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  • How can I calibrate my 3D printer?

How can I calibrate my 3D printer?

3D Printing Help Centre

3D PRINTING HELP CENTRE

In the 123-3D help centre, we answer all your questions about 3D software and printer settings, problems you may experience during or after 3D printing and other 3D-related topics.

How can I calibrate my 3D printer?

Have you purchased a 3D printer and do you want to know how to calibrate it? You can calibrate your 3D printer by adjusting a number of settings in the software of your printer and your slicer software.

To support you in this, we have made a mini-guide with the different steps you need to go through for a successful calibration of your 3D printer.
 

Index

What settings do I need to adjust to calibrate my 3D printer?

A number of crucial settings must be adjusted for a successful calibration. You can think of levelling the print bed and setting the Z offset, the filament and the stepper motor. When these settings are correctly adjusted, you can fine-tune the settings of the 3D printer by doing a number of test prints.  

First layer settings

It is very important that the first layer of your 3D print is perfect. The quality of the rest of your print largely depends on this. Therefore make sure that the print bed is well levelled and adjust the Z offset.
  • How can I level my 3D print bed?
    You can easily level the print bed by adjusting the large wheels under the print bed. These are found on each corner. There are also 3D printers that use automatic bed levelling functions. See our article ‘3D printer levelling’ for more information.
     
  • How can I adjust the Z offset of my 3D printer?
    You can easily optimise the Z offset settings in your slicer software. The offset value tells the printer what distance the nozzle should keep from the print bed. If the distance is too large, your print will not adhere properly to the print bed and you must decrease your Z offset by entering a positive value. Can you see that the nozzle is pressed into the print? This means that you need to increase your Z offset so that the distance to the print bed increases. You do this by entering a negative value.

    Your print bed and Z offset settings are perfectly adjusted when there is only one paper layer distance between the nozzle and the print bed. Check this on at least 5 points: the four corners and in the middle. Read more here on adjusting your Z offset.

The e-steps of your extruder

3D printers use a Stepper motor. This type of motor does not work with a rotary movement but, as the name suggests, with steps. Calibrating the e-steps is important as it ensures that the correct amount of filament is fed during printing.
 
  • How do I calculate the e-steps?
    Calculate the e-steps by marking the filament at two points: at 100mm and at 120mm. Check the current settings of the e-steps (steps/mm) in your 3D software by typing 'M501' or 'M503' in the 'communication' field and look for the value indicated as follows: EXXX .XX. Then set the speed and length at which you want to extrude (in the slicer software). Press the extruder button and measure the actual filament throughput by measuring the distance to the first mark.

    Fill in all variables with the following formula:
     
    ‘Steps/mm’ x ‘length’ = ‘X’
    ‘X’ / actual length of the fed filament = new steps/mm

    Does the result deviate from the current steps/mm? Adjust your settings to the new value so that the filament is fed correctly..

The filament settings

The filament settings relate to the diameter of the filament and the print temperature. These values differ per filament type and sometimes even per spool.
  • How do I determine the diameter of the filament?
    Although suppliers indicate the thickness of the filament on the packaging, there can still be small deviations in the diameter with each new spool. Therefore, check the thickness of the filament at about ten points with a manual caliper or a digital caliper. Take the average of these results and enter it into your slicer software.

    Be careful not to crush the filament with the vernier caliper and avoid incorrect measurements.
     
  • How do I determine the correct print temperature?
    Although every supplier indicates the printing temperature of the filament, you can find the ideal printing temperature yourself by printing a temp tower. This is a tower, divided into different blocks, each of which is printed at a different temperature. In this way, you can determine afterwards at which temperature the 3D print is qualitatively best.

How can I test if my printer is properly calibrated?

Would you like to test whether your printer has been calibrated correctly? Then you can do various ‘stress tests’. These are 3D designs which you can use to test how your 3D printer is functioning. You can then solve the pain points that come to light as a result of this print until the settings are perfect. One of the most popular stress tests is the “Benchy”, but there are plenty of other designs available online. Most stress tests come with an extensive manual to identify and solve the pain points!
 

Why do I need to calibrate my 3D printer?

Calibrating your 3D printer is essential for obtaining high-quality prints. Although there are endless settings that you can perfect, the above settings are the most important. Therefore, check these settings regularly and do not forget to clean your nozzle with every filament change so that no blockage can occur. We have written a separate article in which we explain step by step how to clean the nozzle.
 

Do you have another question?

Have you not been able to find the answer to your question in the overview above? At 123-3D.co.uk we are busy with 3D printing every day and we like to follow every development. We are happy to share the knowledge and experience that we have built up over the years with you in our 3D printing help centre!
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