Setting Z-Offset for a BLTouch (or another probe)

Did you just install a BLTouch (or other ABL) and now you’re printing in mid air? This video goes over how to find the proper z-offset value for your probe.
Edit: A lot of people ask how to “go below 0mm Z.” My firmware (Vanilla Marlin 2.x) is set in configuration.g to allow me to go 5mm below zero. However, you can also Send M211 S0 via terminal (octoprint or pronterface) to unlimit axes. When you are done, just send M211 S1 to re-enable axes limits.

[@matttmp]

I dont know how you did it, but in the 7 minutes you took you explained this far, far, FAR better than literally any other video or forum I've been able to find. You demonstrated how to get it absolutely flawlessly and without any kind of needless measuring. Truly fantastic.

[@lexmirnov]

Same here

[@Frankie_Freedom]

Yeah actually explained that very very well. Understood that so well... Goly

[@kernel_panik4558]

Same thing. Everyone else glossed over this

[@saturn7663]

I agree with this comment so strongly. You are a blessing dude. Thank you so damn much

[@sdmf5150]

There's a reason this is the top comment. I've spent 3 days reading through various subreddits/forums and finally found this video. Everything works great now!

[@tdgchan]

Wild that a flashlight review channel made a better video on 3d printing than 3d printing channels. Great video 10/10

[@cheule]

This comment really made me smile. Ty!

[@denis2381]

@@cheule as someone who watched a lot of 3d printing videos recently I have to agree.

[@3dphacks]

That's one of the very precise and very professional expert way of teaching, the setting of z offset or any kind of tutorials. I have never seen easy and detailed tutorial like this ever on youtube.

[@cheule]

Wow, thanks!

[@dionisioreyesiii5964]

Man I've been searching for days to find a video this good, that explained everything flawlessly and is so simplified..... why has nobody else done this? kudos to you Sir 👍

[@Naaackers]

I used this video 6 months ago when i first got my glass bed. This is the only video on youtube that made sense to me. Here i am today, with a brand new PEI bed. And then I can’t for the life of me remember what I need to do to make this work again. And then i re found this video, and i fixed it. Thank you so much.

[@brandonwyles]

Complete 3D printing newbie here, and this was by far the most useful video out there by far. Explained the z-offset very well, much appriciated!

[@Fsone174]

This video should come with the purchase of every BLTouch. Best explanation I've heard on this, in the perfect "explain like I'm 5" format. Thank you!

[@martijnvandijk9776]

I was looking for someone that was able to explain this for dummies. This is indeed, just as other are telling, by far the best explanation I was able to find. Thank you very much for this detailed explanation and therefore, many super good looking prints because of it!

[@AndersEvenrud]

Thank you so much for this. This is by far the most concise and informative video out there when it comes to the BLT. I was having a rough time getting things exactly right after replacing my springs and adding the auto-leveling, but with this insight it was a piece of cake!

[@tyler23764]

Thank you so much! There were so many videos of people using some fancy firmware, typing in commands, and doing a ton of other advanced stuff but no one actually explaining what z-offset is and how to easily get it. This video was incredibly helpful.

[@freeinhabitant2422]

Far and away the best video I have seen to this point explaining the operation of the BL touch. I dont have an ender, have a Voxelab Aquila and have been trying to find info. This gets me a lot closer to understanding the objective. Appreciate it much - thanks.

[@MvPyroScope]

Just a fantastic video. I didn't even know what a z offset was but I gathered enough information to know I probably needed to adjust mine. Good explanation of the concepts, clear and concise, and a reasonable length video. Thanks!

[@grumpygenesworld7598]

Seriously man this is the best and only video to explain the process I have seen. Thank you for taking the time to do this and to do it better than anyone else, bar none.

[@marktate007]

I am very new at 3d printing. I've only had my Ender 3 for a week. I wish that the instructions that came with my BLTouch referenced anything about this z-offset! I installed my BLTouch at the same time I installed a removable magnetic bed. Nothing would stick to the bed. I was talking with the seller of the bed about returning the item as I didn't think it worked when I came across this video. This video is exactly what the issue was! After a few minutes messing with the settings, which were a little different for my Ender 3 v2 and firmware, I am printing my first test and it works great! Thanks a million!

