How To Level A 3D Printer Bed: A Comprehensive Guide

--- title: 'How To Level A 3D Printer Bed: A Comprehensive Guide' date: '2023-11-23' summary: '3D Printer Bed Leveling: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide For Beginners' image: 'https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/how-to-level-a-3d-printer-bed/ACCURATE_BED_LEVEL_EXPLAINED.jpg' author: 'MatterManifest' tags: ['Beginner', '3D Printer', 'Printer'] --- Leveling your 3D Printer Bed (Bed Level Calibration) is a crucial step to ensure successful and precise 3D prints. For most entry-level 3D printers, achieving an accurately leveled bed will resolve 80% of potential printing problems. However, given the numerous terms and different technologies that have been created for bed leveling, it's becoming more confusing than ever to know what the actual bed leveling process entails. Proper bed leveling ensures that the nozzle-to-bed distance is uniform across the entire printing surface, preventing issues like poor adhesion, uneven layers, and nozzle collisions. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of leveling your 3D printer bed using four essential steps. Take note of all of the steps, even if it may not apply to you, and perform each of the steps in order for best results. If you would like to jump to a detailed step by step guide to Bed Level any Ender 3 Printer, look for our [Troubleshooter](/diagnostic) links at the bottom of this article. # # --- # # - [1. Setting A Default Z Offset](#set-default-z-offset) - [2. Tramming The Bed](#tramming-the-bed) - [3. Mesh Leveling](#mesh-leveling) - [4. Live Adjusting Z Offset](#adjust-z-offset) # # --- # # # 1. Setting The Default Z Offset ![](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/how-to-level-a-3d-printer-bed/SETTING_Z_OFFSET_EXPLAINED.jpg) Before you begin the bed leveling process, it's essential to set the default Z-axis position. This step is necessary if your nozzle is too close to the bed and might result in the nozzle scraping against the bed during the leveling process. On the other hand, your printer''s home position may have a default Z Offset that is too far from the print bed. Here's how to set the default Z-axis position: - **1.1** From screen controls, Set your printer to Auto Home and bring the nozzle to its starting position. - **1.2** If the nozzle is too close to the bed, adjust the Z-axis by using the printer's controls to move the nozzle away from the bed slightly. You want to ensure that there is enough clearance to avoid any contact with the bed. ![](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/how-to-level-a-3d-printer-bed/SET_Z_OFFSET.gif) # # --- # # # 2. Tramming The Bed (Adjust Bed Screws) ![](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/how-to-level-a-3d-printer-bed/BED_TRAMMING_EXPLAINED.jpg) Tramming is the next step in the bed leveling process and involves adjusting the bed's corners or fulcrum points manually. The goal is to make the print bed parallel to the nozzle's movement path. Here's how to perform tramming: - **2.1** Disable the stepper motors to allow the bed to be moved freely. You can typically do this through the printer's control panel or software interface. - **2.2** Use a piece of paper or a feeler gauge as a reference. Place it between the nozzle and the bed at one corner of the bed. - **2.3** Adjust the bed's leveling knobs or screws for that corner until you feel a slight drag when moving the paper or gauge. You want to achieve a snug fit without excessive force. - **NOTE:** It's important to think of your 3D printer's bed as a balanced system with a central Fulcrum point. Each corner of the bed acts like a lever, affecting the opposite corner when adjusted. For example, lowering one corner raises the opposite corner. To achieve a level bed, it's best to make small adjustments to all four corners simultaneously. This ensures a uniform level without unintended changes in other corners. ![](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/how-to-level-a-3d-printer-bed/FULCRUM_EXPLAINED.png) - **2.4** Repeat this process for all corners of the bed, making sure each corner is at the same level as the nozzle. - **2.5** Go back to the first corner and re-check, making any necessary adjustments to ensure consistent leveling across all corners. For lower-end models like the Ender 3, Ender 3 Pro, and Ender 3 V2, which lack features like mesh leveling or live Z adjustments, you can use a [Bed Tramming Script](/catalog/bed-leveling-script) to automate the process. These scripts typically move the extruder to each of the four corners and the center of the bed, allowing for a more accurate tramming process when manual adjustments aren't available. Follow the instructions provided with the bed leveling script for your specific printer model. ![](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/how-to-level-a-3d-printer-bed/BED_TRAMMING.gif) # # --- # # # 3. Mesh Leveling (BL Touch, CR Touch, Or Equivalent) ![](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/how-to-level-a-3d-printer-bed/MESH_LEVELING_EXPLAINED.jpg) Mesh