Estimated Time for First-Time Users (without other solution links): 20-30 minutes
Tools needed: 10mm wrench key, size 2 Allan Key
!!WARNING! NOT FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS CORRECTLY CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR PRINTER; INCORRECT Z OFFSET COULD HAVE THE HEATED PRINT BED PRESS UP INTO THE PRINT HEAD DAMAGING THE GLASS, THE NOZZLES, THE PRINT HEAD ITSELF, AND POSSIBLY OTHER PARTS. THEREFORE, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THIS UNLESS YOU READ THROUGH AND FOLLOW EVERY BIT OF THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED!!
The factory that assembles the printers calibrates the Z-offset, and the warehouse does several random quality checks to verify that the printers are in fact calibrated. The only reason you should have to adjust the Z-offset would be if you recently replace of accidentally adjusted the Z-axis induction sensor. This solution link should only be carried out if you find that you are unable to reach the Z-offset by leveling the print bed.
How do you know when the Z-offset is reached?: If you locate the induction sensor in the front left corner of the printer, you will notice a little hole in the side of it (you may have to look at it from a different angle as it may not be facing front). When the Z-axis is homed, the induction sensor soon will make electrical contact with the metal screw aligned below it and an LED light will illuminate in the hole on the induction sensor. You will use this LED to tell you when the printer is reading that the Z-axis is at it's minimum.
Here are the steps:
STEP 0: Before, attempting this, you must attempt to level the bed first: How to Calibrate your Creatr HS heated bed OR How to Calibrate your Creatr HS heated bed - Instruction Video. This may resolve the issue without having to calibrate the Z-offset.
STEP 1: Turn on the printer, and preheat the nozzles. When the nozzles reach at least 210 degrees, disconnect the filament tubes with filament from the print head.
STEP 2: Loosen both extruder tubes from the print head using a size 2 Allan key/driver. [CAUTION: the extruders are hot and can cause burns!]
STEP 3: If necessary, lower the bed by either Homing the printer or using the Bed Lowering Maintenance .GCODE file attached below to allow room for actions in STEP 4.
STEP 4: Using the same tool, gently push down on the extruder tube block for each extruder until they are about 2-5mm lower; if you are applying too much pressure and the tubes aren't moving you could end up bending the tubes.
STEP 5: Make sure there is an un-damaged sticker or adhesive material applied to the print glass and place a business card or once-folded piece of typing paper between the sticker and where the nozzle will touch. Alternatively, you can use the backing of the print sticker material, if available.
STEP 6: Run the .GCODE file (found in the .ZIP file attached to the bottom of this article) related to Z-Offset Maintenance. You can run it just like you would run a file to print.This should center the print head and move the print bed to "Home" position (coordinate Z=0). This may cause the nozzles to slightly push back up into the print head; as long as the Z-offset isn't currently set too high, this will not cause any damage to the print head (You would have experienced problems with elsewhere if this were the case).
STEP 7: Use the Allan key/driver again to push the extruder tube blocks down, checking that the fiction on the paper is moderate/not pinning the paper down completely. TAKE CARE that you are not leaning on the print head or print head assembly carriage, or print bed glass/support, because all of these will make your adjustments off. [CAUTION: extruders are still hot and can cause serious burns!]
STEP 8: When the extrduer tubes are at the correct height, tighten the grub screws using the size 2 Allan key - again, it's very important that you are not applying any downward pressure on any of the parts mentioned in STEP 7.
STEP 9: Your Z-offset is now set; additional minor adjustments will need to be made to the four (4) corner print bed glass adjustment knobs. This can be done while running a test print.
Additional digital photos and images may be added later to help explain some of these steps. Thank you for your patience while this link is still under construction.
Thank you for reading through the solution. For help with any other issues, please do not hesitate to contact our Leapfrog Support Team.
We wish you happy printing!