[@thecorrnershed]

I want to thank you. I bought, out together and set up my new Cr-10 pro v2. Leveled the bed and no matter how many times I did it, couldn't get the PLA to stick. This is my first printer BTW. Your explanation of the offset process is what fixed my problem. So much for doing things at 3 in the morning on little sleep. Thank you for an easy to follow, although different set up. Perfect benchy right away.

[@ianbertenshaw4350]

Finally someone that shows the damned lcd screen ! Fantastic explanation of what ends up being simple process that many channels make sound harder than it really is or go off on a tangent right when the viewer is trying to learn a particular part of the process.

[@aaronkostuik587]

i've never understood why this is so hard for people to explain, thank you, super straight forward.

[@RogerS1978]

Fantastic explanation, I've watched a number of video's and you've explained in 7.5 min what others have trouble doing in 30min.

[@Jamez881]

I agree, this is a great explanation. I have watched several other videos that only confused me more. You explained this in very succinct terms, that made it quite easy to understand. Thanks a lot!

[@timbriggs21]

I've been struggling with this for days, at last a simple explanation which works. I was thinking of uninstalling the BL touch and going back to manual bed levelling.

[@NatePrikkel]

I was about to do the same until I found this! Life saver!

[@martyb2187]

Excellent instructions!!! Many thanks. I just ordered a BL Touch and you've given me great confidence in being able to install it correctly.

[@Kurai_Naito]

Life-saver video I found tons of videos saying "you have to set up this" but not explaining "what is this and how do I find my own value" Thank you mate!

[@Duhvidd]

By far the best step by step demonstration, thank you so much!

[@DogeMcLovin]

This video is an absolute treat! Your presentation style is terrific and makes instructions easy to follow.

[@kylesaric3652]

I love it. Amazing guide and demo. Perfectly explains the right gap needed.

[@AlasdairCarr]

This is the best explanation by miles that I've found. Lots of other tutorials have steps omitted and don't explain properly. Thank you

[@the50first]

Great way of explaining how it works. No beating around the bush. Thanks!

[@mickeyred]

Congrats, first video that explains the 'Why?' comprehensively and helped me understand.

[@IamAJoe]

An absolute Saint. Thank you for sharing this. I was wondering why no matter what I was doing it felt like I was still not using it correctly.

[@xx_warhead_xx2677]

I received my CR Touch from Amazon on July 30 and could not find any useful information on why the nozzle was riding so high off the bed until I found this video on Oct 26. Countless videos, articles and forums were of no help. Either I didn't know what they were talking about or I couldn't see what they were doing in the video. This video is excellent in that you can actually see what your doing on your panel while explaining what and why your doing it. 👍 Thanks!

[@gustavoromay5035]

The best, short and precise explanation to fix this issue. A genius man, Thanks a lot !

[@user-dg4vl1qb4e]

This is an incredibly to the point, easy to follow tutorial thanks!

[@crooker2]

Even 3 years later this video remains the best explanation of z-offset ive found! I can't wait to re-tram and get my Ender 3v2 with CR-Touch dialed in tomorrow!

[@petard100]

couldn't have been more clear and well explained, thank you !

[@wade-airdog7730]

Best explanation of Z-offset by far on YT. Thanks a ton!

[@barryrsahrp]

My recently purchased Ender 3 Pro has a different LCD display to yours. Some controls are there but in different places. How do you get the graphics to turn on?. Also, when I save the settings it does not beep. I read that some machines actually have a control to switch the beeper on or off. Mine does not seem to have it. After following these instructions carefully my printer is still attempting to print about 3 mm above the bed. I have a BLTouch fitted and upgraded the firmware to Ver.4.2.2. This printer usually worked well with the slicer supplied with the kit but I have not been able to get 1 successful print using Cura. It was going well with the standard slicer until I fitted a Creality glass bed and then after resetting the Z stop switch everything went haywire and now all I get is squashed prints. I removed the glass bed as I could not get proper adhesion. Tried using hair spray, and then glue stick with little success. I am using PETG with 245 nozzle and 70 bed and 50% fan. I have now given up on the glass bed. Any successful prints must have a raft. I could not get adhesion using brim, or no raft. Most videos I see where they show the LCD screen the displays are different and in some cases my printer does not even have some of the controls mentioned. I cannot find anything in the standard software or Cura where I can control the number of 1st layers or the Z offset. Maybe the units sold in Australia have different firmware to the US models. Any assistance would be appreciated.

