DON'T Install BL Touch on the Neptune 2! - How-To and why not to...

[@envoy_games]

I think you might have forced them to make a user guide post on their website for this. They have made a statement in that article that says the Neptune 2 supports automatic leveling function, but they don't recommend using the BLtouch auto leveling function and that manual leveling can get better printing results. This was all good information as I just bought two Neptune 2s printers,, maybe I'll do one with a BLtouch and one without just to see the differences.

[@djarol]

Hey, I'm interested in your findings if you indeed put a bltouch on only one of your printers. I have a Neptune 2S and I isntalled a BLTouch because it seemed a good upgrade but I agree that the implementation of not having the easy option of manual levelling anymore is sometimes a drag. So what would you say ?

[@GomeowCreations]

Well, this is very similar to the video that I made about this back in July showing how to do this. I do feel that your video does a better job explaining everything with better video quality haha. Good job.

[@MandicReally]

Thank you very much. I appreciate it. I try to be as clear and concise as I can with the best visuals I can muster so it’s nice to get those comments from another creator.

[@chrisred87]

I have the BL Touch on my Neptune 2. I manually level the bed by running the auto levelling while connected to pronterface. You can then see the BL measurements output in the console. You can use these to know whether to raise or lower the bed for each corner. It's a bit long winded but about 5 iritations had it nailed.

[@itsboyinspace]

Dude holy crap I absolutely love your videos on here! Your extremely talented man😱

[@MandicReally]

Thank you very much. I try. Wish I could devote more time to them, but hopefully I will be able to soon. 👌🏻👍🏻

[@The_Silversunbeam]

I realize that this tutorial is a couple of months old, but I discovered something in the firmware that might help. It's a little kludgy but you can edit the "elegoo.txt" file to fix certain settings that won't save to EEPROM (because nothing saves to EEPROM, ugh). I had to do this when I upgraded the extruder to a dual gear type and couldn't get the machine to save the new E-Step value. In the config file, under "Z Probe Options" edit line 252. By default it reads ">Z_PROBE_OFFSET_FROM_EXTRUDER 0 # Z offset: -below +above [the nozzle]" but you can enter your corrected z offset in place of the default "0" value. Save the file and then update your firmware as normal. This procedure works for PID tuning and e-step adjustments as well, just hard code the relevant values in the config file. It's a PITA, but it works.

[@S1mpleHum4n]

More Elegoo Neptune 2 vids please! Such an awesome printer and isn't getting enough coverage. I think I will stick to manual bed-levelling :-)

[@MandicReally]

Thank you. I’ve got three full videos planned for this machine yet. As soon as I get back into the workshop in a few days we will get to pumping them out. 👌🏻👌🏻

[@Sonomatt]

For mounting , put some longer screws with a spring on them , will act as suspension in case it catches

[@MandicReally]

Elegoo has posted better information to their website about how to install a BL Touch on the Neptune 2. In those posts they state they don't recommend installing one on the machine, but tell you how you can. As well as highlighting some issues I didn't capture on video about why this is a strange setup (odd Z-axis motor noises): www.elegoo.com/blogs/3d-printer-user-guide/neptune-series-fdm-3d-printer-firmware-auto-leveling-function Quote Elegoo.com: "Statement: Neptune 2 printer supports automatic leveling function, but considering that the printing range of the printer is relatively small, it is not recommended to use the BLtouch automatic leveling function, but manual leveling can get better printing results."

[@Tbaz777]

I had the exact same response from Elegoo. I had contacted them regarding the knocking sound from the Z stepper and they advised that they've had numerous people reporting the same problem and to rather not use a BLtouch, for this reason and also they say youll get better prints without it. I'm going to be removing mine

[@wumfi]

Could you either use Octoprint to home the hot end to the corners, or simply issue the gcode to do so via a serial terminal? That way, you would effectively put back the manual level option? I know that’s still not simple, but adding Octoprint is a game changer anyway!

[@MandicReally]

I mean you can do that with Pronterface as well. But you’d have to set the coordinates every time. And adding $50-100 worth of hardware is starting to go against the value proposition of the machine. I’ve got a $70 option in mind that is kind of a major one… but I think will be a fun video.

