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Solved Simplify 3D/MatterControl AutoLeveling is way off

Discussion in 'Troubleshooting' started by Prak Coton, Sep 14, 2016.

  1. Prak Coton

    Prak Coton New Member

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    Ok, I'll try to keep with succinct. I have a Robo R1 +Plus 3D

    I got Simplify 3D. But ever since I started using it It has not auto-leveled correctly. To be clear, and please correct me if I'm wrong the auto-leveling is handled by the startup script. The startup scripts are the same.

    G28 X0 Y0 Z0 ; home all axes
    G1 Z5 F5000 ; lift nozzle
    M109 S[temperature] ; set the extruder temp and wait
    G28 X0 Y0 Z0 ; Home Z again in case there was filament on nozzle
    G29 ; probe the bed

    - G29 it what performs the auto level.

    now here's the problem:

    When using MatterControl, the auto-leveling is performed and the print head when it starts is exactly the right height from the bed.

    When simplify3d starts, it runs the same auto-leveling, but when the print starts the head is never in the same place. Sometimes it's smashed into the bed and sometimes it's 2mm above the bed.


    I have seen the autolevel stop short of pressing the table on it's 9 spot tests. (like 1-2 tests it'll only go partially down). This has only ever happened with Simplify3d and never with MatterControl.

    The simple solution is the just use MatterControl. But the problem is MatterControl does handle support nearly as well as Simplify3d. And I need good support control.

    I am at a loss, It's the same code with different results. Please, any help would be awesome.
     
  2. danzca6

    danzca6 Well-Known Member

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    One thing I see in you start gcode snippet is you aren't setting your z offset. Did you just leave that out or are you sending the M565 command elsewhere?

    EDIT:

    The M565 should be between the G28 and G29 commands.
    ...
    G28 ; Home all axis
    M565 Z-1.0 ;example offset. Yours might be less or more but it should always be negative.
    G29 ;auto bed leveling probing routine
    ...
     
    #2 danzca6, Sep 14, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2016
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  3. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Yep. MatterControl is sending the M565 and Simplify3D is not.
    If your startup GCode doesn't have it then it isn't happening with Simplify3D :)
     
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  4. Prak Coton

    Prak Coton New Member

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    Oh! I'll add that in and report back :D
     
  5. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Edit the process settings, go to the SCRIPTS tab and there is a startup GCode block you can edit.
     
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  6. Prak Coton

    Prak Coton New Member

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    What does M565 Z-1.0 do? how do i determine the correct z?

    also, since i modified the script. the extruder heats up and then cools down and the print never starts. Not sure what's going on. Here's my startup script now:


    G28 X0 Y0 Z0 ; home all axes
    G1 Z5 F5000 ; lift nozzle
    M109 S[extruder0_temperature] ; set the extruder temp and wait
    M565 Z-1.2 ;
    G29 ; probe the bed
    G28 X0 Y0 Z0 ; Home Z again in case there was filament on nozzle
    G1 X20 Z0 F4800 ; wipe
     
    #6 Prak Coton, Sep 15, 2016
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2016
  7. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Set it to the default (-1.0 which says lift the nozzle 1mm above the bed) and experiment until your first layer looks like this:

    https://printedsolid.com/blogs/news/tagged/first-layer

    More negative numbers (i.e. -1.1) are further from the bed and more positive numbers (i.e. -0.9) are closer to the bed.

    Find your magic number. It will be printer specific. One of mine is -.9 and the other -.6
    I just did one for a friend this weekend and his was -0.75
     
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  8. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Once you have this magic number :) It will not change unless you do something mechanically to the printhead.
     
  9. Prak Coton

    Prak Coton New Member

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    I have tentatively adjusted the M565 Z settings to -1.6 after multiple runs.

    It doesn't look level though. On one side of the bed it looks like the head is touching and on the other it looks too high. I'm going to try to get a video or images, but its tough while its running.
     
  10. danzca6

    danzca6 Well-Known Member

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    did you end up doing the paper leveling yet? Having them off like that can happen and ABL theoretically should compensate for it, but I like to be as close as possible manually. Now if your bed is warped then that is another story and you'll have to find a reasonable middle ground...or go with MESH leveling. Also, have you ever thought of using hairspray over tape? Works for me really well and won't give you as much of a variance from one application of tape to another IMO.
     
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  11. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    Yep. Sounds like the X is in need of some manual leveling.
     
  12. Prak Coton

    Prak Coton New Member

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    How do you level the bed manually?
     
  13. danzca6

    danzca6 Well-Known Member

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    well...take a sheet of paper or index card and place it on one side of the bed. Lower the Z to touch onto the paper just enough that it tugs a little when you pull it. You can do that with just manually turning the screws or with the controls. Then do the same on the other side just using the screws by hand. That way you make sure that side is the same level to the bed as the other. That should get you close. You really want to make sure that if you have the print nozzle touching the paper on one side that it doesn't raise or dig by sliding it to the other and should touch that piece of paper the same way on both sides or as close as possible. Does that makes sense? Not sure if I did the best job explaining that.
     
  14. Prak Coton

    Prak Coton New Member

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    what screws are you referring to? That's the only part I don't get. on other printers i have they have bed leveling (spring loaded) screws on the bottom of the bed. This bed only has magnetic holders.
     
  15. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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  16. mark tomlinson

    mark tomlinson ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ
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    He meant the threaded rods, but watch the video.
    In fact, watch all of his printing videos :)
     
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  17. danzca6

    danzca6 Well-Known Member

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    The leadscrews. I wish we had the thumb screws on the bed..that would make life easier some days.
     
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  18. danzca6

    danzca6 Well-Known Member

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    haha...grab the popcorn.
     
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  19. Prak Coton

    Prak Coton New Member

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    It's not 100% right yet... but a print actually started and is in progress so I'll keep working on it after. But I want to says its nice to actually get legit feedback. Really appreciate it.
     
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  20. Geof

    Geof Volunteer Moderator
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    If no matter what you do one side is off you can always shim under the magnets, but do that as a last resort
     

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