Firmware Z-axis problem-SOLVED?

[HonzaMiki]

(HERE IS SOLUTION THAT WORKED FOR ME- change the beginning of the G-code, so before the printer sets its zero points it will first heat the bed to the final temperature, after that, it will set its zero points. Here is beginning of G-code for prusaslicer: M413 S0 ; zakázat obnovu po výpadku proudu G90 ; použít absolutní souřadnice M83 ; režim relativního extruderu M140 S[first_layer_bed_temperature] ; nastavit konečnou teplotu postele M104 S120 ; nastavit dočasnou teplotu trysky k zabránění vytekaní při homingu a automatickém nivelizaci postele G4 S10 ; umožnit částečné zahřátí trysky M190 S[first_layer_bed_temperature] ; počkat, až se teplota postele ustálí G28 ; domovská pozice všech os až po dosažení teploty postele ;G29 ; spustit síťovou strukturu M420 S1 ; načíst síťovou strukturu G1 Z50 F240 G1 X2 Y10 F3000 M104 S[first_layer_temperature] ; nastavit konečnou teplotu trysky M109 S[first_layer_temperature] ; počkat, až se teplota trysky ustálí G1 Z0.28 F240 G92 E0 G1 Y140 E10 F1500 ; první přítlak trysky G1 X2.3 F5000 G92 E0 G1 Y10 E10 F1200 ; druhý přítlak trysky G92 E0

Hi My printer: Elegoo Neptune 3 Plus Current firmware: mainboard: 1.2.5.1b UI: 1.4.2

Problem: I bought my printer in April and last week I updated my printer to a newer firmware version, but Z-axis leveling is now minding its own-I level bed as usual but when I want to print, the nozzle start scraping bed because it is too low. I have perfectly leveled bed (you can see in photo) All I want is to go back to my original firmware that was installed on it when I unpacked printer, but Elegoo support can't or don't want to send me original version they only send me link to download newer version from here https://github.com/NARUTOfzr/Neptune_3_Pro_Plus_Max But I already try all 1.2.5.X versions on github and again it scrapes bed, all time same problem. Can somebody help me please to get original firmware?

!!!UPDATE!!! More info to my problem: I think the problem is not mechanical, but in firmware, all problems started when I updated to a newer version (1.2.5.1b). Yesterday I did some research with my printer. I took aluminum foil and by stepping into leveling mode forced the machine to stop like 10 cm above the bed- you can't do this with paper because the sensor only detects metal. after that I checked if Z-axis is working properly by clicking arrows to make the printer go up or down - I think I found the problem - when you are changing the Z-offset sometimes you click on arrows but the number stays the same but Z-axis physically moves. For example- I was on -0.05 and I wanted to go to 0.05, but when I got to 0 and clicked the arrow again number stayed on 0, but the Z-axis went down – so there are two 0??? And after that I tried moving the Z-axis by 1mm- I started on -0.55 after adding 1 mm it was suddenly 0.44 :D, after a while it was 5.45, so that 0.01 mm go somewhere missing and came back after a while. My friend who I suggested to buy Elegoo printer has exact same problem (he updated to a newer version when he got the printer). I'm sending a video for better understanding. Elegoo support told me it is a faulty motherboard, I don't believe it.

Here is tutorial if you want to find out if you have this problem:

1. In the prepare section move the printer head 20 cm above (or like you want),
2. take aluminum foil and go into leveling mode, sensor wont detect paper, metal only
3. now you should be able by holding aluminum foil under the sensor to force the printer head to stop 10-20 cm above the bed
4. choose 1mm, now when you click down/up you can find that 0.01 mm goes missing sometimes (as in the video I sent) Additional steps:
5. choose 0.01mm and if you can, find where the number stays the same for 2 times (The arrow lights up 2 times). My was 0 and -1.58, but after I exited and re-entered leveling mode it was no longer -1.58)
6. place your finger on top of the Z-axis, you should feel the movement
7. now if you tap on the number that stays 2 times you should feel the movement both times the number lights up.

I will be really grateful if as many people as possible try this-If you do it, we can prove that more people have the same problem, so that means it is faulty firmware.

https://github.com/NARUTOfzr/Neptune_3_Pro_Plus_Max/assets/149058128/bbfe58b7-618d-4775-8152-daed390e548e

https://github.com/NARUTOfzr/Neptune_3_Pro_Plus_Max/assets/149058128/fdb529c4-05b8-4c13-a49f-ffebc634e01c

[radimburger]

I have a same problem with Neptune 3 Max.

