Hi, I can't print on the Axis and 'm running out of ideas what else to try. While I'm far from being a pro, I'm not new to 3D printing and I have another printer running paralell.
I managed to assemble the Axis wthout too many problems.
I did all the tests and calibrations in Stage 9 including Auto-Levelling and Z-Offset. All looks pretty well set, nozzle close to surface.
I have Cura 4.71 (due to the other printer) and added the Makertech settings (with version change as described in another post in this forum). I sliced Benchy as described in Stage 10, Axis connected via USB/pronterface.
When I send the printhead to the home position, it still looks goood, but as soon as I start the print, the nozzle visibly goes to distance to the surface. It tries to print the first layer into the air. M114 reports position Z.24.
I guess the problem is somewhere in the Cura settings, but I can't find anything changing it.
(sliced several times with different settings. repeated auto-leveing and lots of Z-Offset adjustments)
Anyone another idea, please?
Johannes, many thanks.
My Cura g-code is exactly as you state. I don't think anymore it's Cura's fault. I fixed with a manual input as decribed above and currently the Axis is printing. More optimizing and fine-tuning necessary, but generally I'm content.
M114 command will just show the current position so it might be misleading depending at which point you use the command - and what Z-offset is already in use. I would recommend to use M503 to check for the configured Z-Offset. Also make sure to input decimal points as '.' not ','.
In case you need the original start and end g-code:
;----------AXIS Start G-code----------
T0
M104 S{material_print_temperature_layer_0} ;Set hotend temp.
M140 S{material_bed_temperature_layer_0} ;Set bed temp.
M109 S{material_print_temperature_layer_0} ;Wait for hotend
M190 S{material_bed_temperature_layer_0} ;Wait for heated bed
G28 ;Home
M420 S1 Z4 ;Activate auto-level and set Z-fade.
G1 F8000 X10 Y3 ;Move hotend to bottom left corner
G1 Z{layer_height_0} ;Set to first layer height
M82 ;absolute extrusion mode
G92 E0 ;Zero Extruder
G1 F1500 X290 E12 ;Prime Hotend
; ----------AXIS start G-code----------
;----------AXIS End G-code----------
G91 ;Relative postioning
G1 Z5 F600 ;Raise Hotend
G90 ;Absolute postioning
G28 X Y ;Home and present print
M104 S0 ;Hotend off
M140 S0 ;Bed off
M84 ;Motors off
; ----------AXIS end G-code----------
Sebastian, thanks for your reply.
Currently I'm trying to install Makertech Cura on a second computer to comparre settings (however my second notebook is very old and so far refuses any current version of Cura).
But I'm anyway no longer convinced its a Cura problem:
In addition to all the Pronterface Settings described in the Makertech manuals, I discovered that I can set a manual Z-Offset direcly in the printer menue via the LCD screen. I set it to -0.24 - and now its printing!
Hav you checked the initial start up gcode used in the print settings in cura? make sure they are the same ones used in the makerech cura.