Initial Setup & Calibration - Phil1988/FreeDi GitHub Wiki

Initial Setup & Calibration background information

Overview

After installing FreeDi, you need to calibrate your printer to ensure high-quality prints. This page explains what each step does and why there is a critical order you should follow.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Performing steps out of order can invalidate previous calibration work.

Understanding Key Terms

Bed Leveling vs. Bed Meshing

  • Bed Leveling (Manual): Physically adjusting the bed screws to make the bed parallel to the nozzle's movement plane. This is a mechanical adjustment. This is key for nice prints. Some printers (Q1 and later) claim to have auto leveling, but they don't -> They have only 2 moving z axis (not enough for full parallel adjustments).

  • Bed Meshing (Automatic): Software compensation that measures the bed surface and adjusts Z-height during printing. This does NOT replace manual bed leveling.

⚠️ You must manually level the bed first. Bed meshing cannot fix a severely tilted bed.

Z-Offset

The exact distance between your nozzle tip and the bed surface at Z=0. Critical for first layer adhesion.

Input Shaping

Reduces ringing/ghosting artifacts by compensating for mechanical resonances (better looking prints)

PID Tuning

Optimizes heating of the nozzle and the bed for stable temperatures without overshooting.

Calibration Order

Step Procedure Time Why This Order?
1 Manual Bed Leveling ~30 min Tilted beds can cause several issues. This is the first important step
2 Z-Offset (Coarse) 1 min Gets you "close enough" to start printing
3 Z-Offset (Fine) 4-10 min Perfects first layer adhesion
4 Input Shaping 10 min Can be done anytime
5 PID Tuning 20-30 min Can be done anytime

Critical Information

⚠️ ALWAYS re-level the bed when you hit the bed or did something it may not be aligned!

⚠️ ALWAYS re-calibrate the z-offset if you re-leveled the bed or when changing the nozzle/hotend/toolhead!

Quick Checklist

  • Manual bed leveling
  • Coarse Z-offset (paper test)
  • Fine Z-offset (test print)
  • Input shaping
  • PID tuning

Need Help?

  • Check troubleshooting sections in each guide
  • Visit the Community
  • See FAQ

Next Step: Begin with Manual Bed Leveling →