{"id":809,"date":"2021-11-10T20:47:47","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T23:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/impresion3d.website\/?p=809"},"modified":"2023-09-04T14:47:48","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T17:47:48","slug":"how-to-calibrate-extruder-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/impresion3d.website\/en\/how-to-calibrate-extruder-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"How to calibrate the steps of the extruder"},"content":{"rendered":"

You've probably heard about calibrating the extruder steps, this is a crucial task that will allow you to get high-quality and accurate prints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, I will show you how to calibrate the extruder steps of your 3D printer, specifically the Ender 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calibrating the extruder steps will allow the amount of filament that is pushed through the extruder to be accurate and precise.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Heat the print nozzle<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Remove the coupling from the extruder<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Make a first reference mark<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Extrude 100mm of filament and make a second mark<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Measure the distance between the two marks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Calculate extruder steps and make adjustments<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Save the new values so they are not lost<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Check that the extruder has been correctly calibrated<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    What are the extruder steps and why calibrate them?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The extruder steps refer to the amount of steps per millimeter<\/strong> that the motor needs to push the filament. This means that in order to extrude a quantity of filament, the printer must have stored in its memory the number of steps that the motor must perform to accomplish this action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In simple terms, extruder steps are the amount of filament that moves through the extruder when printing. These steps are controlled by the extruder motor and are measured in units known as \u201csteps\/mm\u201d or \u201csteps\/mm\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Calibration of the extruder steps is important because if the steps are set incorrectly, the amount of filament that is extruded may be incorrect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Not calibrating the steps of the extruder can lead to problems of sub-extrusion<\/strong> or of over-extrusion<\/strong>, that is, that the engine push less or more filament<\/strong> than it should<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You must calibrate the steps of the extruder because it will guarantee quality 3D prints and with more precise dimensional measurements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to calibrate the steps of the extruder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    To show you how to calibrate the steps on your printer, I'm going to use mine as an example. Is a Ender 3<\/strong> with a common factory extruder and we are going to do it together step by step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tools you will need<\/strong><\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • 1 ruler (preferably metal), or a manual or digital caliper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • A marker or pen.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Some filament for testing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      1. Heat the print nozzle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Due to a safety measure, most printers will not allow extruder movement unless the nozzle is hot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You are going to select preheat and wait for it to reach the pre-selected temperature, which will be approximately 200 \u00b0 C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Once this is done, you must remove the coupling located on the extruder.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"How
      Heat Nozzle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      2. Remove the pneumatic coupling from the extruder<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      In order for the filament to move freely, you are going to temporarily remove the pneumatic coupling from the extruder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This will allow you to make a couple of marks with a pen, to take the measurements in millimeters with the ruler or the Caliper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Unscrew the pneumatic coupling with a wrench and then pass some filament manually through the extruder.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"Remove
      Remove the pneumatic coupler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      3. Make the first mark to have as a reference<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      You are going to pass a small portion of filament over the extruder and with the pen you are going to make the first mark on the filament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This mark is important to have a reference of how many millimeters are going to be extruded by the motor.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"How
      make the first mark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      4. Extrude 100 millimeters of filament and make the second mark.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      In the menu of your printer, you will give the order to extrude 100 millimeters of filament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Once this is done, you are going to make a second mark <\/strong>to take the measurements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You must make the marks as close to the extruder, always in the same place to try to make the measurements as exact as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"How
      Extrude 100 millimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
      \n
      \"How
      Make the second mark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      5. Measure the distance between the two marks.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      To know if the extruder of your printer is calibrated, you must measure the distance in millimeters between the two marks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Remember that you gave the order to extrude 100 millimeters, if the measurement is the same then you will not have to make any changes, since the extruder steps are correct. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Now if the measurement is greater or less you must make an adjustment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"\"
      Measure the distance between the 2 marks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
      \n
      \"How
      A caliper will be more accurate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      6. Calculate the extruder steps and make adjustments.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      To perform this calculation we will use the following formula: (Desired distance X steps from printer) \/ Actual distance = New parameter<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      To find the parameters that come by default in the Ender 3\/Ender 3 Pro you must look in the menu: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Control \u2013 Movement \u2013 Steps\/mm \u2013 Steps\/mm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In your case, you should look for the steps that are configured by default by looking in the menu your printer<\/strong><\/span>. <\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"\"
      steps\/mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      Continuing with the example of the Ender 3, the formula would apply as follows (100mm x 93 steps) \/ 98.63mm = 94.29 steps<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Then the new value to save in the printer firmware would be 94.3 Steps\/mm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      7. Save the new values, so they are not lost.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      If you don't save your changes to memory, the next time you turn off the machine, all the data you've entered will be lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      To do this you must go to the menu:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Control \u2013 Save Memory<\/strong> (Store Settings in English)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      If you have done it correctly you will hear a beep from the printer.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"\"
      Save the values in \u201cStore settings\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      8. Check that the extruder has been well calibrated.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Repeat the process of extruding 100 millimeters of filament again and carry out a control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      If the result is 100 millimeters, then you've done it! Your extruder has been correctly calibrated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You can reconnect the Racor coupler and start printing.<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"\"
      Check that it extrudes 100 millimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      Video on YouTube: SHARE HORIZONS<\/a><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n