X-Leveling Spacer

thingiverse

UPDATE - 02/02/19: Revised the Title and Summary to better describe the actual purpose of these spacers. UPDATE - 12/15/18: Added a Rev2 version, increasing its depth by 5mm and incorporating a "handle" for easier use. Tired of relying on a single piece of scrap aluminum, I created two identical spacers to level the X-axis of my printer. This simple solution allows me to calibrate my Z-axis height with precision. These spacers are 70mm tall and slip easily into the side rails of the gantry. You may need to enlarge the grooves slightly using a file or sandpaper, depending on your printer's individual characteristics. Mine fit snugly in place but still slide out effortlessly after calibration. Dual Z-motors can become out of sync, causing the X-axis to tilt and requiring level adjustment. To solve this issue, I insert these spacers before every print, adjust the leadscrews until they feel identical on both sides, then remove them and start printing. The result is perfect 1st layers every time. Regarding my hot bed setup: PEI film is applied to a boro glass surface, secured with binder clips. The hot bed itself is hard-mounted to a single Y-carriage plate using two locking thumbwheels per bolt, without any springs, cups, washers, or spacers. Once the bed is leveled and locked in place, I rarely need to level it again. Occasional checks reveal that it remains perfectly level unless something has shifted. I've included an SLDPRT file, a STEP file, and an STL file for your reference. If you'd like to share your creations using these spacers, please post them below. Thank you!