Associate
- Joined
- 16 Dec 2009
- Posts
- 5
Hi,
I am relatively new to 3D printing; I used to have a CTC printer, but it lay dismantled for a long time and I now have an Ender 3 Max with a Creality CR Touch unit installed. I followed this video on YouTube to install and configure my printer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ykgGqcop0U
I was having some problems with the printer, primarily levelling the bed, and a friend advised me to get a BL Touch. I opted for an official Creality CR Touch (based on it being official) and followed another YouTube video to install it; during that process I disconnected and removed my Z cable but subsequently learned that was unnecessary (I guess it's OK to use both).
First, a video of my printer bed levelling using the Creality CR Touch.
http://www.rocksquad.co.uk/videos/e3mxbedlevelling.3gp
As you can see, it's not doing the bed level the way it should (the way it did to begin with, which was to move to nine points before it auto homes). Clearly, I've done something wrong, but I don't recall what that was, perhaps when I switched the printer off, mid-print (when it did something weird).
My second video shows that my printer is now printing around a centimetre above the bed (the "air printing" in the title).
http://www.rocksquad.co.uk/videos/e3mxtestprint.3gp
This might have something to do with my inability to work out what to do about the Z-Offset; by which I mean I am not entirely sure I am adjusting the Z offset correctly (the printer doesn't seem to "know" I did so and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong). Maybe all I need is solid advice on how to configure the printer to the right level (Z axis offset) i.e., what steps I need to follow to make the printer remember that offset so any advice appreciated. Clearly, the printer needs to "know" about the offset, but I think I might have missed a step. Also, I'm not sure whether the slicer (I've tried both Ultimaker Cura and Prusaslicer) needs to be configured for that offset, could that be why it is air printing?
There are other odd behaviours such as when I switch on the printer, sometimes I can't adjust the Z-Axis yet, when I switch it off, then on again, I can. This might be linked to auto home inasmuch as if I auto home it first, I don't seem to be able to adjust the Z-Offset, but if I don't, I can anyway, I don't seem able to get the printer to "remember" any offset.
There's a Creality and a 3D printing group on Facebook (I am not keen on FB for tech discussion) and people have suggested:
Right now, I'm tempted to remove the CR Touch entirely and put the Z-cable back, but I'm not sure if I should.
Thanks in advance for any help
James
I am relatively new to 3D printing; I used to have a CTC printer, but it lay dismantled for a long time and I now have an Ender 3 Max with a Creality CR Touch unit installed. I followed this video on YouTube to install and configure my printer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ykgGqcop0U
I was having some problems with the printer, primarily levelling the bed, and a friend advised me to get a BL Touch. I opted for an official Creality CR Touch (based on it being official) and followed another YouTube video to install it; during that process I disconnected and removed my Z cable but subsequently learned that was unnecessary (I guess it's OK to use both).
First, a video of my printer bed levelling using the Creality CR Touch.
http://www.rocksquad.co.uk/videos/e3mxbedlevelling.3gp
As you can see, it's not doing the bed level the way it should (the way it did to begin with, which was to move to nine points before it auto homes). Clearly, I've done something wrong, but I don't recall what that was, perhaps when I switched the printer off, mid-print (when it did something weird).
My second video shows that my printer is now printing around a centimetre above the bed (the "air printing" in the title).
http://www.rocksquad.co.uk/videos/e3mxtestprint.3gp
This might have something to do with my inability to work out what to do about the Z-Offset; by which I mean I am not entirely sure I am adjusting the Z offset correctly (the printer doesn't seem to "know" I did so and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong). Maybe all I need is solid advice on how to configure the printer to the right level (Z axis offset) i.e., what steps I need to follow to make the printer remember that offset so any advice appreciated. Clearly, the printer needs to "know" about the offset, but I think I might have missed a step. Also, I'm not sure whether the slicer (I've tried both Ultimaker Cura and Prusaslicer) needs to be configured for that offset, could that be why it is air printing?
There are other odd behaviours such as when I switch on the printer, sometimes I can't adjust the Z-Axis yet, when I switch it off, then on again, I can. This might be linked to auto home inasmuch as if I auto home it first, I don't seem to be able to adjust the Z-Offset, but if I don't, I can anyway, I don't seem able to get the printer to "remember" any offset.
There's a Creality and a 3D printing group on Facebook (I am not keen on FB for tech discussion) and people have suggested:
- Adjust the Z-Stop: I did that before I installed the CR touch but, following the video I did to install the CR touch, I removed the Z cable.
- Use the "Z Offset Wizard": Apparently, in Marlin firmware (I have v1.0.1.6) there is a Z Offset Wizard which centres the probe, lowers the head which I would then configure using paper. Apparently, the Z Offset gets set when I hit OK but I haven't found this wizard anywhere in the configuration.
Right now, I'm tempted to remove the CR Touch entirely and put the Z-cable back, but I'm not sure if I should.
Thanks in advance for any help
James