[@wade-airdog7730]

@@barryrsahrp This isn't my printer, although I do have an Ender 3 Pro. I use PETG with the original bed and it usually works fine, with an occasional adhesion issue. I also use Octopi so I don't use the screen a whole lot, just for basic functions. Mine beeps. Lastly, not sure what you mean by "standard slicer"... I don't think any of the Ender 3 models have a built in slicer do they?

[@barryrsahrp]

@@wade-airdog7730 Yes, that is the slicer program that is supplied with the Ender 3 Pro.

[@AndrewAHayes]

@@barryrsahrp you need to put the G29 into your start G code in Cura so that it knows you are using a probe, search for BL Touch Cura settings and you will find videos on it

[@AndrewAHayes]

@@wade-airdog7730 They come with a skinned version of an old version of Cura on the SD card that is supplied with the printer

[@TerryABruce]

Thank you very much for taking the time to explain some of the fundemental logic, I followed your instructions to the letter and as I did it was a sort of light bulb moment and without your perfect explanation I could see myself damaging the heated bed, anyway great stuff.

[@SkyeWelse]

Great video and explanation of what the is happening with the probe and how the z-offset is supposed to work and also how to save it! Thanks very much!

[@mwms9872]

Wow! Just amazing. Been fighting with this, watched every video and NO ONE explained it like this. I even gave up and removed the CR Touch. YOU my friend are the BEST! Thank you!

[@NatePrikkel]

Thank you! I’ve been messing with this BLT for a week now and was about to remove it because I was so annoyed! Great video!

[@travisr.3667]

This was by far the best video on YT on this topic, straight to the point and easy to understand!

[@shawnh7503]

Found this video today and you by far made this more understandable and easy to follow then the 8 other videos I've watched today trying to figure this out

[@TheGMOGamer]

Spent so much time trying to figure this out since I messed with my printer and it's BLTouch. Lifesaver.

[@merouby]

PERFECTION! No dabble or faff - just easy to follow steps! BEST ENDER VIDEO EVER!

[@ernestocontreras1779]

to the point. thank you to make things simpler.....not a 30 minutes video that end up confusing you more, great job

[@brody3113]

FINALLY someone competent in explaining this. Thank you!

[@CatalystPaints]

This is literally the best explanation video of this I've seen so far. I understand 100% now. I was having a hard time understanding what z offset was etc and this helped so much 😱

[@BuntersYard]

Thank you. I've been trying for about a year to find how to do this properly. Your video explains whats going on perfectly.

[@Kurt634]

Excellent vid! Not only explaining how to do it but also why and what it means in the first place

[@justinreed1388]

I've watched this like 10 times over the last couple years. you explain this very clearly. thank you

[@cheule]

You're very welcome!

[@MrMmaver]

finally a video that completely shows how to do it and not just talking about it while pointing at an ender. thank you

[@pepperlook]

I laughed out loud by the while pointing at an ender, its so true.

[@jwilliams2000492]

By far the best explanation of setting the bltouch. What a great video. Ty

[@justinweber7547]

Thanks for the best explanation I have found yet for z offsets

[@Brendanlockhart1994]

Thank you so much I had put my Cr touch back in a box for storage. Thought manual bed level was my limit. Glad this video was done simple steps. Thank you!

[@questbreak728]

Great explanation, I will be installing a bl touch along with the skr mini e3 v2 soon and this video has made setting the offset much more clear. Thank you!!

[@cheule]

Thanks for the feedback! I make these videos for our discord server group, but I leave them on YT as public in case someone else finds them. Glad you did!

