What could be causing this horrible top surface?

[DaveGadgeteer]

Top view

I don't know what I've got wrong here. The sides look pretty good, except at a few spots, but the top surfaces (at various heights) are horrible, like the part was boiling.

Macro of top

I was only aware of the usual problem, that you have to heat both extruders or it waits forever, even though you're only using the left extruder, #1.
I assume attaching the factory file gives you all the settings info?

[JoeJ]

Try doubling the infill percentage. I doubt that 15% infill is enough to support those big flat surfaces at the top given your choice of layer height.

Try 30% infill with 6 top solid layers. I also noticed you're using a slightly different temperature than what most of the Sailfish/MakerBot guys use. If things still don't look good, you might want to experiment to make sure you're using the right temperature for your filament.

[jimc]

i have seen this many times and joe is right. with a low infill you need alot more layers to straighten that out BUT i found temp to be the biggest cause. too high a temp and the filament doesnt bridge correctly and its just too gooey and it wont stretch over the infill right and breaks apart. underextrusion is another cause.

[DaveGadgeteer]

Thanks, that did the trick!
Unfortunately, I got one good print and tried a second, and returned to find a thin bottom layer with little trees sticking up here and there. I assume the nozzle plugged or something, haven't done the surgery yet to see.

[TenKOhms]

If you want to use a lower infill, and get a surface like the ones you've pictured, you could also increase the number of top solid layers as well. Based on the pictured you provided, with that infill, if you added about 3 more solid top layers, it would give u a nice finish.