Z-axis calibration
I bought a Prusa i3 Mk kit. I have been printing for over nine months. When I tried to print the other day after the printer was powered down for a few days. It would not calibrate in the Z axis (nine points). Under “Calibration” I have tried the following commands.
Calibrate Z axis
The print head moves all the way to the top of the Z-axis. After cleaning the nozzle, the following error occurs when print head reaches the bottom:
Calibration failed! Check the axes and run again.
When I press the console button, the Z axis shows it is at 5.0.
Calibrate the XYZ
After placing a piece of paper on the heatbed, I get the same error when the print head reaches bottom, the Z axis is shown at 5.0 after pressing the console button.
I selected Reset the XYZ calibr. multiple times
When I run Self test, the result is Self test OK
I also ran the Mesh Bed leveling calibration and the print head hit all nine points just fine. Z axis was shown at 0.15 after this calibration
PID calibration, no error messages
When I select Support – XYZ cal. details, the Y distance from min is given as nanmm for both left and right with a skew of 0.02. The point offset for both X and Y are 0.00 mm
When I select Auto Home, the PINDA probe does not appear to be in the center of the first calibration point. However, I never checked this before because the printer has been working for over nine months.
I saw a similar error message that may be a problem with PINDA or PINDA wiring – I verified that the PINDA cable was properly seated on the board and verified that the height was correct above the heat plate.
RE: Z-axis calibration
I've seen that when the PINDA height isn't correct. You might retry setting the PINDA height using a zip tie and re-running the XYZ calibration.
Hope this helps you.
RE: Z-axis calibration
I tried resetting the height twice and verified a good height after the second adjustment. Still get the same error.
RE: Z-axis calibration
That is a bummer for sure. I can only think of three more things. You could do a factory reset and run the calibrations again, and/or I would suggest an email to Prusa support. I don't know what the odds are that the PINDA probe itself, not the connection at the Einsy.
Hope you get it sorted out soon.
RE: Z-axis calibration
Watch the light on the Pinda probe to see if it flickers at any time the z is moving. I had an intermittent wire in the Pinda harness that would only fail when the harness moved to a certain height. I found the break and spliced the wire while waiting on a new probe. Let us know what you find.
RE: Z-axis calibration
I tried resetting to 'factory' settings. I got more of a click than a beep, but didn't do anything beyond that. The only time the light flickers is when the extruder 'reaches' the bottom of the check. I noticed that the 'mesh bed leveling' calibration failed at point 6. I adjusted the PINDA probe again and the 'mesh bed leveling' calibration now works.
I will have to try sending an e-mail to Prusa support. Thanks for the replies. GREG
RE: Z-axis calibration
Somewhere, someone said they checked the extruder cable harness and found a cable tie was keeping the extruder from going full left when homing, and fixing that allowed Z cal to finish. Unrelated functions, but ... funnier relationships in the firmware have happened.
RE: Z-axis calibration
Thanks, I had that problem when I first assembled it (more of an x-axis problem). I checked the cables to ensure enough movement on the left and there doesn't seem to be a problem with them. I still got the same error.
RE: Z-axis calibration
Try doing a full factory reset from the menus - but be sure you select the full data clear option before executing and not the language only clear (sorry, can't recall the exact name).
RE: Z-axis calibration
I reset all data. I got the beep this time when I pressed the panel knob, just after pressing the reset switch. Self test started up and I still get the same error when it asks to place a paper on the heat bed. Thank you
RE: Z-axis calibration
I have a similar problem this is my third Prusa that I have bought the other 2 do good but this last one is giving me hell. I have tried all that everyone suggested but still no luck and to top off this problem my z only goes up a little bit and then comes down and fails when I do the z cal. I even went to the existent of running the cal on the other machine board and then putting it in the new unit.
Is there any way to run a diagnostics on this unit to see why it failing?
RE: Z-axis calibration
Another classic problem that creates this error is running the wrong firmware for the printer.
If you have MK3S firmware on a MK3 printer (or vice versa) z-axis fails calibration because the two printers differ in Z-axis length.
Does the firmware match your printer model?
RE: Z-axis calibration
Problem solved. Thanks guy-k2. I tried to download the MK3S firmware when I needed the MK3 firmware. Calibration is running smoothly now. Thanks very much. GREG
RE: Z-axis calibration
I agree with guy-k2 on the firmware. When the printer is turned on the display should say i3 MKS. Even if it does it would be worth re-flashing in case the previous load glitched.
RE: Z-axis calibration
The firmware matches the model I even tried down grading the firmware to 3.5.0 to try and calibrate the z still no go
RE: Z-axis calibration
@brennan -- Have you tired to run 'auto-home' under the calibrate menu.. Remove the steel plate and run auto-home an the Pinda should be within the first circle.. If it is not and off to the right, or left, you have at least one of the problems.. This happened to me on an upgrade..
Regards
RE: Z-axis calibration
Yes I don’t that sometimes the z goes to the top to home and sometimes it’s goes to the bottom. This unit has really been throwing me for a loop. Is there a way to wipe out the board and maybe reload all firmware from scratch or is there a way I can run a diagnostic while it’s performing a setup wizard.
RE: Z-axis calibration
I'm having similar problems. XYZ and Z Calibration run the extruder all the way to the left and all the way up to the top, then it says "Calibration failed. Check the axes and try again." I just tried Auto Home, it tries to run the Z axis up (it's already all the way up) for a while, then stops and return to info screen. Just tired Mesh Bed Leveling and again it runs the Z all the way to the top, then says "Some problem encountered, Z-leveling enforced..." then after a pause it says "Calibrating Z", tries to run the Z axis up again (still at the top) and goes back to "Some problems encountered"...
It's like it has up and down mixed up.
RE: Z-axis calibration
Big thanks to guy-k2. Somehow I loaded MK3S software in the past and didn't catch that. After I had to rebuild my extruder assembly from a "blob" mishap I could not get past the calibration Z step. Once I updated the unit with the correct current software it worked just fine. Spent two days trying to figure this out!