Your First Bed Calibration with Zaxe X3 3D Printer

Calibration is one of the hardest aspects of 3D printing to master. Even if you have been doing it for years, there is a chance that something will go wrong. Maybe the first layer won’t stick, the nozzle will scrape on the print bed or the layers will shift during printing.

As Zaxe, we developed our fully automatic calibration system to make the process easier for all of our users. But there are still a couple of settings you might want to adjust to make sure you get the best results you can.

Remember, not every single one of these steps has to be done whenever you use your Zaxe X3 3D Printer. Maybe repeating the procedure will benefit you when you use your 3D printer for a long time without calibrating it or after you move your device from one room to another. But don't waste your time calibrating too frequently.

What is Calibration?

Calibration is the process of adjusting different aspects, settings, and axis of your 3D printing components in relation to their place from the extruder. When the calibration process is over, your print bed should be in the perfect place for your extruder to start printing with no problem.

If the terms we use sound unfamiliar to you, don’t worry as our user-friendly interface and the visuals we put on settings screens will be useful for you when you are trying to learn the concepts. Just follow the instructions we provide you and you should be completely fine.

Zaxe X3 Z Offset Calibration and First Layer

Set the Z-Offset Settings and the First Layer

This will be the step that will require your input the most. You will have to manually adjust the Z-Offset so your first layer sticks to the print bed properly. You will have to adjust the placement of your nozzle in relation to the print bed. If the print bed is too far away from the nozzle, the first layer, and the layers after for that matter, won't stick. If they are too close, then the nozzle will scrape on your print and completely ruin it.

When the Z-Offset calibration begins, your Zaxe X3 will start printing a zigzag pattern on the print bed. The interface will ask you to adjust the height. Keep in mind that pressing the up key will bring the print bed up, not the nozzle.

The thin layer of material on the print bed should be just stuck on the surface enough to require some push from your fingertip to come off.

If it comes off too easily, you need to bring the print bed up. If the nozzle is scraping on the print bed and smooshing the filament, bring the print bed down. Also seeing the individual layers on the first layer is a good sign because it means the nozzle is not scraping on the print.

Maintenance

What is Calibration?

Was this article helpful?