In case you began a print and your first layer was just a little too excessive or just a little too low there have been two choices: hope for the perfect, or cease the print, re-level the mattress, and begin over. Now there’s another choice. You possibly can actively management the primary layer peak through the use of Child Stepping in MatterControl. 

What’s Child Stepping? 

“Child stepping” stepping is just a little identified function that has been in Marlin and Repetier firmware for fairly a while, but it surely’s typically not enabled, and it requires an LCD display screen with a click-wheel to operate. It permits the person to maneuver the Z axis up/down in small quantities throughout a print as a way to finely tune the primary layer peak.

MatterControl now permits child stepping with none firmware modifications. You possibly can transfer the X and Y axes along with the Z axis.

The right way to use Child Stepping

You possibly can 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 greater up and doing, or Z- to maneuver it nearer to the mattress.

Discover the “Offset” subsequent to the Residence 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 have to use child stepping? There are a few helpful makes use of for it.

Offset Quantity

Completely different supplies persist with totally different mattress supplies in a different way. For instance, if you’re utilizing BuildTak and printing with Ninjaflex, you have to be very cautious to not smash your first layer down an excessive amount of. In case you do, you’ll possible by no means have the ability to take away the half otherwise you’ll harm the BuildTak. You would modify your Z offset and/or your Z peak earlier than you begin printing, or you can merely use child stepping to regulate it on the fly.

In case you use totally different construct plates and surfaces for various supplies, you possible want to regulate your Z peak any time you turn construct plates. Child stepping lets you modify as you begin printing moderately 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 peak 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 crucial layer of your print. And whereas a very good first layer isn’t a assure of a profitable print, a nasty first layer is nearly sure to smash your print.

Child stepping lets you completely modify your first layer peak to make sure the absolute best likelihood for a profitable print.

What does good first layer appear to be?

1) This can be 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 possible consequence within the half not sticking to the mattress.

Too Excessive

2) Very best first layer for many supplies

Good

3) Method too shut. You’ll possible 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 suggestions and methods:

– A skirt of 4-5 loops is an effective way to regulate the primary layer peak earlier than it begins printing your half.

– In case you change beds or surfaces steadily, it’s in all probability a good suggestion to place a Z Offset that will stop the nozzle from ramming into the glass firstly of prints. You possibly can then use child stepping to maneuver the nozzle to the suitable peak in the beginning of the print.

– In case you discover that you just at all times want the identical quantity of child stepping to attain a very good first layer, observe the quantity within the offset and enter that into your Z Offset setting beneath Printer > Print Space > Z Offset.