Bed Alignment Jig

thingiverse

This device provides simple and easy-to-use bed levelling. Based on ideas presented in thing 62553 ('The Calibrator'), this design uses a Digital Dial Indicator, such as the one found at https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01H035DRO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. This indicator is also available from http://www.harborfreight.com/1-inch-sae-metric-digital-indicator-93295.html. Prices for these digital indicators vary, but expect to pay around $20-$30, as supreme accuracy isn't required. To interface the dial indicator via a USB connection, follow the instructions at https://hackaday.io/project/511-digital-dial-indicator-cnc-surface-probe. This device should work with any 3D printer based on the Makerbot 2 design. Implementing this device provides a simple way to adjust bed levelling. No longer must you move the head around and try to gauge height by sliding a piece of paper under the nozzle; just set one height point, then move this device around to set the same height across the table. Bed levelling takes only 2 minutes, and the result is a bed that's levelled more accurately than using a piece of paper. To create this device, you'll need some additional parts: * 4x N38 Round Rare Earth Neodymium Magnets 12mm x 3mm With 3mm hole * 20x M3 Flanged Rivnuts (also known as 'nutserts') * 4x M3 10mm countersunk bolts * 2x M3 20mm bolts * 1x M6 50mm bolt and nut If you don't have rivnuts, you can print the sled with nuts, and use M3 nuts instead. Rivnuts are definitely preferred. eBay is a great resource if you need any of these parts. Using this device is straightforward. Note that we're not interested in setting a particular height; we just need all points on the bed to be the same height: 1) Set to home position - bed raised, nozzles in north-east corner. 2) Set bed height in one corner using traditional paper-between-nozzle-and-bed method. This gives you the reference height used by all other levelling points. 3) Slide the nozzles to the right (maximum X). 4) Slip this device onto the rails - it will hold firmly with the rare earth magnets but can be slid on the X axis. Slide indicator over the point set in (2) above. 5) Zero the dial indicator. 6) Move dial indicator over each adjustment screw and wind bed up/down to set zero on the indicator. That's it! Bed is levelled, and you should get perfect prints! Printer Settings: * Printer Brand: MakerBot * Printer: MakerBot Replicator 2X * Rafts: Doesn't Matter * Supports: No * Resolution: 0.2 * Infill: 20% * Notes: You may not need the shims - these are only provided to ensure your dial indicator is at the same rough height for measurement purposes. Nutserts are pushed into the locating holes in the sled. It's easy to push an M3 bolt through from the far side, then screw the rivnut on, and tighten the bolt to pull the rivnut into the hole. Post-Printing: * Remove lily pads * Cut lily pads off of corners using scissors How I Designed This: * TinkerCAD: I used TinkerCAD throughout.