[@questbreak728]

cheule follow up on the bltouch install. I followed your guide and everything is working great! Cheers!

[@keepitdicey]

Thank you sir, this was extremely helpful. Not just a step-by-step but you bothered to explain the 'why' as well.

[@sabitbagirli7399]

You are GREAT. Finally someone who explained it in an easiest way. Now I clearly understand how BL touch works and what need to do make work perfectly. Thanks

[@terrylyn]

I'm new to 3d printing and every other method I learned so far seemed overly complicated (sending g-codes to firmware etc.) but this one finally explained what's it really about.

[@oldfatjoe6329]

Amazingly informative video. Thank you so much. I may re-install my BL Touch again and known it's finally configured right.

[@dhey007]

Appreciated your explanation very much! After some upgrades, this was my last problem to solve, thanks for making it easy!

[@dombaines]

Thanks made lots of sense. Had leveled for ages with feeler gauge and CNC lathe dial gauge then was bought a 'present' and thought had to try it... lots of swearing resulted! Must remember though, if change the nozzle don't expect the Z offset to still be the same.

[@jmontielf]

Just awesome! Thank you very much there's a lot of posts and videos about this but this one is so clear and simple it helped me a lot! Thank you!

[@molton3631]

Thank you so much I’ve been looking for two weeks now trying to get this figured out.

[@shawnmcarthur]

Thank you for this clear and concise video explaining how to do this!

[@Miked1332]

Thank you. After scouring the KZbin's for hours, watching tons of videos about how to do this, no one seems to get to the point. You sir, just got a new subscriber.

[@flounderlee]

Like many others, I tried several other videos and they were difficult to follow and this one was great! Thanks!

[@omnipotech1557]

Man this is such a good video. Watching this three years after it was posted, with a cr touch instead of a bl touch and it just works after doing this. 10/10

[@loubano]

I ordered my 3D Printer CR10-V2 + CR touch. I did not recieved anything sor for then I watch a lot of tutorial and Let me tell you that you are by far the best tutorial that I watch on the subject. I understood, the calibration, the meaning behind and How to do it. I gonna subscribe to your channel immediatly, thank soooo much for this great video !!!!!! Cheers Cedric from France

[@moist-liquid9196]

It’s 2am and I’m finally done. Thank you

[@lorenzo52877]

this is by far the best step to step video on this.

[@slagterivej48]

Thank you kindly sir.. Your the first who made me understand how to do it after looking at endless of videos .. so big thumbs up

[@vulcan4d]

Great video, lots of tutorials miss this or don't explain it as well as you!

[@beckvo]

I have a new ender 3 v2 neo, your video is older but still helped me fix my issues. Thanks so much!

[@liveweyeractual]

Brilliant. Thank you. I have the voxelab aquila running custom marlin firmware. Z offset has its own sub menu but this video helped me get it done quick. thank you!

[@jasonbarker5955]

This was great. I was having a real headache getting prints to stick and had set my Z offset many times as well as relevel the bed. It turns out that my Ender 3 Neo was off about 1.3mm on the probe to nozzle offset. It is now set properly. Thank you.

[@wmartin354]

I bought my printer a week ago and I've been lost. Thank so much for your video. 👊

[@derpenstein9882]

Wow. Thank you so much. ... I've been babystepping the z axis until it touches the bed on both of my machines. This is EXACTLY what I needed man. Thank you so much.

[@-_Robert_-]

Best ever seen explanation. Can not be easier. Thank YOU MAN!! (probably it should be done on your bad heated to the regular work temperature ( ~60 - 70*C ) be couse of bending when heated )

[@momomomosound]

Your vid is really the best explanation of how to use the BLT. Thank you ! 👍

[@davidkettell6236]

I have been struggling with this for eight hours and finally i came across a video that was explained perfectly ,thank you . i did load software in Chinese the first time which set me back a little though !

[@_oe_o_e_]

i dont know WHY this video didnt come up when i went looking for it. but i’m thankful to have found it. i’ll have to make adjustments for my Ender 3 v2, but i think the process is a little more straightforward

[@CopyLion]

This video deserves a million more views. Hands down the best and simplest explanation.

