printing in air

I cant seem to properly level the printer.
I went through the auto level procedure and when it prints it prints either a few millimeters over the bed or a few tries later, an inch over the bed. any help to sole the issue.
also if I don't want to auto level how do I level it?
I figure I just need to bring the nozzle down to the bed, but then when I began to print it moves inches above the plate and starts printing.

wet behind the ears newbie

 

Make sure your switches are activated. If it just moves up that means it's seeing a closed circuit, aka the end stop is deactivated, triggering a home.

 

I have a similar issue with MC lately. It was working fine until I threw my nuts because the filament got jammed and raised the print head all the way up.

I tried to re-level and once the print starts it starts an inch above the bed. I noticed also that the z axis screw was not even close to the switch. I tried lowering the print head until I had my height screw touching the switch. Print starts again above the switch.


Had to use Repetier which is working properly.

Not sure why MC has that probl lately. Ot wasn't always like that. In fact I liked printing with it.

Any ideas as to why the head is 1 inch above the bed and the z axis screw is not even touching? MC only.


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please excuse my ignorance but im not versed yet in knowing part names or things like threw my nuts.
I am a fast learner though.
Please let me which post by tesseract explains leveling with pictures.
Also it would help if there was a picture of the robo 3d naming the parts within , is there one?

 

I assume you watched the latest getting started video: http://www.robo3dprinter.com/pages/assembly-and-guides though I don't think it has the R1's auto level feature

Then you should watch the assembly videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGbjMx1XUzolm0AwXNhI34w

Learn more about the auto level system here: http://forums.robo3dprinter.com/index.php?threads/robo3d-autolevel-via-mike-kelly.2574/
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:349935

 

Also like to mention things that happen starting up the first time.
When I first set up the printer the bed moved back and hit the wall (too close)
it made a grinding sound and went off. I restarted and it was fine. After leveling and not getting a good print
I tried leveling while pausing a print (comb.stl) using controls on matterc. I brought the head down and unpaused the job but the print head went back up again.
I tried manually leveling by turning off the auto leveling and using the controls on matterc. Doing so I brought the head
down too low and the head rested on the plate while the nut went out of the "settings". When I brought the head back up the wires on the left got caught in the nut and the "housing' and spun around. Phew almost ripped the wires.
I backed the nut and post on that side to remove the wires so I think I may have made the post mis-aligned with the other side. Now when I try to use the auto level function I move the head down and I get a message that its as low as it can go, yet im 1/2 inch from the bed. I moved the "print head" down by manually turning the post on both sides down.
After a few times of doing this method the auto leveling doesn't give me a message anymore, but when I start the comb.stl job the print head moves glides across the bed rising up and then lowering too high above the bed.

Sorry about the long post, but I think its best to explain what happened. Also is there any documentation to explain the matterc. software? Things like the "home" button and 'unlock' button are a mystery to me.

many many thanks for all the help you guys have given

 

Thanks Mike I'll watch those before I begin again today. I saw the getting started guide but not sure of the others.

 

simple question, do I heat the bed if I use painters tape method?

 

Im checking my endstops and cant find one for the right hand side. can someone please tell me where all the locations are. when I click on x+ axis (is that how you say it) it goes to the end and vibrates trying to go further.

 

If it tries to home right the motor could be plugged in backwards

 

Also after the x and y home it'll move to the center of the bed to go to z0. If you have a fault on the x stop and it tries to go to the center on the end it could collide with the right.

 

Tried again a few minutes ago, and while it didn't stick it did move correctly.
I think one mistake I made was , I did the auto print leveling in the configurations of matterc. and then left it enabled
when I started a print job. I saw on one of the videos that the auto leveling needs to be disabled.
Am I correct about that?
i'll be putting on tape in a few and giving it a try , but Game of thrones will drag me off until tomorrow.
Many thanks for all the help

 

Throwing your nuts. It's a term used to describe when your z axis which is going up and down, it rides on plastic parts that are help up with nuts on the z axis screw. If that plastic part is lifted above the nuts, there will be nothing for the z height to ride on. Thus you've threw your nuts.

It can happen if you get your filament stuck at the spool. Your head will continue feeding filament and the head will be lifted up until it can't go anymore. It won't be on the nuts and your print is as is. Gotta start again. Re-levelling is needed.


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I gave it a couple of tries and even with abs. The print head/nozzle rides about 2mm above the bed and the plate doesn't seem to accept it. Most times it extrudes without touching the plate. It appears the print head needs to be slightly lower about 1mm. is it possible to adjust.

 

Used the x y home and it starts flush on the plate and ripped the painters tape.
oy vay Done for the day.

 

Make sure your Z endstop switches are fully engaged

 

where is that located.