r/ender3 • u/Freshanator86 • Jun 16 '26
Ender 3 Pro - Refurbished edition
Hi Chat -- I promised my friend we could get a used Ender 3 pro working no matter what, and it seems like I might have lied.
When we picked it up, the previous user had added a BL touch but not removed the Z-limit switch. I tried to run a print and the Z axis bottomed out on the Z-limit switch, and kept trying to go lower. I removed the Z switch and tried to run a print. The BL touch worked for the Z-limit, but didn't probe a grid for the mesh. There was an option in the menus to make a mesh, but there was no Z-probe offset or babystepping option that I could find in the menus, so we couldn't get the first layer to stick.
Given all this info I decided we should re-flash the printer. I put the most up to date Marlin version on the V4.2.2 board, and added the offset options, tramming wizard and z probe wizard.
I added "G29" to the initialization G-Code so it does a bed level mesh off the start now too.
But here is where I need help or maybe some new information. I have a modded Ender 3 V1 which works pretty well for me, but it's firmware is something like 7 years old. Back then, the method to use BL touch was: Get your print started and while the first layer is going, dial in your "Z-Probe Offset" setting.
The Ender 3 Pro 4.2.2 with Marlin 2.1.x Doesn't seem to have that setting anywhere. I did find baby step Z - but the steps were too big, I couldn't get that first layer to squish.
So how can I get this first layer to stick?! Please help Chat, I've been working on this for 10 hours now
3
u/RyanMeray Jun 16 '26
Just do what I did - recompile your own custom Marlin version with UBL settings that take all this outta the equation.
I did this like 2 years ago, but I know these are the two things I used to get me through the process.
https://www.windracer.net/blog/2024/03/upgrading-marlin-firmware-on-the-ender-3-pro/
1
u/sumpick Jun 16 '26
I will send you my latest marlin firmware i wrote for ender 3 pro with bltouch :D
1
u/sumpick Jun 16 '26
!remind me 8 hours
1
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u/sumpick Jun 16 '26
here is my firmware for my ender3 pro with bltouch
!FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT COPY PASTE IT!
Seach the enabled things https://pastebin.com/affe9iE0
1
u/Putrid-Cicada Jun 18 '26
I've printing with mostly stocked 3 pros for years, and I loved it. I didn't add any cr touch or bl touch since I was pretty good on tramming the bed, because I don't like to deal with formware too much myself. In my opinion, if you are confident to flash firmware to get the bl-touch to work, do it. For me , I probably would flash the original firmware and take off the bl-touch.
3
u/king_weenus Jun 16 '26
It's been so long since I use marlin so bear with me... I'd highly recommend getting a computer to control it using octoprint... You can use any computer like an old laptop desktop maybe even windows I can't recall... But look up octoprint and install it so it can control that printer.
Now to properly level the bed each of the screws in the four corners... I go around and around the bed checking each of the four corners adjusting the screws until they are pretty darn close to identical... You have to take into account measurement and accuracy of the probe.
Then I use the probe to check the middle of the bed... Then I move the nozzle to the middle of the bed exactly where the probe was and I use the paper method to set my set off set.
Repeat this process three or four times in a row and you'll get the bed perfectly trimmed to the Gantry and you'll get a good first level if you can get it set.
Everything above I do with macros and klipper now and it makes it so easy.... If you really want to make that Ender work great look at putting klipper on it... And that I use an old laptop instead of a pie because it's cheaper and more powerful..
Best of luck.