[@shaark_1396]

I’m still very confused so when the sensor touches the plate the nozzle is high above the plate? I thought the nozzle was for bed leveling

[@CopyLion]

​@@shaark_1396 The pin of your BLTouch must be higher than the nozzle when stowed and lower than the nozzle when expanded. So wherever the pin hits the bed that point will be marked as z0, given you have used BLTouch instead of z homing switch to mark z0 < very important, if you are still using endstops for z0 that is another story Z offset = [difference from that z0 measured by the pin to the nozzle tip], also equals to how much lower z has to go for the nozzle to reach the bed. The more negative z offset is, the bigger the difference between the expanded pin and nozzle tip.

[@MrJonesproduction]

@@CopyLion but how you move your Z to minus??? it wont go below 0.00

[@CopyLion]

​@@MrJonesproduction You should be looking to adjust Z offset, not Z itself. You shouldn't need to adjust Z to below zero in this case.

[@StevesRealWorld]

BEST video on YT for the BLTouch - so much help!!

[@larryfroot]

The clearest and best explanation of the whole damn thing. Thank you so much.

[@ArtfulCam24]

Thank you. This was exactly what I needed after taking apart my fan and bltouch to clean them and then setting it up again.

[@Hrs3play]

I have watched several videos on auto leveling and no one has broken down setting Z and offset like this. Much appreciated man

[@jakeparker918]

Seriously, you have saved so much time and frustration for so many people

[@JacobD.]

very informational and helpful video. I highly recommend this video for anyone that has a bltouch

[@simonsnape4183]

Been searching all night found your vid and sorted in 10 min thanks.

[@MattWood-zl5cw]

Thank you, I have used your video twice now to help with this. My motion->move wouldn't go below zero in my version of Marlin, so I had to set my offset to -1 (or lower if you need) and then move to a +.2 and ended with a final z-offset of -.8. Thank you for your help in understanding what should be a basic concept.

[@cheule]

Glad it helped

[@AlexCopeMusic]

You are my god damned hero. This is easily the clearest explanation of how to do this I have found. Thank you!

[@shinobi1804]

Im totally new in this 3D Printer and just found this awesome method when i tried to set my Z setting when there a little gap between my nozzle and my bed. Short video yet contain useful method. Great job.

[@Inosix]

Hey. Thanks for the upload. This did a great job of explaining all the relevant pieces.

[@ForkMyDongle]

Thank you for quickly explaining this stuff, most youtubers have 15+ minute long videos on this crap explaining every excruciating detail.

[@scienti0]

This is the BEST video on this topic on youtube. Many thanks.

[@everythingquads]

That's a nice method that works. I set my offset directly to the the probe. First I auto home, then I drop down Z to 0. Then I adjust my probe offset until the paper grips. Save configuration. Job done!

[@cheule]

Believe it or not, in some versions/configurations of Marlin, changing the z-offset isn’t a “live” operation, meaning that the z-screw won’t move while you’re changing it. That’s the only reason I recommended doing it this way, in case the z-offset menu wasn’t changing z height live.

[@richardhuxford1147]

I am brand new to 3d printing. i bought a used gaming rig that came with an ender 3 with bl touch installed. i watched multiple videos and could not get it to work. i also kept crashing the head. With your video i got it first try. thanks brother, you did awesome explaining everything.

[@callsignprofessor]

By far the best video! Clear explanation, short, good instructions and no bs.

[@cheule]

Thanks, I had made this for a friend on a discord server. I’m glad to see other find it useful!

[@callsignprofessor]

Very much so! Thanks 💪🏼

[@mgrantom]

You just earned my subscription. Your clear, concise explanation was perfect! Thanks!

[@hansgregersen3459]

Yeah im new to printing but this video was insanely helpful! love that you explain how everything works and so on, makes it much easier to understand and remember!

[@NYQVr]

dude you literally are so good at explaining this stuff. I know nothing about this stuff and u helped a lot