As some of you may know, I’ve got a 3d printer, to be more specific, a Creality Ender 3 S1. This is a great printer, but I have the problem of not using it that much and when I do, I have to level the bed again. So I am making this post as a guide for me and for you, in case you have the same printer.
My printer has the stock firmware so if you have a different want your milage may vary.
Steps
1. Preheat the bed
You need to choose the material you are going to print wisely and from the material the temperature will vary, the Ender 3 S1 has profiles for PLA and ABS so choose one of them.
2. Unload the bed supports
Unscrew the bed supports until they move freely.
3. Preload the supports by screwing them again
You should spin the bed supports until they stop on their own. I tend to preload a little bit after al of them have stopped spinning but try to make all of them spin the same number of times.
4. First auto-leveling
The Ender 3 S1 has the capability of auto-leveling to correct small distances but if there exists bigger changes we will move it manually later.
5. Move to the center and adjust z-offset
You should move with the menu to a position where z=0 and adjust the z-offset. Remember the paper trick.
6. Disable stepper and test the bed
You should disable the stepper from the menu and move through the bed adjusting the bed distance following the paper trick, the adjustment should be manual. Repeat until you fill all the bed surface has similar distances. DO NOT MOVE THE Z-OFFSET
7. Final auto-level
The last thing to do is tun the auto-level again in so the software solves the small distances changes.
8. Print a bed test
You may want to try the bed with a bed test print. This may avoid waisting more material in the future. In case there are gaps you may move the z-offset.
Extra tips
If your prints are not adhering to the bed, it may need cleaning.