Z depth variation across printing surface
So I've been fighting this printer off and on for a few years. Sometimes I get great prints sometimes it just won't behave. I print only a few times a month, just a hobby, so use thus far has been pretty low. Every time I go to print, I re-run the calibration and z-leveling because it seems to shift over time. To my latest issue:
The last time I did a first level calibration print using the First_layer_PRUSA_PLA_Normal.gcode print, which prints squares from right to left. I do the typical adjust the z-level as the printer head moves to the left and gets a good bead. Well, I've set it to .950mm and I'm getting perfect first layers on the right side, but the left side starts to show gaps between lines. I assume either the bed is ever so slightly lower on the left side. I've tried the mesh leveling, and all the calibration test several time. I've followed all the guides, checked that the frame is square, etc. The mesh leveling doesn't seem to be accounting for this slight variance in the printing surface.
Photo of the squares, see how the left the z level is too high, but the right it's perfect. Note, these two squares were on the far left and right sides of the bed.
Any ideas?
RE: Z depth variation across printing surface
Have you enabled the 7x7 mesh bed leveling feature added to recent firmware? It helps considerably with getting good leveling results.
RE: Z depth variation across printing surface
I installed 3.2.3 (Mk2) and I don't see any settings or options for 7x7 bed leveling. Can you point me to any documentation?
RE: Z depth variation across printing surface
I installed 3.2.3 (Mk2) and I don't see any settings or options for 7x7 bed leveling. Can you point me to any documentation?
Ah, apologies. It's difficult to see what group posts on the front page belong to. I hadn't realized you're not using a Mk3.
RE: Z depth variation across printing surface
Try Calibration | Bed level correction on the LCD menu. You would want to go negative with the left side to close gaps between lines on that side. Suggest you try -20 as the first test value and adjust from there.
Unfortunately without bright backlight your photo shows nothing, so I can't tell if you also need some back/front adjustment.
Bill
Tagaytay City, Philippines
Founder member of Philippines Prusa Printer Owners FB Group
Sponsor Pillars of God Academy in Bacoor
RE: Z depth variation across printing surface
@billcampbell you beat me to my update post. That’s what I did next, I adjusted the left bed to -.20 which then got me an even print. It made all prints consistent from right to left and then with a little more live z adjust I got a perfect match across the entire bed.
Thanks all for the help. Hopefully this helps others as well.
RE: Z depth variation across printing surface
It sounds like you are describing my frustrations exactly... I've had this printer for 2 years now, and sometimes it's just a joy, but then I try to print something just a little bit bigger, and everything falls apart. I'm going to look into some bed leveling posts to see if this might be the source of my frustration.