Electric　field-assisted　fused　deposition　modeling　(E-FDM)　is　a　promising　technique　in　the　field　of　3D　printing.　This　paper　studies　the　start-up　stage　of　the　printing,　which　is　a　process　of　liquid　gradually　deforming　and　making　an　initial　contact　with　the　substrate　under　the　action　of　electric　stress.　Polycaprolactone,　a　popular　material　for　biomedicine,　is　selected　as　the　printing　material.　With　a　home-built　E-FDM　system,　the　nozzle-to-substrate　distance　and　the　nozzle　and　substrate　temperatures　are　all　held　steady.　With　a　photography　system,　the　process　of　meniscus　deformation　is　recorded.　And　by　image　processing　methods,　the　meniscus　length　and　the　volume　of　liquid　at　the　nozzle　can　be　obtained.　At　a　set　of　initial　liquid　volumes　(Vi),　nozzle　voltage　is　ramped　to　a　fixed　value　at　a　fixed　rate.　The　effects　ofVion　the　meniscus　deformation　during　the　start-up　stage　of　the　printing　are　examined.　For　sufficiently　smallVi,　the　meniscus　deforms　into　a　conical　(Taylor　cone)　shape,　and　a　fine　jet　with　a　diameter　much　smaller　than　the　nozzle　diameter　appears.　For　sufficiently　largeVi,　the　meniscus　exhibits　a　spindle　shape　when　it　touches　the　substrate.　At　an　intermediateVi,　a　Taylor　cone　is　formed,　tending　to　eject　a　fine　jet.　After　a　short　period　of　stagnation　or　even　a　slight　retraction,　no　liquid　is　emitted.　Through　this　study,　it　is　suggested　that　for　high-resolution　printing,　ramping　the　voltage　at　smallVimay　be　preferable.　This　proposition　is　preliminarily　confirmed　in　a　direct　writing　test.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry　2021.