Modify height (set z max)

21 June 2022
|By Diego Villa

The height (often called Z max) of the printer is the value that defines the distance between the nozzle and the print bed when it is in its zero position (home).
The height is part of the calibration values ​​of the machine and the right value is essential for good operation.
This value is automatically saved by the machine during autocalibration.
When the machine is turned on, in the monitoring screen it is possible to see among the values ​​shown that of the height saved in the machine (indicated as Z).

However, it is possible to manually change the height if necessary.
Specifically, it can be useful when:

  • your printer is not equipped with an auto-calibration system.
  • it is necessary to slightly correct the height value

As the height value changes, the following scenarios may occur:

To manually change the height value, each printer is equipped with a dedicated command within the PREPARE menu, depending on the version it can be called:

Modify height
Set Z max

REMEMBER THAT THIS VALUE IS AUTOMATICALLY SAVED DURING THE SELF-CALIBRATION PROCEDURE, IT IS NOT NORMALLY NECESSARY TO CHANGE IT MANUALLY

  1. Clean the print bed and the nozzle.
  2. Bring the printer to zero position (autohome)
  3. Use the command Prepare> Modify height (or Set Z max)

The screen allows you to choose a scale value at the top (between 100 mm, 10 mm, 1 mm, 0.1 mm) and consequently to go down or up by that value on the Z axis.

  1. With a scale value of 100, click on the -Z arrow making the nozzle descend to about 20 cm above the printing surface.
  2. Select the scale value at 10 mm
  3. With scale value 10, click on the -Z arrow making the nozzle descend to about 2 cm above the printing surface.
  4. Select the scale value at 1 mm
  5. With scale value 1, click on the -Z arrow making the nozzle go down to about 2 mm above the printing surface.
  6. Select the scale value at 0.1 mm
  7. With a scale value of 0.1, click on the -Z arrow making the nozzle go down until a slight friction is felt by placing a sheet of paper between it and the top.
  8. Click on the SET Z MAX button to save the new value or CANCEL to cancel the operation.