[@wumfi]

@@MandicReally Yeah I realise that it’s not ideal as it adds cost. It was more that I was just wondering if I’d understood correctly and if it were possible!

[@danielaaguilar1655]

Yes! I hated the fact that I could no longer manually level especially considering the fact that bltouch isnt literally AUTOMATICALLY leveling so WE NEED THAT MANUAL LEVELING OPTION ASWELL ELEGOO!

[@youneverknow4707]

I have a BL touch on my Ender 3 v2 and rarely turn it on. I only use it if I'm printing something large. Generally I'm printing smaller things in the middle of the bed so it's not effected very much by being slightly out if level. That being said I print a 2 row skirt and generally use a brim so I can fine tune the level and z offset with that every print if needed.

[@alanm8139]

The Neptune 2 doesn't have Babystepping or live tuning of the position unfortunately. If you add the G29 command to your print G-code it goes through that process I demonstrated, including the Z-Offset for every print, but the Z-Offset screen gets stuck and you cannot see the Print Progress, Temperatures, or any of that. It is truly not meant to be run with every print. I struggled with how to demonstrate just how annoying it is.

[@jeanleboeuf2846]

How do you take it off because when I unplug it it does like if it were still there

[@RoninTurkey]

I love Elegoo, but I couldn't stand their Marlin version. I ended up installing Klipper and I do have a BLTouch installed with that setup.

[@Ghgore_]

Does the BLTouch work better with that firmware?

[@mikeb3962]

Went with stronger springs on the bed, leveled once, fine tuned afterwards once, and for well over 8 months now, haven't had to relevel or touch the adjustment wheels since. I will NOT waste time/money on auto leveling BS. Love the Neptune2

[@mikeb3962]

@@semialive9327 They are sold pretty much everywhere, IE: Ebay/Amazon, etc...

[@Ghgore_]

@@mikeb3962 I think they were asking what kind of springs to look for, which I'm also not sure of

[@hoboshrek]

i have the same printer with the bl touch i find best to change out the springs to washers or nuts to level the bed out mostly always not had a problem snice

[@Awesome_O_2000]

Neptune 2 with crtouch and marlin 2.1 works beautifully. 4x4 mesh with g29 before each print and the first layer is absolutely flawless.

[@RGD-Audio-Repairs]

So you can make it do a bed level automatically, before each print, By adding the G29 in front of the gcode?

[@Awesome_O_2000]

@@RGD-Audio-Repairs yes. With Marlin software this works. I am now using Klipper and with klipper it also works.

[@johns4247]

Wish I watched this video before adding a BLTouch to my Neptune 2S (which I've now removed). I found my print quality to be absolutely awful, and kept trying to adjust things to try to fix it. Until I removed my BLTouch and manually levelled the bed and it started printing fine again... So I guess maybe the compensation or something was messing up the print quality... Not to mention that having to adjust that Z offset everytime I auto level was a right pain and wasn't always the same value...

[@EverythingTitanic]

I had one on my Neptune 2s and I was getting really bad prints. Went back to manual and perfect everytime

[@tin117man9]

I fallow you on the clock app And greatly enjoy your content.This has definitely made me not want the auto leveling.

[@figuresix]

Im so lost. I havnt used my neptune 2 in a year. Came back to printing and having issues. So I downloaded new firmare and it seems to auto put in that I have the bl touch, which I do not. But now instead of leveling I have auto level, and now my home seems to be set in middle of my bed. How do I get rid of the auto leveling? Please and thank you for any help you can give me.

[@figuresix]

Nevermind i found how to revert.

[@Justdigit2]

Thanks man.... Ordered the Neptune 2 yesterday and think..... Ow I need a bed leveling sensor... But the way this think works is a pain... My last printer was 8 years ago. Lot has changed... Or not... Haha still Prusa is big name. But can't Octoprint help you on this in a way?

