How do you all keep your z home consistent?

Title basically.

Obviously, cold nozzle + filament on it from my last print = the printer thinks the nozzle is lower than it actually is.

Preheating the nozzle helps some, but if I want true consistency I need to mechanically whipe the nozzle/grab the bit of plastic that oozes out with a pair of needle nose pliers.

I know nozzle brush mods are a thing, but aren't the hard on your nozzle? Does anyone have any alternative ideas?

8 points · 7 comments · view on lemmy.world

7 Comments

dirtdigger@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y (2 replies)

If you have a hardened nozzle and brass brush, it shouldn't be too abrasive. I've usually done that with my MK3S+ and never had issues.

IMALlama@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Thanks for the information. I do have a hardened nozzle, glad to hear that a brass brush won't abrade it over time.

Sierra4@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y

I wouldn't worry, brass is usually way softer than most metals and if you do completely crazy on it there shouldn't be a problem.

Brass is also used for bearing, so it wears out before e.g. the steel axle in it does.

Dangerhart@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 2y (3 replies)

I'm not brave enough for the brush, I've considered trying out a toothbrush but my current process is just let the nozzle sit at temp for 15 minutes between prints and then wipe with a paper towel. I don't z home at full temp, I have different offsets for the temps I do pla and abs at

IMALlama@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y (2 replies)

This is basically what I'm doing now, but I would prefer less hands on because I'm constantly getting pulled in some new direction after I start the preheat.

So far I've only printed ASA on my Voron. Why would you use different offsets? To vary the amount of first layer squish or something else?

Dangerhart@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y (1 reply)

To keep the squish consistent. I assumed it was because the nozzle is expanding more at higher temps but it could just expansion differences in the material or something else I guess. My start up script is homing at nozzle temp - 75c or something like that, most people with a brush just do the home at temp so there is no change. And yeah I forget about it sometimes too 😂

Dangerhart@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 2y

Sorry I just realized the way I described everything was actually pretty confusing. After every print I run a clean macro that moves the nozzle up front and heats to 230 and sits there. After about 10 minutes I wipe it then have a clean complete macro to cool down and move it back to the center. Then I start a print and the homing etc is all done at a lower temp, I can't remember if it's static or nozzle temp -75c or something