Printrbot Metal Plus lower layers worse than upper

[cockrell960]

I am getting good prints but my lower layers are quit worse than the upper layers. I am using .1984 layer height which is what cura used as the printrbot default settings. My question is are the bottom layers getting squished causing uneven sides? When at about layer 200 things start smoothing out and the prints look beautiful.

[CompoundCarl]

That probably means your first layer is too close to the bed. Try increasing the Z-axis global gcode offset. For example, if you set that to 0.2mm, it will start your print 0.2mm further away from the bed.