Free and easy way to increase printer Z height
The standard FlashForge Creator / Creator Pro / QIDI Tech / CTC / Wanhao / Replicator style printer has a default Z height of 150mm. If you try to add a part to your slicer build plate that is taller than 150mm, the printer will refuse to print anything above 150mm.
But, there is an easy solution. The key is that the printer will allow you to have negative depth, or a negative Z axis. You can easily add 10 - 15 mm to your Z height, and sometimes that little extra bit is all you need to get a print done.
Here's how to make it happen with Simplify3D. Note this assumes you are using the right extruder, and you want an extra 10mm.
Step 1: In the Scripts tab, change your starting script. Key is the "G92 X0 Y0 Z-10 A0 B0 ; zero steppers" line, and also the G1 wipe lines.
But, there is an easy solution. The key is that the printer will allow you to have negative depth, or a negative Z axis. You can easily add 10 - 15 mm to your Z height, and sometimes that little extra bit is all you need to get a print done.
Here's how to make it happen with Simplify3D. Note this assumes you are using the right extruder, and you want an extra 10mm.
Step 1: In the Scripts tab, change your starting script. Key is the "G92 X0 Y0 Z-10 A0 B0 ; zero steppers" line, and also the G1 wipe lines.
M73 P0 ; enable build progress
M140 S[bed0_temperature] T0
M104 S175 T0
M104 S[extruder1_temperature] T1
G162 X Y F3000 ; home XY maximum
G161 Z F1200 ; home Z minimum
G92 X0 Y0 Z-5 A0 B0 ; zero steppers
G1 Z0 ; move Z to 0
G161 Z F100 ; home Z slowly
G92 X0 Y0 Z-10 A0 B0 ; zero steppers
M132 X Y Z ; recall home offsets
M135 T0 ; load right extruder offsets
G1 X138 Y-30 Z30 F6000 ; move to wait position off table
G130 X20 Y20 Z20 A20 B20 ; lower stepper Vrefs while heating
M134 T0 ; stabilize bed temperature
M104 S[extruder0_temperature] T0
M133 T0 ; stabilize right extruder temperature
G130 X118 Y118 Z40 A118 B118 ; default stepper Vrefs
G92 A0 B0 ; zero extruders
G1 X155 F3600;
G1 E15 F250 ; purge nozzle
G1 Z-9.85 F1200 ; slow wipe to table
G1 X100 Y-65 Z-9.85 F1200 ; slow wipe
G1 X95 Y-60 Z-9.5 F1200 ; lift
G92 A0 B0 ; zero extruders
M73 P1 ;@body (notify GPX body has started)
Step 2: In the gcode tabe, change your global Z offset to -10
That's it. You're done. Now, the downside is that in the preview window your prints will look like they are below the build plate, but hey, that's worth it for that extra 10mm if you really need it. I suggest creating this as a separate profile.