[@MandicReally]

Nope, OctoPrint can’t do anything to override the way the firmware handles the commands it receives. In my attempts to remedy this I ran it via PronterFace (interface similar to OctoPrint in some ways) and never got to a good solution. I’ve got a bit of an “extreme” solution coming soon but it’s not a basic “fix” by any means. I wish I could find one but I’ve tried as long as I can justify at this point.

[@jabatheshort660]

IS THIS WHY MY NOZZLE RAMS INTO MY FRICKEN BED EVERY SINGLE TIME I PRINT. and yes the varying!!! Sometimes it’s 4mm sometimes it’s 8mm sometimes it’s 4 and then 8 in the same leveling. Omg I cannot get it to work and it drives me insane

[@Taematoe]

Yeah I uninstalled mine also but had other issues. The menu overlapped on the screen and would freeze the printer if I pushed a button. Also The sound the Z motor made was super annoying, up down up own. Made the printer really loud.

[@MandicReally]

I should have mentioned that but it wasn’t too annoying when I went to film. The Z motor doesn’t have quiet stepper drivers so it’s not nearly as nice a sound as the X & Y. Thanks for that input.

[@TheDJTator]

If i don't want to use this anymore do I need to fully disconnected it?

[@Johnnii360]

My BL_Touch screwed my Neptune 2S board today. It worked relatively good for some weeks until the BL_Touch or cable (both originals) got a loose connection. While autoleveling today and the nozzle pressed against the heat bed due of height detection dysfunction (BL_Touch turns from red to blue). I pulled the Z-Axis motor cable to avoid more pressure against the heat bed an skipping and wiggled a bit on the cable and connection of the BL_Touch. Then it bangs, smokes and stinks. Also the display turned black. Only the PSU was still running. I figured out that the MP1584 (3A, 1.5MHz, 28V Step-Down Converter) gone up in smoke. I have no idea if it would help when I only swap this chip but I hope Elegoo can offer me 1 or 2 ZNP Robin Nano v1.3 as soon as possible. But I can confirm your issue with the unequal leveling too. But in my case this issue is approx 3 or 4 cm from the left edge and not so widely in the middle like on your Neptune 2.

[@Runtz559]

Any bed tips? Having problems with mine first few, then it starts dragging

[@paintballercali]

I was wondering what angle this video was going to take.

[@MandicReally]

I’m still not sure I know which angle it DID. 😂

[@paintballercali]

@@MandicReally well I kinda assumed you would have found some great fix. But it seems like if you add the bl you should just change the board. But then it's not the value it claims to be. Personally I have never felt a need for abl. And maybe it's just I don't know what I'm missing.

[@MandicReally]

@@paintballercali I agree actually. I really don’t feel a need for ABL on my machines. I just do videos about them because I know it’s what people want. I tried like hell and hoped I’d come up with a magic fix, but nope. The original cut of this video was 22 minutes long but I trimmed it substantially when I realized where it was going.

[@TAiiNE]

So you say not to use this and mention other systems that same the leveling data and not erace it, but don't say what other system that is. Mind sharing? I just got my first FDM printer and seen guides to level the bed but something that checks it each print sounds handy.

[@MandicReally]

I was referring to basically any other instance of Marlin firmware. You can see my video about the CR-Touch / BL Touch for how this typically works: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXTchXiqqc9rqc0

[@justme12510]

Not sure if you go back and read these but I was able to upgrade to Marlin 2.x and got live print baby stepping enabled. Still tweaking it a bit and found an annoying bug but it works

[@MandicReally]

Care to share how you got marlin 2.x running? I spent almost a week back and forth trying with no luck.

[@justme12510]

@@MandicReally I'll share once I get some fixes in place. Their color scheme is really hard to see On their lcd. Trying to make it more like stock.

[@immortalmonsterhybrid975]

Welp my manual bed leveling jas been a nightmare first one was warped second one had middle point too high. I spent three whole weeks trying to level it well. Im burnt out and considerd the bltouch seems to me the sensore is too off to the side and might not capture the center height. Im exhousted and dont want to return the neptune 2 but do i have a choice.

