Voron V2 Gantry Squaring

Poor gantry squaring can cause a number of problems, such as:

• First Layer issues
• Z belts rubbing against the gantry’s printed parts
• X axis to be “racked” at the front but not the back (or vice versa)

Steps 14-16 of the instructions below can also help with gantry stability.

Demonstration

Watch this video.

Notice that the idlers get “pinched” when moving the X extrusion back/forth (this is shown with loose Z joints).

Method

Some have found Z Locks to be useful for this procedure. They are not required, however.

1. Enter this g-code: SET_IDLE_TIMEOUT TIMEOUT=99999
   • This arbitrarily high timeout just gives us time to work. We need the Z motors to be energized and holding for the whole process.

2. G28, then QUAD_GANTRY_LEVEL.

3. Jog your gantry to the center of the build volume using the LCD or web interface.
   • This will give you space to work. You need easy access to both the bottom and top of your gantry.
4. Turn off ONLY your A/B motors using these g-codes:
   • SET_STEPPER_ENABLE STEPPER=stepper_x ENABLE=0
   • SET_STEPPER_ENABLE STEPPER=stepper_y ENABLE=0
5. Loosen your A/B belt tension fully.
   • This prevents the A/B belt tension from pulling the gantry out of alignment while you work on it.

   • Your belts should be fully disengaged. If there is still remaining tension with the idlers fully backed off, you may need to release the belt ends from the X carriage.

   • 

6. Take off your side panels.

7. Unscrew and drop your lower Z joints.
   • Your gantry will now be floating on just the belts.
     • Make sure your printer is on a fairly level surface, otherwise your gantry could swing too much to one side. (it doesn’t have to be perfect, just don’t do it on a hill),

   • 

   • 

8. PARTIALLY loosen all connections to the extrusions.

   • You need all of these bolts to be loose enough to freely adjust against the printed part on the extrusions.

   Where there are Z belt clamps, ensure that you do not loosen the bolts so much that the Z belts release. Only loosen enough to allow for adjustments.

   • X/Y joints (repeat for both sides).
     • Top:
       • 
     • Bottom:
       • 
   • A/B joints (repeat for both sides):
     • Top:
       • Don’t overdo the belt clamps!
       • 
     • Bottom:
       • Don’t overdo the belt clamps!
       • 
   • Front idlers (repeat for both sides):
     • Top:
       • Don’t overdo it!
       • 
     • Bottom:
       • Don’t overdo it!
       • 
9. And now, what we have been preparing for.
   Adjust your gantry so that it sits perfectly on top of the lower Z joints.
   • This involves moving gantry components further apart or closer together along the extrusions:
     • Rear
       • 
     • Sides
       • 
   • Your gantry should align so that:
     • The Z joints feel perfectly flush along the side, and

     • When raising and lowering your lower Z joint by hand, the bolt slides in perfectly without hitting the sides.

     • 
   • Ensure that you do not inadvertently rotate your A/B joints during this process.
     • 
     • (Exaggerated)
       
10. Tighten every extrusion bolt again, except those in the X/Y joints. (you will tighten those during step 12)
    • Ensure that your Z joints still align properly. Sometimes tightening can move things around.
11. Re-install your lower Z joints and lightly tighten the M5 bolts.
    • Don’t fully tighten them down yet - just lightly. The joint should still be able to articulate freely.
12. Follow Nero’s de-racking video.
    • Make sure to come back here afterwards! The following steps are still important.

13. Re-tension your A/B belts (to 110hz over a 15cm span).

14. Reinstall your panels and fully heatsoak your printer for 1½ - 2 hours minimum.

15. QUAD_GANTRY_LEVEL 3-5 times to “settle in” the gantry (and level it for the next step).
    • If you are getting new tolerance / retry errors, you may have left your Z joints a bit too loose. Try tightening them up just a bit more.
16. Open the front door and fully tighten the M5 bolts in your Z joints while it’s still hot.
    • This does two things:
      • Somewhat “locks in” your QGL at its state in full thermal expansion.
        • This can help with first layer issues.
      • Stabilizes your gantry.

        • If you have your Z joints too loose, you might notice that your gantry displaces back & forth a bit while printing.

        • This can help with ringing and layer consistency.

17. RESTART to reset your idle timeout.