature | ↑ |
| First layer flow too high | Flow Rate (first layer) | ↑ |
| Part cooling disabled on first layers | Cooling / Fan Speed | ↓ |
How the Auto-Tuner Detects It
- Camera: Compare base dimension to upper dimension. Ratio > 1.0 = elephant foot.
- Z-offset calibration: Contact sensing ensures correct nozzle height.
How the Auto-Tuner Fixes It
- Calibration: Correct Z-offset, optimize bed temp to minimum for adhesion, calibrate first-layer flow