Learn to use MatterControl’s Child Stepping characteristic and achieve the power to actively alter your first-layer-height.
Up to date on October 17, 2022
by
Taylor Landry
Should you began a print and your first layer was a bit of too excessive or a bit of too low there have been two choices: hope for the most effective, or cease the print, re-level the mattress, and begin over. Now there’s another choice. You’ll be able to actively management the primary layer top through the use of Child Stepping in MatterControl.
What’s Child Stepping?
“Child stepping” stepping is a bit of identified characteristic that has been in Marlin and Repetier firmware for fairly a while, however it’s usually not enabled, and it requires an LCD display screen with a click-wheel to perform. It permits the person to maneuver the Z axis up/down in small quantities throughout a print to be able to finely tune the primary layer top.
MatterControl now permits child stepping with none firmware modifications. You’ll be able to transfer the X and Y axes along with the Z axis.
How one can use Child Stepping
You’ll be able to entry child stepping within the ‘Motion Controls’ – beneath the Controls Tab.
As soon as the print has began, merely click on Z+ to maneuver the nozzle increased away from bed, or Z- to maneuver it nearer to the mattress.
Discover the “Offset” subsequent to the House buttons. This means how a lot you’ve moved every axis because the print began (X, Y, Z). So, within the print proven, the nozzle was moved down 1mm nearer to the mattress.
So why would you should use child stepping? There are a few helpful makes use of for it.
Offset Quantity
Totally different supplies persist with totally different mattress supplies in a different way. For instance, if you’re utilizing BuildTak and printing with Ninjaflex, you should be very cautious to not smash your first layer down an excessive amount of. Should you do, you’ll doubtless by no means have the ability to take away the half otherwise you’ll harm the BuildTak. You would alter your Z offset and/or your Z top earlier than you begin printing, or you would merely use child stepping to regulate it on the fly.
Should you use totally different construct plates and surfaces for various supplies, you doubtless want to regulate your Z top any time you turn construct plates. Child stepping permits you to alter as you begin printing somewhat than recalibrating and adjusting your {hardware} and software program settings.
The most effective cause, a minimum of in our expertise, is that it may be tough to regulate your Z top completely . Some machines have 4 level mattress changes, some have 3, and a few have none. Some use inductive probes, some use mechanical endstops, and a few use conductive probes. They’ll all have totally different points that result in improper first layer heights, and the primary layer is by far an important layer of your print. And whereas an excellent first layer isn’t a assure of a profitable print, a nasty first layer is nearly sure to wreck your print.
Child stepping permits you to completely alter your first layer top to make sure the very best likelihood for a profitable print.
What does good first layer seem like?
1) It is a illustration of a nasty first layer. The filament is simply laying on prime of the mattress – with no actual compression. This leaves a really small contact level with the mattress and can doubtless outcome within the half not sticking to the mattress.
Too Excessive
2) Best first layer for many supplies
Good
3) Means too shut. You’ll doubtless have extrusion points as a result of there’s nowhere in your filament to go. Stress will construct up within the nozzle and will trigger filament grinding, warmth creep, or different extrusion associated points.
Too Low
Child stepping ideas and tips:
– A skirt of 4-5 loops is an effective way to regulate the primary layer top earlier than it begins printing your half.
– Should you change beds or surfaces regularly, it’s most likely a good suggestion to place a Z Offset that will forestall the nozzle from ramming into the glass in the beginning of prints. You’ll be able to then use child stepping to maneuver the nozzle to the suitable top firstly of the print.
– Should you discover that you just all the time want the identical quantity of child stepping to attain an excellent first layer, word the quantity within the offset and enter that into your Z Offset setting beneath Printer > Print Space > Z Offset.