[coddiewomple]

Same problem i just upgraded from 1.2.5.1a to see if it would fix the issue but now i have additional problems like not been able to print at all because when i press the print button the file list does not open the machine resets and also erases the eprom so need to level and set z offset again and again.... Broken, not fit for purpose. I have checked the SD card and can find no errors with it all i did was make a folder on it to move model files into to tidy things up a bit and now my printer will not print at all i dont even get to watch the print fail due to the Z offset variance fault.

[coddiewomple]

my machine works again after a sd card format with default allocation size selected in fact it opening the print file list seems a lot snappier however the offset issue remains for e.g. i just had to reduce itdown by 0.10mm this way i can slide a 0.10mm feeler gauge inbetween and its ok but 0.15mm gauge will not fit this seems right for petg i am using however the z offset variance causes quality issue or outright print failure all the time. Ambient temp today is chilly, 12C outside 18C inside and it matters for in the summer when it was 30C+ indoors the Z offset was around -1.65 unless thats the variance error saying an extreme hello.

[coddiewomple]

@HonzaMiki

May i ask did support suggest loosening the lead screw brass nut screws yet? I have some play in the lead screw brass nut its the only part i havent replaced but they do wear so its my next buy if i can face spending more money fixing this broken machine. I have tried with the screws loosend but it changes nothing the Z axis variance is there changing all the time.

[HonzaMiki]

@coddiewomple Hello, I think the problem is not mechanical, but in firmware, all problems started when I updated to a newer version (1.2.5.1b). Yesterday I did some research with my printer. I took aluminum foil and by stepping into leveling mode forced the machine to stop like 10 cm above the bed- you can't do this with paper because the sensor only detects metal. after that I checked if Z-axis is working properly by clicking arrows to make the printer go up or down - I think I found the problem - when you are changing the Z-offset sometimes you click on arrows but the number stays the same but Z-axis physically moves. For example- I was on -0.05 and I wanted to go to 0.05, but when I got to 0 and clicked the arrow again number stayed on 0, but the Z-axis went down – so there are two 0??? And after that I tried moving the Z-axis by 1mm- I started on -0.55 after adding 1 mm it was suddenly 0.44 :D, after a while it was 5.45, so that 0.01 mm go somewhere missing and came back after a while. My friend who I suggested to buy Elegoo printer has exact same problem (he updated to a newer version when he got the printer). I'm sending a video for better understanding. Elegoo support told me it is a faulty motherboard, I don't believe it. Answer to your question: yes but I don't want to do it because it's not a solution to the problem and I don't want to make another problem. Can I ask you a favor? Please tell me: How long have you got a 3D printer? Did your 3D printer print excellent before updating firmware? Can you do process that I describe-If you do it, we can prove that more people have the same problem, so that means it is faulty firmware. Thank you for answer, have a great day.

[PedroMarcos04]

I gave up on fixing elegoo, I'm going to buy a raspberry pi and turn it into a klipper or octoprint.

[HonzaMiki]

@PedroMarcos04 Okay, at least thank you for your answer, have a great day.

[coddiewomple]

@HonzaMiki

I dont like the firmware as is they all have issues and sometimes i observe strange problems with number readouts not updating as you describe but the N3 plus machine i have is driving me mad for more reasons than this. I see no need to mess with foil to test sensors I truley think that is flawed test as we have a stable PEI sheet ontop of heatbed that works just fine but there does seem to be a temprature related accuracy problem with the proximity sensor explained below however this is common to all machines that use this type of sensor not just elegoo which does leave elegoo specific HW configuration or/and firmware issue including is the sensor out of tolerance or failing?

I have a Z offset variance ranging around 0.3mm due to issues and 0.043mm of it can be explained by the sensor at a minimum which is preventing succesfull print other than luck. For e.g. i switch machine on today from cold and find z offset i set yesterday to achieve print success of -2.37 (incidently the highest i ever set it to date) to be to low as actual nozzle to bed gap is less than 0.05mm as cant get 0.05mm gauge under which is concerning its about to start digging in! So adjust the gap (again!!) to where it sits right (0.10mm) giving new offset value of -2.00 (not been this low for a good while). I then go to create mesh manually and find on position 1 the gap has changed its now way to large in excess of .20mm (suprise suprise) so i press home button to bring nozzle back to centre to double check my baseline and now find the same larger gap here even though seconds before i set it to be 0.10mm with a gauge. I also note the temprature of the bed is 80C since i want to work with PETG and this appears to heat the BAOLSEN Proximity Switch to around 72C measured with laser thermal device and this puts it beyond optimal operating range as per its data sheet! (repeatability of sensor is 0.04mm @ 25C and when exceeds 70C becomes subject to min of 8% extra variance on top). as the temprature moves away from 25C the repeatability of the sensor is affected negatively by an additional 8% on top of the 0.04mm already present due to the nature of the device, a NPN top sensing always open inductive proximity sensor.

