How to Print A Calibration Cube?

How arcuate is your 3D printer? Just a simple calibration cube tells you a lot about the quality of your printer.

In this complete guide, we will help you to print a calibration cube. If you are first time using a 3D printing or you are testing a new 3D printer or filament, printing a calibration cube will be a great place to start. This guide will walk you through from setting up your 3D slicer to a calibration cube in your hand.

Why do we need to print a calibration cube?

In the process of achieving an ideal print result of a calibration cube, you will gain familiarity with your printer and filament. With such experience, you will be more able to tweak your settings based on the complexity of the next project.

As a reference, you can check out our video of an ideal print result of a calibration cube below.

INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTUER

Before we begin, we need some information from the 3D printer manual provide by the manufacturer.

• Nozzle Size
• Filament Size: 1.75mm or 3.00mm
• Material
• Build Volume: Length (mm) x Width (mm) x Height (mm)
• GCode Flavour: RepRap (Merlin/Sprinter) or MakerBot or Ultigcode or others

Let's begin.

Step 1: Calibrate your 3D printer

Please calibrate your 3D printer based on manufacturer's recommendations before you try to print calibration cube. If you have trouble calibrating your printer, you can always ask for help on the 3D printing forums.

Step 2: 3D Slicer Set Up - Machine

If you have not set up the machine settings for your printer, please follow the 4 steps below to guide you through.

In the Cura top menu, select "Machine" -> "Add Machine"

Select your 3D printer from the list. Cura will set up based on the pre-set profile.

Update machine settings if necessary. Double check all following information are set up correctly (printer's manual as primarily source):

• Maximum Length
• Maximum Width
• Maximum Height
• Heated Bed (Y/N)
• Machine Center 0,0 (Y/N) (most XYZ printers starts at front corner 0,0; delta printers 0,0 center)
• GCode Falvour

Step 3: 3D Slicer Set Up - Printing Settings

If your 3D printer is a RepRap based printer and operating with 1.75mm PLA, you can download - Calibration Cube Gcode and skip to step 6.

* Right click and "download link file as..."

If not or unsure, you will need to set up the following printing settings manually by following these 4 steps. Please note this profile is based on BotFeeder PLA Filament.

1. Switch from "Quick Print" mode to "Full Settings" mode.

2. Set up "Basic Settings" tab:

Quality:

• Layer Height (Resolution): 0.2mm
• Shell Thickness: 1.2mm

Fill:

• Bottom/Top Thickness: 0.15mm<
• Fill Density: 25%

Speed & Temperature:

• Print Speed: 30mm/sec
• Printing Temperature: 205°C
• Bed Temperature: 65°C (also works with no heated bed)

Filament:

• Diameter: 1.75mm (default)
• Flow (or extrusion rate or feed rate): 100% (default)

Machine:

• Nozzle Size: 0.4mm (*Enter your nozzle size*)

3.Set up "Advanced Setting" Tab:

Retraction:

• Speed: 100mm/sec
• Distance: 4.5mm

Quality:

• Initial Layer Thickness: 0.15mm

Speed:

• Bottom Layer Speed: 20mm/sec
• Infill Speed: 30mm/sec
• Bottom/Top Speed: 20mm/sec
• Outer Shell Speed: 30mm/sec
• Inner Shell Speed: 30mm/sec

4. Set up "Cool" tab. To access the "Cool" advanced tab, please enter through the green arrow in above image.

• Fan Full on at height: 0.6mm
• Fan Speed Min: 50%
• Fan Speed Max: 50%
• Minium Speed: 10mm/sec

To print with BotFeeder ABS Filament, please adjust the following parameters.

• Extrusion temperature: 255°C
• Print Bed Temperature: 115°C

Step 4: Download STL of the calibration cube

Click here to download.

Select "File" -> "load model file" and select the STL file you just downloaded.

Step 5: Export as "gcode"

Based on the input of your printer model, you will need to export the gcode onto a SD card or computer.

Step 6: Link to 3D Printer and Start Printing

Link via computer: Load the gcode from your computer and start printing.

Link via SD card: Insert the SD card to the 3D printer's slot. Load the gcode using the controller and start printing.

Step 7: Monitor

Monitor and make sure the first layer is ideal. We recommend you to read article: How to properly print first layer?.

Step 8: Check Print Result

If result is not satisfy, you might need to recalibration your printer or change your brass nozzle tip or other uncommon reason.