Upgrading your Creality Ender 3 or Ender 3 Pro with a BLTouch probe for auto bed leveling will ensure your prints have perfect first layers every time and greatly reduce issues with bed adhesion. Additionally, the BLTouch probe allows better tolerances for slightly warped print beds by measuring and compensating for any inconsistencies. Many premium 3D printers include this feature standard, but fortunately it can also be installed on many lower cost 3D printers as an upgrade. Show
Note: Some Newer Ender 3 Pro’s have the updated 4.2.2 Mainboard. If yours has this board, you should use the Ender 3 V2 BLTouch guide instead. For more information on why we recommend the BL-touch sensor, refer to our Auto Bed Leveling Guide. Note: Creality Experts receives a commission for items you purchase from this page, at no additional cost to you. For more information, please see our affiliate link policy. Remember the days when you found yourself hunkered down over your Ender 3, Ender 3 V2, or Ender 3 Pro with a sheet of paper in your hand, literally spinning your wheels? Was that yesterday? Well, with a BLTouch installed, it doesn't have to be tomorrow! Forget about leveling your Ender 3 bed or adjusting a Z-offset ever again.
Setting up and installing the BLTouch on the Ender 3 V2 is made easier due to the ability to flash firmware onto the Ender 3 V2 via an SD card and the added support that Creality gives to the BLTouch now. But we'll also show you how to set up the BLTouch on the Ender 3 and Ender 3 Pro. Still, we found the process to be not-so-straightforward and a bit frustrating at times. (What serious upgrade for the Ender 3 isn't?!) Because the V2 is so new, there's very little information available on how to properly set up the BLTouch on the Ender 3 V2, and what is available is often so slight that it really wasn't helpful at all. That's where we come in! In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of installing and setting up your BLTouch auto-bed leveling sensor on your Ender 3-series printer, as well as anticipate any issues that may arise for you. Ready to get started? Skip ahead to begin your BLTouch setup. A note on the product usedThe BLTouch kit we used comes with EVERYTHING you need to install and set up the BLTouch on your Ender 3, Ender 3 V2, or Ender 3 Pro. It has a different bracket for each of the printers, so make sure to select the right printer on Creality's website. You're welcome to save a little money and buy everything separately, as well as 3D print the BLtouch mount—but, honestly, for the extra cost, it's just easier to get the official Creality kit. Will this guide work with different hardware?Sure! If you already have your hardware, then the instructions below will absolutely still work. We'll simply note slight changes if you're using something different. What You'll Need InterestsSeriesMetric Hex Key×1M3 nuts×1Howchoo is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you when you buy through our links. Table of Contents BLTouch Install and Setup:
1 How does BLTouch work?Antclabs It's important to know a little about how the BLTouch auto-bed leveling sensor works with 3D printers like the Ender 3 V2 to understand the small adjustments you'll need to make later on. What is BLTouch?First appearing in 2015, the BLTouch by Antclabs is an add-on electrical component for a 3D printer that uses a sensor stem to detect any tilt in the bed surface. It's built to use very little power at idle and use so that it can be installed directly in the Ender 3's motherboard, without any heat issues. If you want to learn more about the BLTouch, here's a nifty video from the creators themselves. This isn't specific to the Ender 3 or Ender 3 V2. Watch the video:What types of surfaces will it work for?Any! The latest version of the BLTouch does not use any optical sensors or proximity sensors. Instead, it uses a plastic sensor stem that makes physical contact with the build surface so that any surface can be used. BLTouch versus other auto-bed leveling methodsThe main difference between BLTouch and other auto-leveling methods has to do with the kind of sensor used. Other sensor methodsOther auto-leveling methods use an optical or proximity sensor to determine any inaccuracies in the slope of the build surface. Those methods have the benefit of being able to adjust while the printing is happening. But have the downsides of not working with certain bed materials and being expensive to repair. BLTouchWith the BLTouch, you can use any type of bed and need only swap out the plastic nozzle if it's damaged. There's also a ton of support and articles that can help you if you run into trouble using your BLTouch. 2 Choose your BLTouch and accessoriesAs stated above, we highly recommend you save yourself some hassle and go with the BLTouch kit we used for the install. If using the BLTouch kitAgain, it has everything you need to install the BLTouch on the Ender 3 V2, original Ender 3, or Ender 3 Pro. It includes:
If buying pieces separatelyBelow you'll find links to each product you'll need if you're buying pieces separately.
