SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — What did I just adjust on SD4?

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-05-01T00:04:02Z

What would help quite a bit I imagine is with each version of Solidoodle they still sell, tutorial videos should be made going through the common processes for getting the printers off the ground. I personally learn much much quicker with visual aid of someone showing me, then trying myself after. Walls of text can be hard to follow.

Thanks poulan for joining the community and all the fun we've all been having! If you need more help we're here!

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-30T22:08:07Z

poulan wrote:

OK thanks I will bare this in mind. Appreciate everyone's quick replies here getting a newbie up and running.

What your looking for is each time you hit z-home. You want the end switch hitting that screw. It should then bounce back 5mm's before returning to home. Repetier will then know where home is. You then tweak the z-screw till your nozzle height is where you want it hitting home button each time you adjust the screw.

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-30T21:59:01Z

OK thanks I will bare this in mind. Appreciate everyone's quick replies here getting a newbie up and running.

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-30T01:49:33Z

If your three leveling screws are too far loosened/unscrewed then you could run out of z tab adjustment screw... it is best to have the leveling screws pretty far down/tightened as an added bonus this will also give you more usable room in the z axis for printing things that are tall.

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-30T00:17:22Z

accusedmonk wrote:

As long as it works and you still have range in the screw for adjusting the squish of your first layer, you should be good then.
It does seem a bit odd ward, since it was crashing after snugging up the carriage.
Would you be able to post a couple pictures poulan? A shot of the z screw, then clearance when you home it of the bed and nozzle?

+1 that's all I was saying is something seems off. It always hard to trouble shoot from written description. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-30T00:10:35Z

As long as it works and you still have range in the screw for adjusting the squish of your first layer, you should be good then.

It does seem a bit odd ward, since it was crashing after snugging up the carriage.
Would you be able to post a couple pictures poulan? A shot of the z screw, then clearance when you home it of the bed and nozzle?

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-30T00:05:00Z

Is it actually hitting the switch when you hit z-home?

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-30T00:02:26Z

I took the bed up as far as it would go and then set the Z to that position which worked once I put sorted out the levelling screws and then levelled from there. It seems to be OK even if the Z adjustment is at the very high range of adjustment. Can't see that it is a problem. I'll do some more test prints.

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-29T23:56:31Z

poulan wrote:

This is the first time I'm levelling it.
I've set the x, y and z at 0 in manual controls of repetier (this is what I interpret home to be) and it has left me with around 4.5mm of space between bed and nozzle. Moving the Z dial at the back lowers the pin but it never reaches the microswitch which is why I'm getting stuck.

But this is what he said.

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-29T23:51:37Z

He said he had the bed about 4.5 mm from the nozzle, so he should be able to close that gap with the manual controls. Then set the z screw there for a start point. I hope with nothing changed on the printer the stock z screw would reach with room to spare.

I wouldn't worry about what the numbers repetier is giving you. Those are only based on where the end stop was last triggered.

It sounds like you're getting it figured out, at least in the right direction.

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-29T23:42:04Z

If what your saying is.... There is no way to get the z-screw to touch the switch then you need a longer screw. Repetier uses that switch as a basis for home position.

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-29T23:22:31Z

Thanks for your patience with a novice.

So I've put the bed up as high as it can go and assumed this is the home position which is Z = - 7.16 and set the Z to top out at that level. Good so far or should I be having repetier at Z = 0.00 and tune to that?

From there I plan to level the bed.

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-29T23:17:51Z

You should be able to bring the bed up to almost touch the nozzle with repetier, then adjust the thumb screw to trigger the end stop.
Don't move the bed with the z home button yet though.

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-29T23:06:04Z

This is the first time I'm levelling it.

I've set the x, y and z at 0 in manual controls of repetier (this is what I interpret home to be) and it has left me with around 4.5mm of space between bed and nozzle. Moving the Z dial at the back lowers the pin but it never reaches the microswitch which is why I'm getting stuck.

Re: What did I just adjust on SD4?

2014-04-29T22:53:49Z

The three screws in the bed are used to level the bed. From what you described the bed height/home position is set too high. So the first thing you want to do is get the z home lower than the nozzle.

Use Repetier and bring the bed down below the nozzle with the controls in manual mode.
Use the controls again to move the nozzle over the bed just a little bit so you can see the clearance between the two.
Then bring up the bed in small increments until you have the smallest gap you are comfortable with.
Now you can adjust the z stop thumb screw in the back until you hear the switch click. That gives you your starting point.

Have you leveled your bed before?