Leveling is a technology that tracks each section of your print bed and adjusts for surface imperfections by creating a separate Z-Offset when the Nozzle is printing in that area. Generally, mesh leveling results can be categorized into three main buckets. **Great** results involve deviations under 0.5mm, meaning your bed surface is fairly even and consistent. **Good** results fall within the range of 0.5mm to 1mm, meaning your bed may have some imperfections but should not be an issue for most prints. When deviations exceed 1mm, the results are considered **Bad**, as they may indicate **Improper Assembly of the Axis Gantry**, **Uneven Tightening of Printer Bed Screws**, or **Incorrect Bed Tramming**. This may lead to issues in print quality, particularly for detailed or aesthetic prints. If your 3D printer is equipped with a mesh bed leveling system, such as a BL Touch or CR Touch, you can take advantage of automated leveling to fine-tune the bed's alignment. Here's how to perform mesh leveling: - **3.1** Activate the mesh bed leveling feature in your printer's firmware, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for your specific sensor. - **3.2** The sensor will probe the bed at multiple points to create a mesh of height values, compensating for any minor surface irregularities. - **3.3** Once the mesh leveling is complete, your printer will automatically adjust the Z-axis during printing to maintain a consistent nozzle-to-bed distance. Newer 3D Printers such as the Ender 3 V3 SE and Ender 3 V3 KE do not have the option for Bed Tramming as the Bed Screws have been removed in the design. In these cases any **Bad** results from Mesh Leveling (Deviations greater than 1.0mm) may be solved by evenly tightening the gantry or invoking the warranty for a warped Bed. ![](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/how-to-level-a-3d-printer-bed/AUTO_LEVEL_BED.gif) # # --- # # # 4. Live Adjust Z Offset (Z Axis Comp, Z Offset, Z Home Offset) ![](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/how-to-level-a-3d-printer-bed/SETTING_Z_OFFSET_EXPLAINED.jpg) After tramming and mesh leveling, it's time to fine-tune the Z offset. This step allows you to make real-time adjustments to the nozzle-to-bed distance during printing, ensuring perfect first-layer adhesion. Here's how to perform a live Z offset adjustment: - **4.1** Start a test print with a simple object or check out our Catalog for a [Calibration Print](/catalog?tag=calibration). - **4.2** While the first layer is being printed, use the printer's controls to adjust the Z offset on-the-fly. - **4.3** Gradually lower the Z offset if the first layer isn't adhering properly, or raise it if the nozzle is too close to the bed, causing the filament to squish. - **4.4** Make small adjustments and observe the results until you achieve the desired first-layer quality. By following these four essential steps - setting the default Z, tramming, mesh leveling (if applicable), and live adjusting the Z offset - you can ensure that your 3D printer bed is perfectly leveled, resulting in successful and precise 3D prints. Regularly check and maintain your bed leveling to achieve consistent and high-quality prints with ease. ![Infographic by Billie Ruben](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/how-to-level-a-3d-printer-bed/FIRST_LAYER_CALIBRATION.png) **Infographic by Billie Ruben** ![](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/how-to-level-a-3d-printer-bed/ADJUST_Z_OFFSET.gif) # Step By Step Guides To Bed Leveling For Any Ender 3 Printer These solutions and more are available in our [Troubleshooter](/diagnostic) which has indexed 100+ case studies of commong printing problems and known solutions. These links will directly take you to the corresponding Bed Leveling articles for each printer. # # - [How To Level The Bed On An Ender 3](https://mattermanifest.com/diagnostic/solution/bed-level-ender-3) - [How To Level The Bed On An Ender 3 Pro](https://mattermanifest.com/diagnostic/solution/bed-level-ender-3-pro) - [How To Level The Bed On An Ender 3 V2](https://mattermanifest.com/diagnostic/solution/bed-level-ender-3-v2) - [How To Level The Bed On An Ender 3 Neo](https://mattermanifest.com/diagnostic/solution/bed-level-ender-3-neo) - [How To Level The Bed On An Ender 3 V2 Neo](https://mattermanifest.com/diagnostic/solution/bed-level-ender-3-v2-neo) - [How To Level The Bed On An Ender 3 V3 SE](https://mattermanifest.com/diagnostic/solution/bed-level-ender-3-v3-se) - (Coming soon) How To Level The Bed On An Ender 3 V3 KE - [How To Level The Bed On An Ender 3 S1](https://mattermanifest.com/diagnostic/solution/bed-level-ender-3-s1) - [How To Level The Bed On An Ender 3 S1 Pro](https://mattermanifest.com/diagnostic/solution/bed-level-ender-3-s1-pro) - [How To Level The Bed On An Ender 3 S1 Plus](https://mattermanifest.com/diagnostic/solution/bed-level-ender-3-s1-plus) # #

How To Level A 3D Printer Bed: A Comprehensive Guide

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