Used here See all M2 Assortment KitCheck Price on Amazon BLTouch auto bed-leveling sensorCheck Price on Amazon Zip TiesCheck Price on Amazon 3 Unplug your printerBecause you'll be working with the Ender 3, Ender 3 V2, Ender 3 Pro motherboard to install the BLTouch, you definitely want to unplug the wire from the printer's power supply. It's located at the back of all of the Ender 3-series units. 4 Remove the Z-axis limiterBecause you'll be using the BLTouch to level your Ender 3 V2's bed and setting the Z-axis manually, you won't need the limiter switch.
5 Wire and mount the BLTouchWireInsert the small end of your extension cable into the back of the BLTouch. We recommend you do this step first, as it will be harder to insert once it's been mounted. Below you'll find the order of the wires, in case you have to solder. Mount
OptionalIf you have one of the nifty small nuts and bolts kit, then you can add two M3 nuts to further secure the BLTouch to the mounting bracket, as pictured below. Used here See all Small metric bolt and nut setCheck Price on Amazon 6 Secure wires
7 Open the control box
8 Wire BLTouch to the mainboardFor Ender 3 V2If you're using the BLTouch kit, then you should be able to just plug the connector in the slot labeled "BLTouch" on the mainboard. (See image above for its location.) If solderingIf you're needing to solder, then I would remove some of the wires from the mainboard to give you some space. Here's the ordering of the wires from top to bottom:
For Ender 3 and Ender 3 ProThe BLTouch wiring connects to the Ender 3 mainboard by splicing into the Z Endstop connector. This connector is labeled with a small yellow label that reads "Z". There are two options for connecting the BLTouch to your Ender 3's existing wiring: if you have a soldering iron, you can splice a wire in. If you don't, you may want to purchase this extension board so that you can connect it without soldering. Used here See all Creality Ender 3 3-Pin Adapter BoardCheck Price on Amazon Breakout boardI recommend using the breakout board as it's simpler and saves a lot of time. Most BLTouch kits for the Ender 3 come with this now.
Before you close it up, note the version of your mainboard (4.2.2 or 4.2.7). It's written in the center of your mainboard. 9 Close control box
It's easiest if you start with the two bolts nearest the front of the printer. 10 Update your Ender's firmwareBecause Creality now supports BLTouch directly in its firmware, it makes installing and using the BLTouch with the Ender 3 V2 and Ender 3 Pro super easy! Ender 3 V2 Firmware —Fetch the correct firmware from the Creality Ender 3 V2 downloads page and install it on your printer. Ender 3 Pro Firmware— Here you can find the official BLTouch firmware for the Ender 3 Pro. Check out our guide on installing firmware on the Ender 3 V2 to see how to update your firmware. (The same guide works for the Ender 3 Pro.) How to Update the Firmware on the Ender 3 V2Check for new firmware regularly.For Ender 3It's a bit trickier to update the firmware on the original Ender 3, but not a big deal. You'll need to modify your printer's firmware to add a few lines that BLTouch needs in order to function. I wrote a separate Ender 3 bootloader/firmware update guide; use that guide to get started. Ender 3: How to Install a Bootloader and Update Marlin FirmwareUpdate your 3D printer's firmware and add thermal runaway protection.Ender 3 Firmware— You can find the official Creality Ender 3 source code and files on the Creality firmware page. Just make sure you download the correct package (saying BLTouch). Language resetIn some cases, you may find that your language resets to Chinese by default. If this happens, follow our guide to change the language back to English on the Ender 3 V2. How to Change the Language on Your Ender 3 V2Because maybe you can't read the default Chinese Ender 3 menu.Which is the correct firmware for Ender 3 V2?You may notice a variety of options for the new Ender 3 V2 firmware. Here's what you need to figure out. Motherboard typeThe first thing you need to know is which mainboard you're running for your Ender 3 V2. Hopefully, you noted this earlier when opening your control box. If you don't know, then here's a little table to help you figure it out. 4.2.24.2.7On some pre-2021 Ender 3 V2sOn ALL 2021 + Ender 3 V2sLouder operationQuiter operationListening to the operation should tell you. If it's operating loudly, you likely have the 4.2.2. Otherwise, you'll have to look on the motherboard itself. BLTouchMake sure the firmware you select says BLTouch. VersionThe last thing you'll need to figure out is which version you need V1.3.1- BLTouch or V1.1.1- BLTouch. The easiest way is to try the latest version. If that does not work, then repeat the firmware install with V1.1.1. (V1.1.1 is the version that worked for our Ender 3 V2.) Is BLTouch working?Once you update your firmware, you should see the BLTouch light-up red after turning the printer on. If it is, then it's working thus far! Congrats! 11 Change Z-axis locationYour browser doesn't support HTML5 video.
