How do I Level the Buildplate on Ultimaker 3 & 3 Extended?

Leveling the Buildplate on Ultimaker 3 & 3 Extended

Estimated Time: 10-60 minutes    Difficulty:Varies (Easy-Difficult)

Tools Needed

Ultimaker Calibration Card

 
Materials Needed

3D Printing Filament
Paper Towels

Follow the steps in this article to level the build plate of an Ultimaker 3 or 3 Extended 3D printer. If you are trying to level the buildplate on an Ultimaker 2, 2+, or 2 Extended printer, you may want to see How do I level the buildplate on an Ultimaker 2, 2+ or 2 Extended? [LINK]

1) Do you need to level?

Making sure your buildplate is parallel to your X and Y axes is one of the most important things in getting a good print. If you're setting up a new 3D printer, setting up a printer that's been stored for some time, or setting up a printer that you just moved, you most likely will need to level the buildplate. Also, over time the buildplate will get out of level through the course of normal use of the printer. A good way to test if you need to level your printer is to try the leveling test attached below. NOTE - make sure to select the file that matches your printer (UM3 for Ultimaker 3 & 3 Extended and UM2 for Ultimaker 2, 2+ & 2 Extended.)

Your test print should come out like the print below. The filament should stick consistently to the print surface. The print should be raised from the bed and not driven down into it where the printed filament becomes translucent.

If part of your print is missing or did not stick to the buildplate, you will need to level your buildplate.

2) Prepare the Printer

It will not be possible to level the buildplate properly if there is any filament stuck to the tip of the nozzle. Follow these steps to clean the end of the nozzle, then proceed with leveling.

1. Heatup the nozzle of your printer
   1. Turn the printer on with the power switch on the rear left of the printer
   2. Turn the menu wheel to select Material/Printcore and push the wheel to select it
   3. Select Printcore 1 and then Set Temperature
   4. Turn the wheel to 200C
   5. Wait for the nozzle to heat-up. When the nozzle has reached temperature, use the paper towel to carefully wipe away any filament from the end of the nozzle. Note - be careful. The nozzle is twice as hot as boiling water and can burn bare skin easily.
   6. Turn the wheel back to 0C. 
   7. You may have to wipe the nozzle additional times as filament may ooze as the nozzle cools.
2. Make sure your buildplate is ready. If it needs to be resurfaced, you may want to read How do I Resurface the Buildplate [LINK] before continuing here.

3) Leveling the buildplate

1. If this is a new printer or if the buildplate is grossly out of adjustment, tighten all 3 leveling screws  completely and then back off about 8 half-turns each. You may need to select Maintenance->Build Plate -> Raise to access the screws comfortably.
2. Use the menu wheel to select System and push the wheel to select it
3. Select Build Plate and then Manual Leveling the leveling wizard will begin.
4. Select Continue on the first screen of the wizard
5. Rotate the menu wheel until the buildplate is ABOUT 1mm or 1/16" from the tip of the nozzle. It is not at all critical to be at EXACTLY that distance. Use your judgement.
6. Select Continue
7. The printhead will move above the front left leveling screw. Adjust the SCREW (not the menu wheel!) until the buildplate is about 1mm from the nozzle  
   
8. Select Continue
9. The printhead will move to the front right leveling screw. Again, adjust the SCREW (not the menu wheel) until the buildplate is about 1mm from the nozzle
10. Select Continue
11. Hold the calibration card between the nozzle and the buildplate and slowly wave it back and forth as you adjust the screw - until you feel a slight resistance between the card and the nozzle. Knowing how much resistance is enough is a big part of learning to level a printer efficiently. NOTE - make sure to not place any pressure on the buildplate with your hand while checking with the calibration card as this will effect your leveling. Also, be sure to remove your hand from the leveling screw while testing the resistance on the card as your hand will also push upwards somewhat on the buildplate and effect your leveling.
12. Select Continue
13. The printhead will move back to the back center. Adjust the screw until you feel a slight resistance between the card and the nozzle.
14. Select Continue
15. The printhead will move above the front left leveling screw. Adjust the screw until you feel a slight resistance between the card and the nozzle.
16. Select Continue
17. The printhead will move to the front right leveling screw. Adjust the screw until you feel a slight resistance between the card and the nozzle.
18. Select Continue
19. The leveling wizard will end.

4) Fine-tuning

Each time you adjust a leveling screw it also affects the leveling on the other 2 points. Repeat the leveling procedure again, but with the calibration card instead of to the 1mm height.

1. Use the menu wheel to select System and push the wheel to select it
2. Select Build plate and then Auto Leveling the will begin the automatic leveling process.
3. When the printer completes automatic leveling it will ask to set the offset between the two nozzles. Follow the prompts and use the calibration card and the wheel to set the offset distance
4. Select Continue
5. When the printer asks how often to auto level select Daily.

5) Test!

Now that you've leveled the bed, print a test print as you did above in the section Do you need to level? If the print comes out good then you have leveled the print bed. If it has problems, continue fine-tuning. Also, consider wiping down the buildplate with a paper towel and 90% or better isopropyl rubbing alcohol (IPA) as that will clean off any oils that may be preventing your print from sticking.

You should not have to manually level the printer again for a long time assuming the leveling screws are not adjusted. If you have problems with prints not sticking or sticking to firmly first try the automatic leveling procedure. If you still have problems try cleaning the bed with 90% or better isopropyl rubbing alcohol. If problems persist, start again at manual leveling.