Getting great prints is hard work and a big part of that is getting the print bed to be absolutely level. With the MatterControl and Part Leveling we make it as simple as it should be. Following these step by step instructions you will have absolutely level prints, every time.After having worked with many different 3D printers, we are very aware of the fact that most printers are very hard to get calibrated. We are also aware that even when they are calibrated, they don't seem to stay that way.[[Category:Features]]
MatterControl's Print Leveling feature eliminates these troubles. By figuring out the current tilt == Types of the bed, MatterControl actively works to maintain a print's levelness. With Print Bed Leveling you can get leveled prints every time.==
== How Do I Enable It? ==* '''None''': The print bed is leveled physically/mechanically. Most printers are capable of using this method as a fallback. Usually there are adjustment screws under the bed.* '''Probing / Automatic Firmware Leveling''': In this case the printer is equipped with some kind of probe or sensor for measuring the height of the bed. The firmware then takes into account these measurements when executing moves. The probing sequence is activated using the G29 command in your start gcode.**Mechanical Switch (Robo or Kossel Pro)**Conductive (Lulzbot Mini)**Inductive (Printrbot Simple)**Force Sensing Resistors* '''Manual Software Leveling''': Has the user measure the height of the bed at various points using paper as a feeler gauge. Measurements only need to be taken once. Leveling is applied to the gcode before it is sent to the printer. MatterControl lets you choose between 3, 7 and 13 point leveling. The more points that are measured, the more accurate the leveling will be.**3 Point Plane: Assumes the bed is a planar surface. This is usually sufficient for cartesian printers, unless they have severely warped beds.**7 Point Disk: Approximates the shape of the bed as a cone. This is good for small or well calibrated delta printers.**13 Point Disk: Approximates the shape of the bed as a bowl. This is the best solutions for larger delta printers with severe calibration issues.
== Software Leveling ==
[[File:Autoprintleveling1.png|right|frame|Location of Print Levelingallows MatterControl to figure out the tilt or angle of the bed. Using this information when printing, MatterControl actively raises and lowers the Z axis to make that the printed part matches the tilt bed and will always remain correctly above it. This process ensures that the print remains level regardless of the unevenness of the bed.]]
Long story short, no matter how tilted your bed is, Automatic Print Leveling will ensure that your print will match it perfectly. <embedvideo service="youtube">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5YRtPMwVdk</embedvideo> === How Do I Enable It? === Here is how you get to the Automatic access Software Print Leveling feature:
#Select your printer
#Connect to your printer
#Click 'Advanced FeaturesSettings & Controls'#Make Click the window big enough to see Print Leveling'Options' tab#Click To the right of 'Setup Software Print Leveling' select 'Configure'
#Follow the on screen instructions
A step-by-step instruction wizard will open and walk you through the calibration process with clear, easy-to-follow instructions. The only thing you will need is a sheet of standard paper. The software will ask you to help it measure three several points on your bed and when completed Print Leveling will automatically be turned on and ready to help. The whole process is very easy and will take about 3 to 5 minutes.
== How Does It Work? ==<center>'''**missing video**'''</center><center>This video shows how the Z axis is constantly moving to keep the part on the bed[[File:Leveling-location.</center>png|none|frame|Location of automatic bed leveling settings]]
Print Leveling allows MatterControl to figure out the tilt or angle of the bed. Using this information when printing, MatterControl actively raises and lowers the Z axis to make that the printed part matches the tilt bed and will always remain correctly above it. === How Will This process ensures that the print remains level regardless of the unevenness of the bed.Affect My Printer And Prints? ===
Long story short, no matter how tilted Print Leveling does not directly change anything about your printer or your print files. It simply allows for the correction of an uneven bed isto be compensated for during printing. If for some reason your bed gets uneven, Automatic Print Leveling will ensure can compensate for it by adjusting the Z axis as you print. This should work for all source files that your print will match it perfectlyprinter can use.