12 Configure the Z-offsetNow, you're going to adjust the Z-offset on your Ender 3 V2 so that it's flush with the print bed. Adjust the Z-offset down a little at a time to avoid running the nozzle into your print bed and damaging it.
Ender 3 Pro AdjustmentThe process is essentially the same on the Ender 3 Pro, except that you need to save your settings after adjusting the Z-offset properly. After you auto-home with the Ender 3 Pro:
And now you're ready to begin leveling! Don't worry if you don't get this perfect the first time. We'll show you how to adjust this later on. 13 Level the printerNow for the fun part! Select Level on the Ender 3, Ender 3 V2, or Ender 3 Pro screen to run the BLTouch's auto-leveling program. You should see the BLTouch measure 12 different points on the print bed to determine its slope. It takes about 2-3 minutes and will return to the center when it's complete. 14 Update your slicer settingsNow, you'll need to update the G-code settings of whatever slicing program you use, such as Cura or Simplify3D. We use Cura as our slicer, so we'll show you how to update the settings there. But whichever slicer program you're using, you'll need to add just one line right below
Changing Cura settings
Now, every time you print something you've sliced, the printer will automatically level and use the settings to print the object. 15 Optional: Octoprint with the BLTouchIf you're using the official firmware supporting BLTouch from Creality, you shouldn't have any issues using Octoprint with the BLTouch. It should work just fine, so long as you update the slicer settings with the However, you may run into trouble when using a 3rd-party firmware for the BLTouch, such as the Smith3D firmware for the Ender 3 V2, which doesn't natively support Octoprint. In those cases, you'll need to customize the Marlin code in the firmware to run with Octoprint. BLTouch plugin for OctoprintThe BLTouch plugin can be installed in Octoprint to give you some nifty features so that you can control the BLTouch remotely from the Octoprint server. It can be found in the Plugin Repository in Octoprint. Check out our guide on finding and installing Octoprint plugins if you need help. You can also install it manually, using the Github link. The Most Popular OctoPrint Plugins (And How to Install Them)Wrap your tentacles around these sweet plugins!16 Test BLTouch and adjust if neededRun a test print to ensure that your BLTouch is auto-leveling before the print and that the filament is adhering perfectly to the print bed. You may need to slightly adjust the Z-offset in either direction, depending on the issue you're having. Adjusting after a test printYou may find you need to adjust this slightly if your filament either doesn't stick the bed or the nozzle is too close to the bed. Here's what you do. If the filament doesn't stick (nozzle too far away from bed)Adjust the Z-offset just a bit (0.01) in the negative direction. This will bring the extruder closer to the print bed. If the filament is too close to bed (nozzle too close to bed)Adjust the Z-offset a bit (0.01) in the positive direction. This will move the extruder further from the print bed. Ender 3 Ender 3 Upgrades and ModsEnder 3 Board UpgradeShow all in the Ender 3 series Ender 3 Review Ender 3 Firmware Update Ender 3 OctoPrint Ender 3 OctoPrint Touchscreen Ender 3 Upgrades and Mods Ender 3 BLTouch Setup Ender 3 Board Upgrade Ender 3 PSU Upgrade Ender 3 Spring Upgrade Ender 3 FAQShare FacebookRedditTwitterPinterestEmailText message DiscussFavorite You'll NeedNEXT UP How to Level the Bed on Your Ender 3 V2 The first thing you need to learn how to do is level the bed. Michael (175)Feb 3, 2021 5 minutes Ah...bed leveling. It's the first thing you absolutely need to learn how to do with your Ender 3 V2. And don't feel bad if you get this wrong at first. I did. ... |