How to compensate for X Axis Backlash?

[mharris]

This is in addition to Matt’s instructions here: https://support.voltera.io/hc/en-us/articles/115005851407-Backlash-Compensation

I ran the backlash compensation print in the link above, took a photo as straight down at the print as I could, and then drew lines on it with the computer:

To me, this looks like 3 is the best candidate. So 3 * 0.025 = 0.075 - remember this number. Open gcode console (hit ~ on keyboard), enter M507 X0.075

Print the calibration pattern again to check.

Now I’m basically dead centre on 1. The text is printing all over the place, this new nozzle is not happy at all, its over extruding, under extruding… so please ignore the print quality.

So now i’m at 1 * 0.025mm off, this number needs to be added to the previous number, as M507 is absolute not cumulative. Now I send M507 X0.1.

All set!

[mharris]

Printing my first board (after changing out the dodgey nozzle), and the diagonal prints are VASTLY superior to before, love it!

[jazozaya]

Oh my... that print quality.

How? I'm glad you've seen it dispense much nicer before, because that would have been an awful first print.

[mharris]

You just got a ticket in your support system about that nozzle haha.

New nozzle is going better, still needs a little flow tuning every now and then though. +8 seems to be going well now.

[mharris]

And this print is now looking correct. Note the diagonals are the same width as the horizontals, which I never had before.

[mharris]

On these under extruded areas you can see the backlash isnt quite fixed, its probably worth calibrating again with this nozzle that is actually working.

On normal extrusion you can see just a small dip in the solder on the diagonals where there is backlash:

[pathare]

What exactly is an ideal print of the backlash pattern?

[jazozaya]

If you have correctly calibrated for backlash, then the ideal print will look identical to the Gerber.

Line 0 should be perfectly vertical while Line 11 should have a significant offset.