3D Printer Frame Check - Calibrating your 3D Printer Part 1 - Ender 3 V2

Rainmaker 3D

24 Nov 202010:24

Summary

TLDRThe video script outlines a comprehensive guide for calibrating a 3D printer. It begins with checking the frame for loose parts and ensuring proper tension on rollers and belts. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of leveling the print bed and lubricating the Z-axis for smooth operation. The presenter also discusses the need to preheat the nozzle and extruder to account for thermal expansion, and provides a detailed process for bed leveling using a piece of paper to gauge the correct distance between the nozzle and build plate. This meticulous approach ensures optimal print quality and reduces the risk of errors.

Takeaways

🔧 Start by checking for loose nuts or bolts and ensuring proper tension on V-rollers by tightening eccentric nuts.
💼 Verify that the Z-axis is lubricated to ensure smooth movement.
🎲 Level the print bed roughly, with the intention to refine it later in the process.
🔩 Inspect the 3D printer frame for proper alignment and equal distance from the X-axis to the top bar.
🔄 Ensure that the stepper motors are functioning correctly by disabling them and moving the Z-axis freely.
📏 Measure and confirm that the X-axis is parallel to the top Z-bracket using a square.
🔄 Check the smoothness of the X-axis and Y-axis movements and adjust belt tension or wheels as necessary.
🔩 Make sure all three wheels on the Z-axis move in unison by adjusting the centric nuts.
🌡️ Preheat the nozzle and bed to account for thermal expansion and ensure the bed is level at the intended print temperature.
📄 Use a piece of paper to check the distance between the nozzle and build plate for even leveling at each corner and the center of the bed.
🔄 Double-check each corner and adjust as needed to achieve the optimal level of resistance when trying to slide the paper under the nozzle.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video?
-The primary focus of the video is to guide the viewer through the process of calibrating a 3D printer, specifically by checking the frame and ensuring there are no loose nuts or bolts, proper tension on rollers, and other key aspects like bed leveling and nozzle condition.
Why is it important to check the 3D printer's frame for loose nuts or bolts?
-Checking for loose nuts or bolts ensures the stability and precision of the printer's movements, which is crucial for high-quality and accurate prints. Loose components can lead to misalignments and printing errors.
How does Kenny Raines ensure the Z-axis is properly lubricated?
-Kenny Raines applies lubricant to the Z-axis threaded rod before starting the calibration process to ensure smooth movement and to reduce wear and tear on the components.
What is the purpose of leveling the print bed in 3D printing?
-Leveling the print bed is essential for proper adhesion of the first layer of the print and overall print quality. An uneven bed can lead to failed prints or layers not adhering correctly.
Why does Kenny preheat the nozzle and extruder before bed leveling?
-Preheating the nozzle and extruder ensures that the components are at the same temperature as they will be during actual printing. This helps to account for thermal expansion and ensures that the bed is level at the correct temperature for the print job.
What is the recommended temperature for the nozzle and bed during the calibration process?
-Kenny sets the nozzle temperature to approximately 160°C and the bed temperature to 60°C during the calibration process.
How does one check if the X-axis is parallel to the top Z-bracket?
-By measuring the distance from the X-axis rail to the top bar on both sides with a square, ensuring that the measurements are equal (e.g., 3 inches on each side), one can determine if the X-axis is parallel to the top Z-bracket.
What is the significance of adjusting the tension of the belts on the X and Y axes?
-Proper belt tension ensures smooth and precise movement of the axes, which directly affects the quality of the prints. Too loose, and the printer may skip steps or layers; too tight, and it can cause unnecessary stress on the motors and other components.
How does Kenny check the squareness of the frame?
-Kenny checks the squareness by ensuring equal distance from the build plate to the top rail and by visually inspecting the alignment of the screws, nuts, and bolts.
What is the method used by Kenny to level the bed?
-Kenny uses a piece of paper to check the distance between the build plate and the nozzle at each corner of the bed, adjusting the tension of the belts by turning the screws as needed to achieve a barely perceptible gap that allows the paper to wiggle slightly.
Why is it important to check the Z-axis screws and T-nuts?
-Checking the Z-axis screws and T-nuts ensures that the build plate is secure and stable, which is crucial for maintaining accuracy and consistency throughout the print job. Loose components can lead to layer shifting and other print defects.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ 3D Printer Frame Check and Initial Setup

The first paragraph outlines the initial steps in calibrating a 3D printer. It emphasizes the importance of checking for loose nuts or bolts, ensuring proper tension on the V-rollers by adjusting eccentric nuts, and lubricating the Z-axis. The process also involves leveling the print bed roughly, which will be refined in later steps, and verifying the functionality of the hot end, nozzle, belts, and fans. The speaker, Kenny Raines, begins by preparing the printer by disabling steppers and moving the Z-axis close to the top rail. He then measures the distance from the X-axis rails to ensure they are parallel with the top Z bracket. The focus is on eliminating potential errors early in the process.