[@meatbashr718]

So I recently did this. And it does suck on the Neptune 2. Manual lvling is way better on this machine. I have all the same issues and want to remove this bl touch. Can you share how to reverse the process?

[@MandicReally]

You just need to Remove the BL Touch, Install the Z Limit Switch, and reflash to the Manual Leveling firmware. I’ll update my GitHub page later today with the Manual Leveling firmware.

[@demwunz]

This is awesome. Subscribed

[@MandicReally]

Welcome and thank you!

[@olafschermann1592]

Can’t you switch back to edit elegoo.txt on TF card and set leveling type=1 instead of 5? Or does it need to recompile to take effect?

[@netzgeflyster]

I am not quite sure if it is on the homepage, but the needed firmware files and STL was posted in their Facebook group. But most important: it is still possible to use the integrated manual leveling tool on the LCD. It's a little bit tricky to enable it, but it works.

[@MandicReally]

How does one enable it? I’ve tried numerous ways and haven’t been able to make both work in conjunction. At least not in the way Elegoo has intended or set it up. I realize that Elegoo has the files out there in some places, but the fact that it isn’t on their website is ridiculous. How can customers really be expected to search Facebook for the latest Firmware for a machine?

[@StefanyBaez]

How do you enable it?

[@MandicReally]

@@StefanyBaez I’m thinking since they said you can 2 weeks ago and haven’t said how, they heard someone say you could and haven’t done it themselves. I tried for almost a week to make it happen and couldn’t. I’ve got a video coming about making the BL Touch work as it should on the Neptune 2, but it will be a rather involved mod.

[@StefanyBaez]

@@MandicReally Subscribed to your channel to keep an eye out for that video! I installed BLtouch on my Neptune 2 and honestly I haven't seen any difference. I wish I would've seen this video before purchasing it.

[@frommyy]

why u remove the Bl-tocuh and dont just change the settings in the firmware or use a costum community firmware ? u can change everything there

[@MandicReally]

This video was over a year ago when community firmware wasn't an option. I spent a week working on compiling my own version but something was missing and it never worked. Such a small machine still really does not need an ABL honestly.

[@frommyy]

@@MandicReally yep thats right .. i tried as a totaly firmware noob to compile one and sit tehre for 3 days .. until i realised it would be so much easier to edit a community firmware (Cr10 + Ender 5 Plus Silent mainboard)

[@MandicReally]

@@frommyy I'm not a noob with firmware but the Makerbase branch of Marlin that the Neptune 2 uses is... troublesome. I've had issue with it on genuine Makerbase boards, let alone on the Neptune 2. It is one of the reasons that overall I don't really recommend the Neptune 2 to folks. Nothing about it makes it stand out to me version an Ender 3 + a Silent Board.

[@NeillRobinson]

All of these problems are solved by installing a better Marlin build.. there's a really good one customized for the Neptune 2 with lvgl + colour UI... Has a really nice Z level wizard

[@geovp1984]

Do you mind share a link to it?

[@nightshade1982]

PLEASE HELP!!! i installed the bl-touch firmware, and after 4 months regret it dearly. I want to go back to manual bed leveling, but can't figure out how to uninstall the bltouch firmware. so, if anybody can help me that would be awesome.

[@MandicReally]

www.elegoo.com/pages/3d-printing-user-support That page has the latest firmware from Elegoo and an instruction sheet you can download to ID your firmware & install a new one.

[@nightshade1982]

@@MandicReally thank you so much!!!

[@brandonwhite2023]

DO THIS PEOPLE use G29 + store the mesh and then use M420 S1 to recall the stored bed mesh.

[@MandicReally]

But that still erases the Z probe offset and requires a reset every time. And when I tried it also left the z probe offset menu stuck on the screen blocking the status message for the current print with all the relevant data. I didn’t demonstrate that because I was over it and didn’t want this to be a 20+ minute where half of it is me explaining why I don’t like the way they’ve done if. Also Elegoo’s instructions clearly state NO Slicer setting adjustment required. You and I know the G29/M420 can make it do something closer to what I want, but Elegoo is expressly suggesting not to.

