Z-Axis Printer Calibration Tool

thingiverse

I own a Tronxy X5S 3D printer. This printer is a CORE X-Y design that features two Z-axis motors to drive a pair of acme screws on the right and left sides of the print bed. Once calibrated and running, this system works quite well and does a good job. However, it seems that each time the printer is turned on and off, the two Z-motors begin to loose their alignment to one another. Over time, this causes the bed to to take on a non-perpendicular, horizontal tilt with respect the X motion path of the print head. When this becomes severe enough, print quality suffers and it is necessary to re-synchronize the two motors to one another through a manual bed leaving calibration step. The re-calibration can be a troublesome and time consuming process, so much so, that many X5S owners implement elaborate ways to mechanically lock the two drive motors together using extra belts or other mechanisms to prevent the Z-axis screws from loosing-sync with one another. Rather than rework the Z-mechanism, I chose to create a simple 3-D printable Z-axis Calibration Post that can be easily installed (and removed) onto the carriage cross bar to facilitate bed leveling and Z-motor re-sync. While designed initially for the X5S printer (which utilizes 20x20mm T-slot rails), it should work well as a bed leveling tool for many other printers as well. Complete design and fabrication files are included as is a detailed X5S Z-motor Re-synch Procedure PDF document.