05:01

🌡️ Preheating and Bed Leveling

The second paragraph discusses the preheating process for the nozzle and extruder, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the nozzle plane is parallel to the build plate at room temperature. The speaker sets the nozzle temperature to 160°C for thermal expansion and the bed temperature to 60°C, which are the intended print temperatures. After preheating, the speaker homes the printer's X, Y, and Z axes. The process of bed leveling is then detailed, where the speaker uses a piece of paper to gauge the distance between the build plate and the nozzle at each corner of the bed, adjusting as necessary to achieve a slight resistance when inserting the paper. This ensures that the bed is level at the printing temperature.

10:03

🏁 First Layer Calibration and Final Checks

The third paragraph focuses on the final checks before the first layer of printing begins. The speaker reiterates the importance of the initial bed leveling and confirms that the adjustments made are sufficient for the start of the print. The paragraph highlights that the true effectiveness of the bed leveling will be determined during the first layer's printing process. The speaker also mentions that the printer's Y-axis might be slightly too close, indicating a need for further fine-tuning. The goal is to achieve a balance where the paper can be inserted with difficulty but without scraping, ensuring a good first layer adhesion and print quality.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡3D Printer Calibration

The process of fine-tuning the physical and operational parameters of a 3D printer to ensure high-quality and consistent print output. In the video, this involves checking the frame, belts, and other components for proper tension and alignment, which is crucial for accurate layer placement and overall print quality.

💡Frame Check

A method used to inspect the physical integrity and alignment of a 3D printer's frame. This is important for maintaining precision and preventing errors that could lead to print failures. In the context of the video, a frame check involves ensuring that there are no loose components and that the frame is square and properly aligned.

💡V-Rollers

Components of a 3D printer that facilitate the smooth movement of the print head along the X and Y axes. Proper tension on V-rollers is essential for accurate printing, as it prevents slipping or inconsistent movement. In the video, the user tightens eccentric nuts to ensure the V-rollers have the correct tension.

💡Z-Axis Lubrication

The application of lubricant to the Z-axis components of a 3D printer to reduce friction and ensure smooth vertical movement. Lubrication is important for the longevity of the printer and for maintaining consistent layer height during the printing process.

💡Bed Leveling

The process of adjusting the distance between the print head and the build plate to ensure a uniform first layer of filament. This is critical for successful 3D printing as an uneven first layer can lead to print failures or poor quality prints.

💡Nozzle Temperature

The temperature setting for the 3D printer's nozzle, which is crucial for melting and extruding filament. The correct nozzle temperature is essential for proper adhesion of the first layer and for achieving the desired print quality.

💡Extruder

A component of the 3D printer that feeds the filament into the nozzle. The extruder must be preheated to ensure that the filament is melted evenly and extruded smoothly onto the build plate.

💡Stepper Motors

Electric motors that control the precise movement of the 3D printer's axes. Stepper motors are crucial for the accuracy and reliability of the printing process, as they determine the position of the print head and build platform.

💡Belt Tension

The tightness of the belts that drive the X and Y axes on a 3D printer. Proper belt tension is necessary for smooth and accurate movement of the print head and build platform, which directly affects the quality of the printed object.

💡Eccentric Nuts

Adjustable nuts used to control the tension of the wheels on the 3D printer's axes. They are essential for maintaining the correct balance of tension and smoothness in the printer's movement, which is critical for high-quality prints.

💡Thermal Expansion

The phenomenon where materials expand when heated and contract when cooled. In 3D printing, accounting for thermal expansion is important to ensure that the printer's components maintain the correct distances and alignments at the temperatures they will be operating at during printing.

Highlights

Introduction to 3D printer calibration process by Kenny Raines.

Checking for loose nuts or bolts and proper tension on V-rollers by tightening eccentric nuts.

Ensuring the Z-axis is lubricated for smooth operation.

Leveling the bed roughly as an initial step.

Inspecting the hot end and nozzle for functionality.

Checking the belt tension on the X and Y-axes for accuracy.

Confirming the frame is square and the distance from the X-axis to the top bar is equal.

Visual inspection and adjustment of screws, nuts, and bolts for proper tension.

Disabling steppers for free movement of the Z-axis for inspection.

Measuring the distance from the X-axis rail to ensure parallelism with the top Z bracket.

Checking squareness from the build plate to the rail for alignment.

Adjusting the X-axis tension and wheel contact for smooth movement.

Inspecting and tightening the Z-axis screws for stability.

Lubricating the Z-axis threaded rod for bed leveling.

Preheating the nozzle and bed to account for thermal expansion during printing.

Homing the X, Y, and Z axes for precise calibration.

Bed leveling procedure using a piece of paper to check the distance between the nozzle and build plate.

Adjusting each corner of the build plate for even leveling.

Double-checking each corner and the middle of the build plate for final leveling adjustments.