[@Riaf2000]

I know this is a bit old, but I have to say I completely disagree with the conclusions in this video. I'm loving the BLtouch, I do use Octoprint, and created buttons to do manual leveling, but find it easier with the bed visualizer plugin (tells you how far to turn each screw), I find my Z offset to be extremely consistent, and I have g-code that does auto level the bed before each print, and it's working perfectly I've never had prints as consistent as I do now.

[@MandicReally]

Are you running Elegoo firmware? I wonder if they have updated and changed something since this. You are doing what folks should when running an ABL, but in my experience, most folks don't want to do that. They want an ABL so they don't have to do anything, and that isn't reality on most machines. Also adding a Pi & Octoprint is advancing the difficulty for most users (and expense especially with inflated Pi prices). Bravo to you, but I have to think about the majority of users when I'm making content. I could make a 30 minute video about setting it up as you have, but most folks won't watch it or want to go through the steps. I don't run the Neptune 2 at all anymore but there was more that I didn't include int his video that Elegoo themselves acknowledge after this. Adding a G29 to do a level run before every print but it was trip that Z-offset function as well and never seemed like it was using the mesh data properly. The Z-axis made an awful noise when it was adjusting for the mesh (the Z-axis has loud a loud stepper driver on my version). Elegoo themselves put out a message after this saying they didn't recommend installing it, but you could if you want.

[@billkaroly]

What firmware are they using? I've heard it's proprietary. Couldn't you install Marlin or Klipper?

[@MandicReally]

I believe it is an offshoot of Marlin that is somewhat proprietary. Robin Nano’s use an offshoot of Marlin that has some differences as well but those didn’t work. I tried for about a full week to compile Marlin (vanilla or Robin Nano) to work with this board. I found some Reddit posts claiming others had succeeded but zero evidence or details. After that week of trying to make it work is when I have up and made this video. (Part of why I was salty about it all.) Some say they’ve gotten Klipper going on it. Which makes a bit more sense as it runs mostly on a Raspberry Pi. But my next move is going to be installing a true Robin Nano board, not the Elegoo clone one and run real Marlin on it.

[@aronjakob1]

I was thinking in regards to the Z hight resetting issue - could I design a mount for the BL touch that I could adjust the hight of the sensor with a screw or something to get it to line up with 0.00 in the Z offset menu?

[@MandicReally]

It would not be a good idea. The probe is supposed to be Up from the tip of the nozzle that much. 0.00 would mean that the height of your nozzle and the height of your Probe are exactly the same. So your BL Touch would be dragging on prints all the time and ruining them or breaking the probe. Along with that you are usually fine adjusting Z Offset by 0.001 or even finer increments. Getting a mechanism to adjust that finely & accurately would be difficult. I get what you are thinking but it is not recommended at all.

[@aronjakob1]

@@MandicReally Thanks so much for your reply, I'm a complete beginner and your videos are a tremendous help!

[@minutemenapparel]

If I already have firmware v1.0.3 do I need to update the firmware still or should I be able to use the bltouch after install?

[@MandicReally]

The install on a Neptune 2 would be identical. Except as I noted it will require you to make a spacer with a stack of washers or printed part. Here is a page of info on install and more from E3D: e3d-online.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/6157566251549-Revo-CR I’m sorry I simply don’t have the time to make guides for every machine this could fit. Especially when the initial video only does so well, it’s a lot of time and effort that doesn’t pay me back unfortunately.

[@poshpol]

The guy that said he installed marlin 2.x in the comments posted his video showing how its done: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4qUnYp_Z7ChoqM

[@MandicReally]

Excellent. I’ll watch it when I can. That should fix most of the problems I have with the machine.

[@piotrszczurek8935]

not c00L, design placed on some "shady" portal, i dont want to make acc on it. Why not Thingverse or printables like civilised ppl do ?

[@MandicReally]

"Shady portal", Thangs is one of the largest sharing platforms around. Thingiverse is extremely buggy, had a data breach last year, and doesn't update their website. Printables (wasn't called that then) was barely used when I released this design. This video is almost 2 years old.