<p>If you have a stock printer, your calibration values should be stock - i.e. 100 steps/mm for X/Y. Also, as an extra hint, X and Y steps should be identical since the mechanics are identical (unless you swapped out one of the motors or drive gears).</p>

<p>It sounds like you have Y correct, but something wrong with X. This could be the belt being damaged, or slipping (or having slipped during your initial cal, and not later). Try increasing/decreasing print speed, this might show up some dynamic problems with the movement.</p>

<p>If you print something bigger (like <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2566871" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this</a>) you don't need to worry so much about measurement precision and under/over-extrusion (which adds to the error, but doesn't scale with size).</p>

<p>You don't make it clear if you've started by calibrating your extruder. This is the most important first step, and ensures that you extrude the right length of filament during the print. All this requires is that you mark out 10cm of filament and extrude it into free space.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-29T20:47:04.597Z
It was the different answers from printer and configuration.h that I was questioning. Sorry if I was not clear. All the other variables I can tweak/deal with, but not knowing which settings are in charge it is hard to see what to change.
Plodmore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-29T22:16:31.530Z
In that case, I don't understand your question.
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-31T17:42:17.773Z
Bear with me. I noted the values of XYZE in the fi
Plodmore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-01T14:21:12.443Z
Sorry, tinterweb dropped off twice. The question is why the steps/mm in configuration.h are not the same as the printer reports.
Plodmore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-01T14:30:24.317Z
Eeprom values, I assume.
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-02T12:59:01.020Z
Does Marlin not load the "sketch/values" into the eeprom? Have I missed a step when I compiled the file and uploaded t? Should I have sent M500 to save the settings? I am working on the basis that I am learning this stuff from scratch and quite possibly making a hash of it.
Plodmore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-02T13:07:59.047Z
We're way off track from what your question looks like. No, the firmware can't know that it's at 'first run' state. M502 might be what you are missing. M503 shows the current active settings (regardless of how they were obtained).
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-02T13:13:17.500Z
Thanks Sean, May have my M numbers mixed up, typing at work, crib sheet at home. What does "first run" mean?
Plodmore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-02T13:21:20.300Z
How should the firmware know it's default values take precedence over the eprom value? M502 followed by M500 is reset and store in eeprom.
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-29T13:50:02.777Z
2018-01-29T14:05:48.757Z
2018-01-29T14:05:48.757Z
Sean Houlihane
<p>There could be a number of issues causing this.</p>

<p>Since you just set it up here is a list of questions for you to go through:</p>

<ul>
<li>Are your belts tightened? (With an additional belt tightener)</li>
<li>Are your carriages are sliding smoothly?</li>
</ul>

<p>Both might cause some irregular movements explaining the results being off.</p>

<p>Having said that, I wouldn't worry too much if you're &lt;0.5 mm off. This is still a cheap DIY printer (I have the same one, by the way).</p>

<p>This video actually goes into some details why you shouldn't worry so much about 100% accuracy and what you should actually care for when tuning your printer: <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbn1ckR86Z8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbn1ckR86Z8</a></p>

<p>Also Not sure how you measured the cube but callipers are often also not that reliable.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-28T22:36:46.733Z
"callipers are often also not that reliable".  Quotation needed.  All tools come rated for an error margin, calipers are typically accurate to 0.05mm.
mac
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-29T18:54:14.240Z
That's true but with 3d printed objects your walls can be inconsistent so depending on where you measure or how hard you pressed when measuring can affect the readings.
Gekko09
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-29T19:26:37.817Z
measurement error is not the same than instrument accuracy though.  Calipers are accurate, but as any instrument, the operator needs to know how to use them! :)
mac
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-29T22:57:28.923Z
Ah good point 
Gekko09
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-31T17:56:22.043Z
All good points however it doesn't explain why uploaded configuring
Plodmore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-28T20:31:26.497Z
2018-01-28T22:35:42.200Z
2018-01-28T22:35:42.200Z
Gekko09
<p>Anet A8 printer, Github Marlin, Repetier Host, Cura slicer</p>

<p>Just setting up printer and printed 20mm calibration cube from Thingiverse. X,Y,Z &amp; E not too far off but not quite right (centre hole was oval not round) X19.5mm, Y19.5mm &amp; Z20mm.</p>

<p>Followed Youtube calibration help and updated firmware to Marlin. I ran several iterations of request travel, measure result and tweek stepper settings (M501,M92xxxx, M500) Live Die Repeat...</p>

