Workbench software compatibility (Page 1 of 2)

I think that there are Z-offsets in repetier that can adjust the nozzle offset but I haven't tried them yet. The nozzle offset is handled entirely by the firmware which is one of my major frustrations right now.

The probe is configured so that it does a bed checking routine and automatically sets the z height. This differs from other printers where you have to set the z offset by adjusting a leveling screw that hits the z limit switch. Other printers also require a relatively level bed whereas the workbench compensates for this as well.

To use the probe with the solidoodle-repetier V0.85B software, you have to set the probe to its lower setting and hit start print. The printer will move to a park position and pause. From there click resume in the dialogue box and the printer will go through the calibration routine mentioned in my earlier post. After this calibration the printer will either begin to print if you have already loaded and sliced a model or return to home otherwise.

During the calibration the various heights detected are displayed in the error log and can be used to manually level the bed.

Thanks guys. Very helpful information. Can't wait to get home to give it a try. Spent last night cleaning all of the packing debris off of the rods and re-greasing them. Also had to loosen the x-axis pulleys and belts to re-align them. They were so out of line the stepper motor wouldn't even move. Not sure how they got a test print out of it in that shape. Anyway, this should get me close to printing.
Thanks again,
Joe

Was the G29 command issued before the print was started or as part of the print procedure? The table is re-leveled every print so the probe has to be down before the print starts. I ran the bed into the nozzle a couple of times so far because I didn't lower the probe.

I am using RH 1.0.5 and homed all of the Axis, which left the probe over the center of the bed. I then typed in the G29 gode and sent it and the probe did a 16 point test. I didn't try it on the start code yet, i just sent G29 on the fly and it did a full bed test.

Well I did have a successful print last night. Nothing major, just a small part, but it came out good once I got my Y axis skipping problem solved. I tried a test square with the dual extruders the other night and it worked ok except for the skipping. I might have to try that two color test again tonight now that I have the skipping fixed. I'm hoping to be able to do a large print by the weekend, once I get my enclosure built. I'm gathering the acrylic sheets for that now. One thing that I don't like so far is the placement of the filament guides. The filament drags along the Z-axis rods and gets greasy. A guy on Thingiverse has already made a guide for his workbench apprentice that clips on the frame and brings the filament over the top, but it won't work on the workbench. I may have to design one. I'm just looping the filament over the top of the frame for now.

Thanks for the information Ryan!  Unfortunately after still trying this i'm having an issue where the print nozzles are at some point and time knocking into the print and causing it to dislodge from the print bed. It almost appears one nozzle is ever so slightly lower then the other. Is there an easy way to level both print nozzles to be dead on?

thanks for your time

Basically since SoliTouch compensates for the bed being unlevel, the nozzles do not have to be level with the horizon but rather level with the bed (imagine a line created by the tips of the nozzles, this line should be parallel with the bed). You can move the bed all the way up until it just touches one of the nozzles, and then adjust the bed using the wingnuts so it touches both nozzles evenly.

Here's the procedure from Solidoodles website:

http://support.solidoodle.com/hc/en-us/ … Tensioning

SoliRyan: Is there a way to get the Solidoodle Press to do a 16 point level procedure for prints that consume a majority of the 8x8" bed?

More points = a more accurate planar surface for the printer to adjust to.  An extra row and column would put more points towards the edges which are important (especially towards the front where the bed is significantly lower. The 9 points the Press does by standard are closer to the center than I would like.

As a side note: if you print something close to the front right edge of the bed, watch how much the build plate shakes.  Lots of movement.

In theory, yes.  In practice, no.  Glass has tolerance. Heat cycles. Etc. Etc.  I can only tell you when I started the print, it was clear: more data points near the perimeter would help (as would finding a way to secure the front right and left corners of the build plate to prevent wobble).

Can you tell me how to do a 16 point auto-level?