Introduction: 0:01
Initial setup and first steps: 3:25
GCODE inputs into command dialog: 5:17
Feeler gauges: 7:31
Moving the print head in machine control: 8:20
Calibration print of first layer: 12:16
First layer characteristics I look for: 13:41
Outro: 15:19
This sort of “tutorial” is using the Skynet version 2.3.2fix2, it has worked great since I installed it so I see no real reason to upgrade as of right now. If you are running the stock Anet A8 firmware for auto level the process might be a little bit different. I have not used the stock auto level firmware because my unit did not have auto level when I purchased it and Skynet was the most suggested firmware switch at the time, it also has some added features like thermal runaway which can prevent problems if the heating element comes out of the heat block unexpectedly. You can find the SkyNet firmware on facebook you can find information about SkyNet3D here (https://github.com/thijsk/Skynet3d). After I updated to SkyNet it worked fine for me, it doesn’t work great for everyone so please research if it would be right for you.
I had a catastrophic failure on the Anet A8 while switching nozzles the other day. I switched back to a 0.4 mm nozzle from the 1.5 mm monster nozzle I had in for the large print video. If you haven’t seen that yet you might want to check it out (https://youtu.be/uh81qjMS3OQ). I wanted to get the nozzle back to the normal size so I can continue to print “normal” 3D Printed things with small layer size and relatively smooth outer layers.
So I proceeded to remove the old nozzle…no problem…heated up the machine…no problem…went to tighten down the 0.4 mm nozzle and boom…cracked the nozzle throat right half in two! No worries I have backups but this means then that my auto level sensor has no idea where the new nozzle is in relation to the carriage position. This means I had to reset my auto-level position in the firmware using Simplify3D machine control. You can do this with and control user interface for your slicer, many different slicers have this ability or you can use something like pronterface (Printrun) to control the printer. It is nice in Simplify3D that you can do it in program and do not need extra programs but the end result should be the same no matter what slicer you use.
It’s rather simple, all you do is setup the printer to run again as normal and decide what your first layer height from your build plate should be. In my case I like to have the sensor “over compensate” a bit meaning I want the nozzle to be a little closer to the bed than what the first layer height is. I normally print at a 0.2 mm layer height so I use a 0.18 mm feeler gauge to set the Z offset for the sensor.
Using Gcode commands as prompted in the SkyNet manual for Z offset you home the printer, move the nozzle to the center of the bed using the G1 X110 Y110 command. You then move your nozzle down in the machine control to set just barely touch the feeler gauge. Then you lock the Z height in the firmware with the G92 Z0 command this tells the 3D printer that your nozzle is at the correct printing height and to record what the sensor is sensing. Then you command G30 X110 Y110 to test where the sensor triggers at the value you selected for Z height. This value is then used by the printer to establish where the nozzle is in the Z axis on the mesh of the 220x220 mm bed. You will get a return value after the G30 command that outputs a positive number for where the sensor is located each time it is triggered at the set height from the build plate. You then lock the negative value of this number into your firmware memory by command M851 Z-enter_number_here , then lock that into firmware. Then that’s it you’re done. Hopefully everything lines up and you’re off to the races.
Feel free to check out my other content, I usually have more production value in some of my build videos, so if that’s something you would be interested in, check it out!
Keep your amps up and your filament dry!
E
