Unanswered Print Head Speed and Underextrusion?

I can't seem to print higher than the bottom three layers of a 20 mm calibration cube without everything just stringing out and failing. I notice that the interior of the bottom layers is nice and solid, but the perimeters are all stringy. By the time it's ready to print the walls, the perimeter is substantially shorter than the rest of the base, so there's nothing for the vertical walls to build on
I notice that the back-and-forth motion of infill for the bottom layers is slow, while the perimeters go really fast. Seems like there's no wonder the perimeters are so meager, with the nozzle zooming around the edges. Is there something I can do to compensate for the speed of the prin thead? Wouldn't it automatically push more filament out when it's going fast around the edges?

 

Oh - sorry. I'm using Slic3r (v 1.2.9), along with Repetier Host (v. 1.6.2)

 

In case this helps - you can see the first two layers of fill are way thicker than the perimeter, which seems like it was stretched thin as the print head went whizzing around.

 

It is pla - and a new spool of it, at that. I don't have an oiler... What can I do to get one without being able to print one for myself?

 

I will try that, though I do feel like it's coming out nicer than it ever has. The reason I say that is that I just installed a new Titan extruder (along with a new NEMA 17 stepper motor) and V6 Lite from E3D. I am a newbie, and it was quite a task for me, so I'm assuming that I've done something wrong. I guess I've tuned the PID properly, and through trial and error I have the z offset to where the first layer seems to stick pretty well. I set the Z steps per mm to 800, but I also haven't done anything to the extruder steps per mm. Nor have I done anything to the slicer settings. So yes - I'll oil it, but I fear you might be very kindly giving me too much benefit of the doubt that I have basic things set properly. I've been fighting this second hand printer for months now, learning scraps as I go, but I can tell there are still vast gaps in my understanding - especially where it comes to the software. I appreciate the help.

 

That looks like z offset needs your attention. It also makes me wonder if your Ramps fan is working with the quality of the layers.

 

Excellent point @WheresWaldo. I am sure it will be a combination of a couple issues. Hopefully they are using a standard height. I do forget about that from time to time.

 

Unless he was using one of those 3D Printing Pens...looks about right for the quality they give you.

 

Level your bed properly and change your z height. I don't believe the oiler is necessary at all. Use elders purple glue sticks and don't be shy laying it down. PLA will stick to it very nicely. Get the mechanical motion working before tweaking software. I see a lot of software talk and in reality a little tweaking on the mechanical side takes care of most issues. Get the temperature right and don't be afraid to waste some filament before you start printing.

The first layer should be semi squished. Get the first layer right and you can print 150% of the standard speed with no problem.