<embedvideo service== How Will This Affect My Printer And Prints"youtube">https://www.youtube.com/watch? v==qJar_49dAQo</embedvideo>
<center>'''**missing video**'''</center>=== Settings ===<center>Here, even with a ridiculously uneven bed, the Automatic Bed Leveling feature ensures that Most of the print will still leveling settings can be perfectly upright.</centerfound in Settings >Printer > Print Leveling
Print ==== Leveling does not directly change anything about your printer or your print files. It simply allows for the correction Solution ====The 3-point kind of an uneven bed to be compensated for during printing. If for some reason your bed gets unevensoftware leveling works great on Cartesian style printers, Print Leveling can compensate for but it by adjusting doesn’t work particularly well on Delta style printers like the Z axis as you print. This should work for all source files that your printer can useSeeMeCNC Rostock Max V2 and Orion.
== What Happens If I Disable It? ==Delta printers are great, but they’ve been known to be a bit more difficult to calibrate and level. Our goal is to make MatterControl “just work” with every kind of printer. So, the new 7 and 13 point leveling options were designed specifically to address the calibration issues with deltas.
The Automatic Print Leveling Feature can be toggled on and off by clicking Essentially, the 'Enable' button7 and 13 point leveling options break your printer bed up into either 6 or 12 separate, smaller planes.
If you disable it, MatterControl will not do any work while printing[[File:13-point-leveling. It will not attempt to level the print at all. However if you ever want to turn it back on all your calibration settings are saved and waiting for you when you need them. But remember, when Print Leveling is disabled, you will have to go back to ye olden days of manually calibrating your print bed!png|none|frame|6 Places / 12 Planes]]
Because deltas have three independent towers, with three independent sets of delta arms, it’s possible for one area of the bed to be different than another. The area between the X tower and Y tower, for example, may be higher off the bed than the area between the X and Z towers, or the Y and Z towers. This can’t be properly accounted for with just one plane.
== Technical Notes ==The 7 and 13 point leveling allows MatterControl to account for this and provide a level printing surface through software. While the 3 point plane is generally adequate for Cartesian printers, there’s no reason you can’t use the 7 or 13 for added precision.
'''Mechanical Changes:'''==== Require Leveling To Print ====This is a safety feature that prevents MatterControl from starting a print unless software leveling is setup for your printer.
Automatic Print Leveling works better if your limit switch is on ==== Manual Probe Paper Width ====This allows you to define the top (Zmax). We’ve gotten it to work on printers with width of the z switch paper or other feeler gauge you are using when measuring points on the bottom (Zmin), but it’s a little trickybed.
'''G-Code Changes:'''==== Settings > Printer > Features > Has Hardware Leveling ====This check box tells MatterControl whether or not your printer has a probe or other means of doing leveling on its own. If this is the case, MatterControl will hide the option for running the software leveling wizard. Clicking this check box will *not* add a G29 command to your start gcode
If the limit switch is on the bottom (=== Tips for setting up your printer homes to the bed). Add the following G-code after homing:===
<code>G1 Z1 ; raise ==== Mechanical Changes: ====Automatic Print Leveling works better if your limit switch is on the extruder top (Zmax). We’ve gotten it to be 1 millimeters above work on printers with the z switch on the bedbottom (Zmin), but it’s a little tricky.</code>
This code will help prevent ==== G-Code Changes: ====If the extruder from bumping into limit switch is on the build plate when it first starts movingbottom (printer homes to the bed). Add the following G-code after homing.
'''Firmware Changes:'''<code>G1 Z1 ; raise the extruder to be 1 millimeters above the bed. </code>
This code will help prevent the extruder from bumping into the build plate when it first starts moving. ==== Firmware Changes: ====It is also important that the `ZJERK ` (at least in marline firmware) not be 0. If it is 0 it will cause the printer to have to come to a complete stop at every change in z, which will be every move. In Marlin firmware you can find this in Configuration.h line 195 (or there about). We set it to .2.
<code>#define DEFAULT_ZJERK 0.2 // (mm/sec) can't be set to 0 for bed leveling to work.</code>
Or add the following to your start G-code
<code>M205 Z.2</code>
<centerembedvideo service="youtube">'''**missing video**'''<https:/center><center>Here is a Printrbot showing printing with a limit switch on the bottom/www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8-rcU0kJBs</centerembedvideo> This feature is still experimental, though you can see from our videos that it is creating some great results! If you have any problems or suggestions, feel free to give us a call or email us at support@matterhackers.com. [[Category:Features]]