A Better Nickel Calibration Test
Derived from
Description
This one is exactly 21.21 mm wide in both the x and y. The slots are the same lengths (21.21mm) but a little wide (3mm)to disregard the width of the slot until the x and y are perfect.
Instructions
"This is based on my limited knowledge of using, building a 3D printer (Prusa Mendel) and all the things I've learned up to this point (I started in March of 2011).
It has been pointed out to me that this may not be the end-all-be-all of calibration tests.
This test assumes that you have a working knowledge of calibrating your firmware steps per mm and are comfortable doing so. It also assumes that your extruder has been precisely calibrated.
Please use at your own discretion. It works for me."
Step 1- Print using zero extra shells, no scaling, or widen.
Step 2- Attempt to place a nickel in the circle once the print is done. If it does not sit perfectly in the circle with no extra space on the sides then move to step 3.
Step 3- Mark the two slots as needed to remember which is X and Y.
Step 4- Remove piece from bed.
Step 5- Measure the insides of each slot. Also, attempt to slide the nickel through. If the coin can not pass you will be increasing the steps per mm for that axis. Vice versa if coin easily passes through with space to spare.
Step 6- You should have two numbers from measuring the slots. I had 23 on x and 22 on Y.
Step 7- Divide your number by the width of the nickel (21.21mm) For me it was 21.21/23x= 0.9221739130434783 and 21.21/22y=0.9640909090909091
Step 8- Multiply this long number by your current steps per mm in the firmware. Mine was 42.42. So, 0.9221739130434783x*42.42=39.11861739130435
This number will become your NEW steps per mm for that axis. Repeat this step for Y.
Step 9- Upload this to your board and print again. Repeat until the coin barely fits through the slot and fits snugly in to the hole.
Step 10- To calibrate Z, simply use digital calipers to measure the height of the test piece and use the same method to change the steps per mm.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
How am I supposed to fit 5 pennies through the slots? ;-) Old joke but I couldn't resist. I've printed several of these--very handy and a 10 minute print.
This single thingi is awesome. In two prints I calibrated mine to where it needed to be to fit M3 nuts and the like. And my holes are now correct.
Outstanding!
I printed both this and http://www.thingiverse.com/thi... (square, known distance) and the coin one is exactly .35mm to small and the square is almost exactly .35mm to big and my hot end is .35mm. I printed them both at the same time with slic3r. I assume I'm calibrated since if I adjust one, it would throw the other one way out?
This is the first thing I print every time I change/tweak something. It does a great job of showing backlash in the x y axis. I've probably printed 75 of them. Great job!
Good stuff. I just switched from 8 to 12 tooth gears and had a rough idea of steps per mm. But this got it perfect. Well at least it showed my belts were loose and a little off on steps/mm
Of course its good for one color but slightly off for another. But thats a flow issue, 2 different size diameter filaments can cause issues like this.
Any ways, thanks!
I'm not really clear on where to make the necessary changes.
My print came out undersized (the slots were too short for the nickel to fit through, and the circle was too small as well.
I tried to find the settings in ReplicatorG (I looked under "Edit Base Profiles") but I didn't see a place to change "steps per mm".
I'm using a new (Jan 2012) makerbot T
oM with a Mk7 extruder. Thanks in advance for your help!
Steps per mm may be a Reprap thing. I just met someone with a Makerbot and I believe that you have to turn up the "pots" on the controller board to calibrate.
Can any Makerboters confirm this?
On a reprap we adjust the firmware on the controller board to dictate how many steps of the motor must be taken to equal 1 mm. We edit that by opening the Arduino software and changing the values of x y z or e.
I've added a disclaimer that my information may not be 100% the proper way to calibrate for this test. Use at own discretion.
Logically speaking, tweaking steps per mm doesn't make much sense - the steps per mm is fixed based on the belt and motor gearing, and nothing else...
Please explain that to me. I was under the impression that since I've ordered the nozzle head to move 21.21mm inside length of the box and it moves more or less how would tightening my belt or changing my pulleys help? They are already very tight with barely any slack.
*DONT_KNOW*
These are not as fixed as you may think.
Changes in temp and humidity can throw this off. And depending on what material your 3D printer is made of can alter these dimensions.
Like wood being the less stable of them all. Also belt and motor gearing can vary just enough to throw off the calibration of the machine. That
âs why you should check your machine every few months and make ajustments as needed.
Does this assume you have your flow and feed rates ok? If your flow rates are too low, will you be making your number of steps smaller than what they really are? For what I am thinking, the inner circles/shapes will be a compensated until they fit the nickel, but then the outside perimeter measurement will be too small.
Adding some outside dimensions
â on the flats of the print should tell you if it is a flow/offset problem or scale problem. But if your circles are comming out like an ovel then it is a scale problem.
Yes, This test is assuming you have everything else the way you like it but find your circles to be oval.
License
More from MrJohn
More from 3D Printing Tests
One thing that stymied me for a bit. This is really best for measuring the inside hole calibration but that may not match up with the outside dimensions. The steps/mm seem to control the outside dimensions. If the outside is ok and the inside is not, it a slicing issue or over feed or perhaps something else. I kept going back and forth when I would print a 110mm outside cal piece and get it right then come back and this one is too small. Fix that and the 110mm is too big.
So for now I am focused on getting the outside just right and then I can try to work on getting the holes to open up.