The only play i can find now is in the brass lead screw nuts i suspect they are worn so have ordered replacements i had to guess about as Elegoo even within the statutory warranty period refuse to supply these parts stating "not available". Until i replace these and grease them i cannot test further to check the sensor accuracy. The cost of a replacement proximity sensor starts at £20, cost of brass lead screw nuts another £20 inclduing grease. I cant continue this path of fixing broken elegoo printer.

@PedroMarcos04 may have the solution unless better more robust firmware support is forthcoming and i doubt it will be given the series 4 has been released now and they moved to Klipper.

[florianolg]

Neptune 4 Plus - FW version - 1.2.2.2

What I'm seeing may be similar to what you are talking about. Z tends to drift - I've been printing the same part for a few days now - about 50 copies. (Lucky the part tolerance does not matter to much for Z) Part is only 5mm thick (- will vary regularly .5mm or up to full 1mm - when that happens nozzle is rubbing on plastic - its bad)

When the failure is small you can see layers that plastic squeezed out - after those print if I don't re-zero Z, the next prints will be even worse.

When I go to Level Z (with Paper) I can see the nozzle is too close to the bed - If I start and stop a print - Re-check Z (now it's too far) - So Re-Zero again.

I get a few perfect prints then again; the Z will drift.

On one occasion when moving the Z to set the offset - with the pad - the numbers would not change on the pad - but it was physically moving.

Not sure if this helps anyoone .. but for me the problem appears to be Z drift.

[coddiewomple]

I emailed elegoo ages ago about this and after sending Elegoo evidence of the problem they asked for and photos i took of the proximity sensor which seems to show up heat markings but not the naked eye i.e. only visible in the photo taken.

Elegoo sent me a replacement proximity sensor and connector board for it that was updated, they have removed two 100 ohm resistors from the proximity sensor feed lines on the board but i dont know why they just sent it so i fitted them both togethor at same time. The replacement proximity sensor was almost identical to the old one, same make and model markings just a few extra lines pertruding on its moulding. Elegoo also advised installing the C version of the FW (1.2.5.1C) & (UI 1.4.3) but that in itself now kills the thumbnails plugin if you try to use latest Cura version 5.6.0 amongst other matters but with new proximity sensor it seems to have tightend the Z variance up a bit but unable to test properly as having FW issues now as well so cant print yet.

Also If print with M420 active or inactive it seems to make very little difference i begin to suspect this machine is all gimmick a press and print PLA only affair because if you try anything else it fails elegoo dont even sell PETG lol.

For e.g. I tried to print a funny dalek sign for my child for christmas it is 280mm square so fitted nicely on the bed of the N3 Plus but a first layer will not go down no matter how much i play with E pulse, flow rate, Z offset, wash the pie sheet etc it just doesnt happen with stability and consistency at 0.2mm resolution using Geeetech PETG 235 - 80. I could easily print a 50mm version in the middle of the bed no problem but if i try to utilise the bed size it fails i dont know what the point of the Plus and Max version is really they cant all be this broken. Is it just a few.

I have noted when i take a reading of the bed temprature with a infra red device (cheapo) it reads low for e.g bed temp of 80C reads as 72C so may have to investigate that next. Also noted the temprature of the proximity sensor just above the heatbed to be 72C as well which makes its repeatability a bit worse as per data sheet! and in the loing term can it be good for the device! In addition i note the neptune 3 machine settings in cura make mention of "M420 S1 Z10;Uncomment to enable progressive compensation height of 10mm" - Ether sombody made a typo or they believe a proximity sensor specked for 2.1mm max (by data sheet 0-2.1mm operating range at ambient C) can operate at 10mm lol and at 72C

The repeatability of the proximity sensor is suppsoed to be 0.04mm which is 20% of the layer height @ 0.2mm, this i believe helps account for the slight difference we somtimes observe in layer hieght as the light sines of it a bit different but when the sensor drifts out of spec as it will do outside operating temp i.e above 70C as per datas sheet. The repeatabiltiy is measured at ambient and not bed temprature given how close to the bed the sensor is and duration / lifespan i think there are problems with this design or choice of sensor or maybe just the "custom" chinese made proximity sensor that looks an awful lot like a clone of a Panasonic device...... And then we consider the FW situation with the latest C version now 6 months old and broken and Neptune 4 now on Klipper. I think i regret buying Elegoo tbh, support seems none existent now we are beyond the 1 year statutory warranty most states have by default even the issues reproted to Elegoo within the time period and for me buying my machine from a third party (3D jake) who just laugh at me over email and Elegoo say we cant help further talk to your supplier lol. Lesson learned.

