What is it?

This simple battery powered LED board aids in the process of leveling a 3D printers bed. You still need to level your printer for the first time using your favorite piece of paper under the nozzle and one of the many tutorials on YouTube, but once first time leveling achieved, you can use this tool to make sure that the Z axis reported height is the same across leveling points. Basically you move manually the z-axis until the LED turns on and you make sure that all other points report the same height in 1/10 of mm. If you need to level again in the future, same thing: make sure that at each leveling point, the LED turns on at the same height it did when leveled the first time.

Algorithm for keeping the leveling right.

1. make sure that the plate is leveled for the first time.
2. move the print head to the four of five leveling points
3. measure at what height on the Z axis (it should be around 1.2-1.3mm) the LED turns on
4. write down that value for future reference

When releveling is needed:

1. move the head at each leveling point
2. set the springs such as the height at which the LED turns on is the same that you wrote down

It's not automatic and not meant to be automatic. But it saves some time and pays off the first time you use it.

Why did you make it?

I discovered that I frequently re-level my 3D printer bed and I came with not a new idea of using an LED powered by a button battery (CR2032). There are similar products on sale here as well, this came to fit my needs better.

What makes it special?

Cheap to be almost disposable (I considered using FSR for reducing the depth further but it would have costed 10x as much). Practical: no needs to be charged, the battery will last practically forever. I am using it with a recycled battery (can't power the watch anymore, but it has enough juice to turn on the LED). Compact and small.

Battery not included

International shipping

I have no problems shipping to all destinations, but believe me it's anti-economical. It would be cheaper to order a small amount (5) to a PCB fab (I can share Gerber, BOM and Pick and Place) geographically "closer" to your place. The smallest package outbound from US is about $30.