Manually level bedplate

I have a printer that requires me to manually level the bedplate with the support screws under the bedplate. I had to do this once before, and it took me quite a while to get all 4 corners and bedplate levelled. I estimated in the end, and it worked fine, but my bedplate is no longer levelled again.

Any tips for easier levelling? I have a Level tool, but it’s almost impossible to hand crank it so that it’s levelled everywhere.

Which printer, and model, do you have ?
Which slicer/controller program are you using ?
“Leveling” is more of a generic term, than what you are actually trying to accomplish.
Specifically, you are creating an “equally spaced” horizontal plane, between the gantry(nozzle tip), and the bed surface.

  1. Use your controller program, you want to “home” the Z-axis(nozzle to bed).
  2. Use your controller program, to move the nozzle around the X and Y axis(bed area)
  3. Use a piece of normal paper, and slide it between the nozzle tip and the bed surface
  4. Move the nozzle to all 4 corners, and adjust the screws, so that the “gap” between the nozzle and the bed, is just enough so the paper has just a very-slight drag(resistance) in the space.
  5. Repeat moving around to all 4 corners to double check for consistent “gap” spacing.

Paper is 0.1mm thick, this is half of the typical 0.2mm layer height. 50-75% of a chosen “layer height” is the perfect “gap” spacing to achieve 1st layer bonding.

Depending on which printer you have,(how accessible the screws are), you can also adjust those screws, during the 1st layer of printing, to get it perfect for 1st layer adhesion/bonding. (aka “on the fly”)
Just add a few “skirt” lines around your print object, and make those adjustments, before object starts printing.
You could also just use a calibration test print, “circle/spiral”, to achieve the same result, if you are not comfortable(or quick enough) , to do it with a printed object.

If it’s only off by a bit start a print that covers most of your bed surface and adjust the knobs when it starts printing until you’re getting an even and level flat first level.the filament should be pushed flat onto the bed so that it is not rounded on it’s upper surface…start with small adjustments about a quarter turn at a time…

Thank you all. It is a self built printer. I don’t have a program to help me level the plate.

I am trying to get the paper to be levelled, but when I get it at a good level for 2 of the sides, or maybe sometimes one, the other sides aren’t levelled.

I will maybe try the method to start a print then level. But quick question, if I bump the print with the nozzle accidentally during this process, will this damage it?

Every printer has a USB connection plug, that receives X,Y,Z-axis control commands, and gcode print instructions, from a controller/slicer program. That program does not help you level the plate (directly), it only moves the nozzle around , so you can manually make adjustments to the bed.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:630655/#files This is a ONE layer test. Choose the “spiral test file” that fits the size of your bed.(75% of bed size will be fine). Watch for a good/consistent “squish”, of the filament, to the bed plate.
Once you understand what you are trying to accomplish with this test, then you will be more comfortable just using skirts around your normal print objects, just to double-check your bed for level, before the actual print starts.
You will never/can’t bump the print, because the adjustments are made on the 1st layer, before the print ever starts.

As an additional note: Since you mentioned this is a self built printer, please use a square, and make sure that your machine is square, in all directions.
If it is not, you will never get the bed “ON AN EQUAL PLANE WITH THE X and Y GANTRY(s)” / (level).
What I am trying to emphasize, is that there is really NO such thing as “level” (it is just a generic term)
A printer can print on it’s side, or upside-down, as long as everything is “square”, and the bed is on an “equal horizontal plane”, with the nozzle.

Hi @maniford_ID

Another option you may want to look into is something along these lines.

https://pinshape.com/items/15072-3d-printed-dial-indicator-mount-for-shapeoko-2-rotary-tool-holder

You can either remove your tool head and put in a 3d printed bracket and the dial indicator and level your bed then. Or build a bracket to come off your tool head and hold the dial indicator for leveling and remove for the print.

This should take the guess work and inconsistencies out of using a sheet of paper and give you actual numbers to check on each corner

I really like the spiral design for bedplate levelling.

@Chris_Halliday Sorry, I am unfamiliar with the dial indicator. What does it do? What is it measuring?

Bumping the print nozzle while it’s running generally won’t damage it but it may damage you. It’s hot and can pinch fingers…aren’t your leveling screws under your platform? You shouldn’t put your hands near the hot end on the surface of the build platform while it’s zooming around…

@maniford_ID

The dial indicator is measuring your Z axis distance from the probe to the bed. By moving the probe in the X/Y directions you will be able to see that the probe is either further or closer to the bed showing which corners need to be either raised or lowered.

Have a look see at this video and hopefully it can give you an idea of how it would work better than I can type it :smile:

First off, always level your bed with you printer heated up for the material you are using. I need to relevel when switching from PLA to ABS because of the different bed temp.

Now with the printer homed, then centered, slide a piece of fresh printer paper flat under your nozzle. You should feel a slight amount of drag when you jiggle the paper. Adjust the thumb screws until you do. Keep turning the screws and moving the paper. Start in the center then go diagonally from corner to corner (by jogging your nozzle, from utilities menu or from PC). Turn the screws until you feel heavy drag then back off a tad. I do it with my fan running and I can feel the vibration through the paper. From the amount of vibration and drag you can easily tell which way the bed needs to go. You’ll need to go around the bed two or three times to make sure, because moving a screw in one corner will impact the others. Eventually you’ll zero in on level. This is by far the fastest and best method I have found.

This is something new and I recently pledged for this new device called ultrasonic alignment tool for 3D Printers, Its an external device that can be connected to USB or bluetooth and works on any printers.
It does
bed alignment , the video looked very simple to do , almost click and go
Zeroing of stage, and also
Filament condition monitoring.
precision claimed is 25 microns

I think this is pretty kool deal for the price asked for … I am excited for it tp arrive at my garage… you guys should check it out and let’s discuss its pros and cons… The project is still on , here is the link.

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