CreatBot DX Bed Alignment Jig

thingiverse

This thing is designed to assist in building plate levelling for the CreatBot DX printer. It may or may not work for printers that use a similar overhead gantry system, such as the Ultimaker 2, depending on the critical measurement of gantry components. To use this design, users will need to provide two dial indicators: these can be purchased on Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01H035DRO or an alternative option is available on Harbor Freight's website http://www.harborfreight.com/1-inch-sae-metric-digital-indicator-93295.html. Note that these dial indicators can be quite expensive, but a compatible indicator should cost around $30 US. Users will also need two M6 flanged rivnuts or two M6 nuts, depending on which STL file is printed, as well as two M6 x 40mm bolts and washers. Optionally, if users wish to couple the main jig with other components, they will need a number of M3 flanged rivuts and M3 bolts/washers. The dial indicators can be modified so that readings can be taken by external equipment, according to information on hackaday.io project 511: https://hackaday.io/project/511-digital-dial-indicator-cnc-surface-probe. The basic principle of this thing is to level the heated bed so that it is parallel to the overhead gantry axes. This is achieved by mounting the jig onto the Y axis shaft, which also takes into consideration the alignment of the X axis shaft. Users do not actually need the 'secure' component of this thing - it has been provided in case users want to clamp the jig onto the Y axis. Aligning the heated build plate is straightforward and much more accurate than moving the gantry to each corner of the build plate and then sliding a piece of paper under the nozzle. The procedure for levelling the build plate is as follows: 1) Set the nozzle-to-build-plate distance for one single point centrally placed in the middle of the build plate. The actual physical position does not need great accuracy - it just needs to be roughly central. 2) Power down the printer (users do not want the printer moving the gantry system if they accidentally hit the home switch). 3) Install this jig onto the Y shaft, ensuring that the two rear ears of the jig slide alongside the red nozzle component of the CreatBot DX and the jig is firmly pushed against the red component. Users could use double-sided sticky tape to hold it in position - but it wasn't necessary. 4) Move each of the dial indicators over the point set in step 1, and zero each dial indicator. This defines the vertical height measured by the dial indicator - users need to set the build plate height to be the same across the whole build plate. 5) Move the gantry to centre-front and use the thumbscrews under the build plate to set zero on the respective indicator for the left and right front corners of the build plate. These adjustments mean that the respective corner of the build plate is at the same height as the central point defined in step 1. 6) Repeat for the rear corners by sliding the jig/gantry to the rear. It's likely that users won't set these corner heights to be exactly zero - a variation of +/- 10 micrometres was found to be acceptable for levelling purposes. This simple process should result in the build plate being at the right height across its entire surface, making it quick and easy to use. Printer Settings: Printer: Any 3D printer Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.2mm Infill: 20% I designed this using TinkerCAD throughout.