Bed Leveling Upgrades
I am having a heck of a time getting the bed level on my new i3 Plus. it seems I get it level and then a short time later I need to do it again. I have checked the feet and all four are sitting flat. I have attempted to gently twist the frame a bit making one corner a little higher.
I go from corner to corner about four times using the card method, then check the middle and it is WAY off. So, I attempt to arrange the middle areas so they are pretty good and the corners are WAY off.
While I like the simplicity of having the leveling screws just sit in the Y frame, I am wondering if there are any upgrades out there which use springs to tension and hold the bed level.
Are there any user recommended upgrades that people seem to really like?
Re: Bed Leveling Upgrades
The best upgrade you can do is to turn the glass the other way up...
If the centre of the glass is still high, loosen the 4 bed corner locknuts, heat the bed and tighten the locknuts while applying some pressure to the centre of the bed.
If that still doesn't work, then put a half inch strip of tape (I use blue tape) on the underside of the front and rear wedges of the glass.
You should then have a perfectly level glass sheet at printing temperatures.
Remember to preheat the bed for at least 5 minutes before calibrating.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: Bed Leveling Upgrades
Wow Peter, a blue tape fudge to add to the preheat tightening of the locknuts too! I guess my glass as provided is level. However this is still a weakness that messes a lot of people up, and gives poor prints if done wrong. Perhaps Joseph Prusa needs to look at a better way for bed levelling. My major criticism of this printer. I knew how to solve it, others maybe do not.
Nigel
Life is keeping interested and excited by knowledge and new things.
Re: Bed Leveling Upgrades
Nigel
I guess you understand how toughened glass is made and that it is hardly ever going to come out of the process perfectly flat. And the same with glass fibre PCBs.
Yes, it's not perfect, but it is a good workable solution to a manufacturing problem that Josef is well aware of.
For me, aluminium could be a solution (it would also pass the heat better and more evenly than glass), but that also has flatness issues unless it is quite thick, in which case, the increase in mass would require slower print speeds (acceleration).
I do not like the "Auto bed levelling" features within Marlin (and other firmware) for many reasons, but others seem to be happy with it.
It has been less than a year since Josef released his first "original" printer and there has been one major upgrade since release (3mm -> 1.75mm hotend). This is still a new printer and as with any new consumer item, it does have its faults.
I have a feeling it won't be long before we see another revision of this printer which addresses those faults.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: Bed Leveling Upgrades
After heat up of hotend and bed, I gently push down the bed, to make sure it is seated before the print starts. I did follow Peter's tips about tightening up the lock nuts with the bed heated. Works for me now. I get wonderful prints and never have to adjust the bed again.
Nigel
Life is keeping interested and excited by knowledge and new things.
Re: Bed Leveling Upgrades
Peter,
The best auto levelling feature I have, is on my upgraded Kossel Mini. It uses the Duet Electronics now and David Crockers differential I/R level sensor, which probes the bed over nine points and adjusts the level in software. Gives great prints.
Cartesian printers I prefer to level manually. Like the Prusa I3 and Hobbyking/Turnigy Fabrikator (large).
Nigel
Life is keeping interested and excited by knowledge and new things.
Re: Bed Leveling Upgrades
Watch our websites during the weekend 😉
Re: Bed Leveling Upgrades
@Jospeh
So Peter is an inside man or prescient. Shock horror no!
I hope for solutions for us very recent genuine Prusa I3 purchasers and printer owners. This coming weekend! ie is a cheap upgrade path/kit.
Nigel
Life is keeping interested and excited by knowledge and new things.