Calibrating Your Printer - SebastianConran Vector 3 Quick Start Manual

4. calibrating your printer

calibration
Calibration ensures the build plate is exactly perpendicular to the
print nozzle, and that its movements comply with commands
from the 3D Create & Print software. You should only need to
calibrate the printer once (i.e. as part of this initial setup).
You will need the calibration gauge supplied. You will also need
to operate the printer with the hood raised; to enable this, go to
Config, select Printer Settings, and check the box marked Disable
Hood Safety Switch. You may also prefer to remove the print
guard (see step 8, page 6) for easier access to the nozzle.
1. The Calibration Setup (image A, right) appears when you first try
to connect the software to the printer. The five points O, A, B, C,
D correspond to the areas on the build plate where you will be
checking the gap between the plate and the print nozzle. Click
on each point in turn to move the plate accordingly.
2. Click on the 'up' arrow to raise the build plate. For 10mm travel,
click the arrow head. For 1mm travel, click the centre part of the
arrow. For 0.1mm travel, click the arrow base. Raise the plate by
a total of 110–115mm, taking it to 10–15mm below the nozzle.
3. Now click through the five squares and watch the plate as it
tracks beneath the nozzle. If it looks level, raise it to within 2mm
of the nozzle, then go to step 6. Alternatively, if the plate is on a
tilt – however slight – continue to step 4.
4. With the small Allen key, loosen (DO NOT remove) the three
grubscrews in the plate support base (image B). This will allow
you to adjust the vertical bolts that control the tilt of the plate.
5. Track from square to square again (image A) and check the gap.
Using a screwdriver or your fingers, turn the vertical adjustment
bolts (image C) until you achieve a consistent gap between plate
and nozzle at all five squares. This may take a while; you should
make only small adjustments to each bolt in turn.
6. Bring the plate up to <1mm below the nozzle. Adjust the elevation
until the calibration gauge just slides into the gap (image D).
Retighten grubscrews (image B) and check again with the gauge.
7. Finally, click Set Height. Your machine is now calibrated.
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8
a
UP
DOWN
In the Calibration Setup window, use the up and down
arrows to raise or lower the build plate. Each three-part
arrow enables you to adjust the plate height in graded
increments (10mm, 1mm, or 0.1mm).
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c
Now, carefully turn the adjustment bolts to level the plate. For
instance, to lower the right-hand side, tighten the right-hand
bolt (marked R above). To raise it, loosen bolt R. To raise the
back of the plate, loosen the centre bolt C; and so on.
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b
To adjust the tilt of the build plate, first use the small Allen
key to loosen the three grubscrews (two in front, one
behind) that lock the vertical adjustment bolts. DO NOT fully
extract the grubscrews, as they are tiny and easy to misplace.
R d
C
Once you have reduced the gap between build plate and
nozzle to a millimetre or less, use the calibration gauge to
measure it. The gauge should just slide into the gap at all
five points of the Calibration Setup window (image A).