What calibration process directly compensates for elephant foot in FDM printing?

The calibration process that directly compensates for elephant foot in FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printing is the Z-offset adjustment. Elephant foot is a phenomenon where the first layer of a 3D print expands outward, creating a wider base than intended, resembling an elephant's foot. This occurs because the initial layer is often squished against the heated bed to ensure good adhesion. The Z-offset is the distance between the nozzle and the print bed during the first layer. By carefully adjusting the Z-offset to slightly increase the distance between the nozzle and the bed, the amount of squish is reduced, thus minimizing the elephant foot effect. This adjustment must be precise; too much distance will cause poor adhesion, while too little distance will exacerbate the elephant foot. Some slicer software also provides features to compensate for elephant foot by reducing the flow rate or slightly shrinking the first layer's dimensions, but these are often used in conjunction with Z-offset adjustments for optimal results.