Leveling a 3D Printer Bed: Step-by-Step

As I learned many years back (see Calibrating and Leveling My 3D Printer), one of the most important (and often frustrating) steps in setting up your 3D printer is leveling the bed. A level bed ensures your first layer adheres properly to the build plate, resulting in a smooth and accurate print. In this article, we’ll go through the steps to level your 3D printer bed.

Throughout this article I talk about using the control panel or your software to control the printer. Get to know your control panel. You might need to look around but many have a “Manual Level” option which allows you to tap on-screen buttons to tram the head to each corner of the bed.

Step 0: Heat the bed

If you have a heated bed, I recommend preheating it before attempting leveling the bed of your 3d printer because thermal expansion can change your results. You can heat the nozzle but it is small enough that I don’t think thermal expansion is really a concern.

Step 1: Home the 3d printer

The first step is to home your 3D printer. This will bring the extruder to its starting position. Most 3D printers have a home button in the control panel. If yours printer doesn’t have a control panel you can send the “G28” g-code command through your software.

Step 2: Move the extruder to the first corner

Once the printer is homed, you’ll need to move the extruder to the first corner of the build plate. Use the control panel or 3D printing software to move the extruder to the front left corner of the build plate. I usually raise the nozzle and then move to a point inset about 20mm from the front left corner.

• Raise the nozzle 10mm above the bed using the control panel or you can use the g-code command “G1 Z10”
• Next use the control panel to move the print head, or g-code command “G1 X20 Y20” should do the trick.

Step 3: Insert a piece of paper

Next, you’ll need a piece of paper. Slide the paper under the extruder until it’s between the nozzle and the build plate. Using the control panel, move the print head down to a height of 0, or use g-code “G1 Z0”. You should now feel some slight resistance when you move the paper back and forth.

Step 4: Adjust the bed height

If there is a lot of pressure on the paper or worse, it tears when you try to pull on it, the bed is too high. You will need to use the thumbwheel to move the bed away from the nozzle tip. If there is no resistance when you try to move the paper the bed is too low. You will need to use the thumbwheel to move the bed closer to the nozzle tip. I try for a slight dragging sensation if I pull the paper, but the paper bunches up when I push.

Step 5: Level all corners

Repeat steps 2-4 for the remaining corners of the build plate. Move the extruder to the front right, back right, and back left corners, and repeat the process. You will need to know the dimensions of your printer for this step, and you will want to use the control panel to move the print head to a position about 20mm inset from the corners. Don’t forget to raise nozzle before each move, just in case any corner is too close to the nozzle tip. If any corner is too close to the nozzle you can gouge the bed and it will affect all of your prints.

If you are using g-code you can use the commands above by substituting in the width/length – 20. So for example for a 250x250mm bed I would use

• G1 Z10
• G1 X20 Y230
• G1 Z0
• etc.

Step 6: Check the center of the build plate

Once you’ve leveled all the corners, move the extruder to the center of the build plate and check the height there. If the center is too tight or too loose, your bed might be warped. If it is a heated bed and you did not pre-heat it, you might go back to “Step 0” and start over before you assume the bed is warped.

Step 7: Print a test object

In conclusion, leveling the bed of your 3D printer is a crucial step in achieving high-quality prints. By following these steps, you can ensure that your first layer adheres properly and your prints turn out great. Happy printing!