1. “Lesson – Leveling the Print Pad and Setting the Z-gap”
3D SYSTEMS University
Cube 3D Printer
“Lesson – Leveling the Print Pad and Setting the Z-gap”
Revision date: 09/20/13

2. Objectives After completing this lesson you will:
Know how to correctly level the print plate.
Be able to set the Z-gap for proper printing.

3. Leveling the Print Plate
Before printing the print pad must be leveled to achieve a proper printing environment. The Print Pad can be leveled with the two adjusting bolts located underneath the front and back of the pad (see slides 5 and 6)
Press the power button on the Cube control panel.
2. Ensure Print Pad is properly installed on print plate.
3. Finger tap SETUP on the touchscreen and scroll through the menu until LEVEL PLATE appears. Press LEVEL PLATE; the Print Pad will move up to Print Jet tip

4. Leveling the Print Plate cont.
4. Using the Up arrow, raise the Print Pad to the Print Jet tip until the tip is near the Print Pad but not touching it.
5. Touch the “clockwise” and “counter-clockwise” buttons to automatically move the Print Jet around the four corners of the Print Pad. During each movement along the sides of the Print Pad, observe any gaps between the pad and the Print Jet. If there are gaps on one side of Print Pad and the Print Jet tip is barely touching the Print Pad on the other side, the Print Pad is not level.
NOTE: Please refer to the FRONT TO BACK or SIDE TO SIDE instructions on how
to turn the adjusting knob bolts to level the pad properly.

5. Leveling the Print Plate cont.
ROLL SIDE TO SIDE If the gap between the Print Pad and Print Jet tip is at the right or left side, adjust the pad using the rear adjusting knob bolt (B) . If the gap is too low, the pad is too low and will need to be moved up
1. If the pad needs to be moved up, turn the front adjusting knob bolt (A) clockwise to loosen and then turn the rear adjusting knob bolt (B) clockwise . To move the pad down, turn the rear adjusting knob bolt (B) counterclockwise .
2. While adjusting, slide the paper between the Print Jet tip and Print Pad where the adjustment was needed; the paper should slide back and forth with no resistance . If resistance is felt, the pad is too high . Please repeat the adjustment .
3. Once adjustments are made, tighten the adjusting knob bolts

6. Leveling the Print Pad
TILT FRONT TO BACK If the gap between the Print Pad and Print Jet tip is at the front or back of pad, adjust the pad using the rear adjusting knob bolt. If the gap appears on the side, the pad is too low and will need to be moved up. 1. If the pad needs to be moved up, turn the front adjusting knob bolt (A) clockwise to loosen and then turn the back adjusting knob bolt clockwise. To move the pad down, turn the rear adjusting knob bolt counterclockwise. 2. While adjusting, slide paper between the Print Jet tip and Print Pad where the adjustment was needed; the paper should slide back and forth with no resistance . If resistance is felt, the pad is too high. Please repeat the adjustment. 3. Once adjustments are made, tighten the adjusting knob bolts

7. Setting the Z-gap
There must be an appropriate distance between the print tip and the Print Pad to make sure the first printed layer sticks properly. 1. Press Set Up on your Cube’s touchscreen and tap Next until Set Gap appears. 2. Select Set Gap. The Print Jet and Print Pad will move into position to set the gap. Place a standard piece of paper between the print tip and Print Pad. If the paper cannot slide between the tip and pad, tap the down arrow on the touchscreen until you can slide the paper between the tip and pad. 3. Press the Z up key to move the Print Pad toward the print tip until the paper is tight between the Print Pad and print tip. Tap the down key until the paper slides back and forth with little resistance. 4. Tap the check mark to save this setting to the printer’s memory. If the setting is saved, the “Gap” value will be applied for each subsequent print. If you wish to cancel this setting, tap the X box. 5. If you have any trouble printing after the gap setting has been saved, you can use this procedure at any time to change the gap. 6. Once the gap has been set, tap PREV to start the Load Cartridge process

8. Setting the Z-gap
Setting the Z-gap using the “paper technique”