Bed Leveling: A Guide by Billie Ruben
Bed leveling is an essential step in achieving successful 3D prints and is particularly crucial for newcomers to the world of 3D printing. By properly leveling the bed, you can avoid encountering issues like messy, tangled plastic strands known as “plastic spaghetti.” Don’t worry, though! I’ve prepared this useful guide to assist you in the process.
Consequences of Incorrect Bed Leveling:
Poor Adhesion
The first layers of your prints may be challenging to lay down.
Failed Prints
Improper bed leveling can result in failed prints and the formation of plastic spaghetti.
Unsightly First Layers
Your initial layers may have gaps or unusual patterns, affecting the overall appearance of your print.
Warping
Inaccurate bed leveling can lead to warping, compromising the accuracy of your prints.
Bed leveling, more accurately referred to as “tramming” (as it involves aligning the nozzle with the bed rather than leveling it to the ground), is typically performed at three or four points. Your first layer may exhibit any combination of the issues mentioned above.
You can refer to the following infographic for a visual representation of the bed leveling process:
Related Post: How to Resolve Nozzle-to-Build-Plate Issues
If you’re facing problems with your nozzle being too close to the build plate, you can find helpful solutions in this post: https://forum.mehtaheino.com/t/fixes-nozzle-too-close-to-the-build-plate/49