Hi All:
Just thought I would pass along the way I devised to get a complicated first layer to print well. I was trying to print a solid with numerous cutouts and small holes, and the first layer was not too good. Since skeinforge breaks up the print into a bunch of different regions printed in a strange order (along with my less-than-rigid laser cut system) the first layer had a some regions where there were gaps in the print. Also, adhesion of some of the small hole outlines was problematic.
My solution was to go back to my solid modeller and extrude a thin solid layer, 0.4mm (the layer thickness) in my case, to be on the print bed. When skeinforge slices this, it prints in one continuous piece, and from one direction. Subsequent layers stick well to this. At the end, I only need to open the holes and cutouts with a drill or razor knife to finish the print. Please see pictures for example...
john