<p>When I now print the calibration cube I get X25mm, Y20mm &amp; Z19.5mm.</p>

<p>Could the issue be with the firmare being upgraded to Marlin? The cube was sliced by Cura and I have used the same file for all of the prints. When I stop the print and ask Repetier to move the steppers the distance is as they should be for a 100mm travel.</p>

<marlin><ultimaker-cura><repetier-host><anet-a8>
Anet A8 Calibrated but print sizes are wrong
Plodmore
# Anet A8 Calibrated but print sizes are wrong

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-23)

Anet A8 printer, Github Marlin, Repetier Host, Cura slicer

Just setting up printer and printed 20mm calibration cube from Thingiverse. X,Y,Z & E not too far off but not quite right (centre hole was oval not round) X19.5mm, Y19.5mm & Z20mm.

Followed Youtube calibration help and updated firmware to Marlin. I ran several iterations of request travel, measure result and tweek stepper settings (M501,M92xxxx, M500) Live Die Repeat...

When I now print the calibration cube I get X25mm, Y20mm & Z19.5mm.

Could the issue be with the firmare being upgraded to Marlin? The cube was sliced by Cura and I have used the same file for all of the prints. When I stop the print and ask Repetier to move the steppers the distance is as they should be for a 100mm travel.

**Tags:** marlin, ultimaker-cura, repetier-host, anet-a8

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-01-29. Score: 1

If you have a stock printer, your calibration values should be stock - i.e. 100 steps/mm for X/Y. Also, as an extra hint, X and Y steps should be identical since the mechanics are identical (unless you swapped out one of the motors or drive gears).

It sounds like you have Y correct, but something wrong with X. This could be the belt being damaged, or slipping (or having slipped during your initial cal, and not later). Try increasing/decreasing print speed, this might show up some dynamic problems with the movement.

If you print something bigger (like [this](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2566871)) you don't need to worry so much about measurement precision and under/over-extrusion (which adds to the error, but doesn't scale with size).

You don't make it clear if you've started by calibrating your extruder. This is the most important first step, and ensures that you extrude the right length of filament during the print. All this requires is that you mark out 10cm of filament and extrude it into free space.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: It was the different answers from printer and configuration.h that I was questioning. Sorry if I was not clear. All the other variables I can tweak/deal with, but not knowing which settings are in charge it is hard to see what to change.  
> **username_1**: In that case, I don't understand your question.  
> **username_0**: Bear with me. I noted the values of XYZE in the fi  
> **username_0**: Sorry, tinterweb dropped off twice. The question is why the steps/mm in configuration.h are not the same as the printer reports.  
> **username_1**: Eeprom values, I assume.  
> **username_0**: Does Marlin not load the "sketch/values" into the eeprom? Have I missed a step when I compiled the file and uploaded t? Should I have sent M500 to save the settings? I am working on the basis that I am learning this stuff from scratch and quite possibly making a hash of it.  
> **username_1**: We're way off track from what your question looks like. No, the firmware can't know that it's at 'first run' state. M502 might be what you are missing. M503 shows the current active settings (regardless of how they were obtained).  
> **username_0**: Thanks Sean, May have my M numbers mixed up, typing at work, crib sheet at home. What does "first run" mean?  
> **username_1**: How should the firmware know it's default values take precedence over the eprom value? M502 followed by M500 is reset and store in eeprom.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-01-28. Score: 0

There could be a number of issues causing this.

Since you just set it up here is a list of questions for you to go through:

* Are your belts tightened? (With an additional belt tightener)
* Are your carriages are sliding smoothly?

Both might cause some irregular movements explaining the results being off.

Having said that, I wouldn't worry too much if you're <0.5 mm off. This is still a cheap DIY printer (I have the same one, by the way).

This video actually goes into some details why you shouldn't worry so much about 100% accuracy and what you should actually care for when tuning your printer: <https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbn1ckR86Z8>

Also Not sure how you measured the cube but callipers are often also not that reliable.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: "callipers are often also not that reliable".  Quotation needed.  All tools come rated for an error margin, calipers are typically accurate to 0.05mm.  
> **username_2**: That's true but with 3d printed objects your walls can be inconsistent so depending on where you measure or how hard you pressed when measuring can affect the readings.  
> **username_3**: measurement error is not the same than instrument accuracy though.  Calipers are accurate, but as any instrument, the operator needs to know how to use them! :)  
> **username_2**: Ah good point   
> **username_0**: All good points however it doesn't explain why uploaded configuring  

---