[chriskeeble]

We have two Elegoo Neptune 3 Plus units and both were recently updated to latest firmware.

This affected the z-axis, but going through all steps of the bed levelling procedure (physical, manual, automatic) and adjusting the z-offset configured everything perfectly.

[coddiewomple]

@chriskeeble

The latest version is the "C" version that comes with UI 1.4.3 all linked below. Is that the version your machines are running without issue?

https://github.com/NARUTOfzr/Neptune_3_Pro_Plus_Max/releases/tag/firmware_1.x.5.1c-UI_V1.4.3-20230707

[coddiewomple]

Elegoo have not provided any comment on HW revision of new connector board without resistors or "C" version of FW revision, it is not known if the new connector board without resistors is for a specific FW or not. As for the Baolsen proximity sensor it is a custom made device according to Elegoo support. The data sheet is below taken from another forum sorry i forget which but will try find a link.

[coddiewomple]

For the record here is info on a similiar proximity device made by Panasonic a GX-H12AI

https://na.industrial.panasonic.com/products/industrial-automation/industrial-sensors/series/71523/model/75566

[alexose]

Posting here because I'm running into a similar issue. My Neptune 3 Plus seems to have forgotten it's zero position for the Z axis. It pretty much destroyed by PEI sheet before I noticed what was going on.

I didn't change anything with the machine, although I did swap out the SD card. Very odd.

[viruz82]

I have exactly the same issue with my Neptune 3 Pro.

[viruz82]

@NARUTOfzr is not interested to fix this problem?

[HonzaMiki]

For me is a problem somehow fixed and I would never expect this easy solution. In Prusaslicer I changed the beginning of the G-code, so before the printer sets its zero points it will first heat the bed to the final temperature, after that, it will set its zero points. Now it’s working well again.

Here is the beginning of the G-code if somebody wants to try it:

M413 S0 ; zakázat obnovu po výpadku proudu G90 ; použít absolutní souřadnice M83 ; režim relativního extruderu M140 S[first_layer_bed_temperature] ; nastavit konečnou teplotu postele M104 S120 ; nastavit dočasnou teplotu trysky k zabránění vytekaní při homingu a automatickém nivelizaci postele G4 S10 ; umožnit částečné zahřátí trysky M190 S[first_layer_bed_temperature] ; počkat, až se teplota postele ustálí G28 ; domovská pozice všech os až po dosažení teploty postele ;G29 ; spustit síťovou strukturu M420 S1 ; načíst síťovou strukturu G1 Z50 F240 G1 X2 Y10 F3000 M104 S[first_layer_temperature] ; nastavit konečnou teplotu trysky M109 S[first_layer_temperature] ; počkat, až se teplota trysky ustálí G1 Z0.28 F240 G92 E0 G1 Y140 E10 F1500 ; první přítlak trysky G1 X2.3 F5000 G92 E0 G1 Y10 E10 F1200 ; druhý přítlak trysky G92 E0

[viruz82]

@HonzaMiki wow, great! I can confirm that no everything works as it should. Many thanks!

[NiklasTheis]

@HonzaMiki or @viruz82 or anybody else. Do you know if this could also work with UltiMaker Cura (5.3.1 or newer)?

[HonzaMiki]

Hello @NiklasTheis , I don't have any experience with any type of Cura, but in Elegoo Cura I think it is preheating the bed first as I was describing, but I'm not 100% sure about it. You can try to search on the Internet. I installed Elegoo Cura and here is the beginning of the G-code:

G28 ;home G92 E0 ;Reset Extruder G1 Z4.0 F3000 ;Move Z Axis up G92 E0 ;Reset Extruder G1 X1.1 Y20 Z0.28 F5000.0 ;Move to start position G1 X1.1 Y80.0 Z0.28 F1500.0 E10 ;Draw the first line G1 X1.4 Y80.0 Z0.28 F5000.0 ;Move to side a little G1 X1.4 Y20 Z0.28 F1500.0 E20 ;Draw the second line G92 E0 ;Reset Extruder G1 Z2.0 F3000 ;Move Z Axis up