<p>If the head is physically able to reach the whole bed of 240 x 240 mm, the answer is yes, you can change the printing area. But, the downside is that you need to change your firmware for it. This generally implies that you need to configure the firmware yourself, rather than flashing a ready made solution; this is a skill you need to have or develop. It involves downloading development software (e.g. Visual Studio Code, with addons) and printer firmware source code (e.g. Marlin 2.x). It requires you to configure the settings in the <code>Configuration.h</code> and <code>Conffiguration_adv.h</code>. You can find many of these settings in preconfigured configuration files, e.g. here: <a href="https://github.com/MarlinFirmware/Configurations/tree/import-2.1.x/config/examples/Creality/Ender-3%20Pro" rel="nofollow noreferrer">config/examples/Creality/Ender-3 Pro</a>.</p>
<p>You find that recent configuration files already use a bed size of 235:</p>
<pre><code>// @section geometry

// The size of the printable area
#define X_BED_SIZE 235
#define Y_BED_SIZE 235

// Travel limits (linear=mm, rotational=°) after homing, corresponding to endstop positions.
#define X_MIN_POS 0
#define Y_MIN_POS 0
#define Z_MIN_POS 0
#define X_MAX_POS X_BED_SIZE + 10
#define Y_MAX_POS Y_BED_SIZE
#define Z_MAX_POS 250
</code></pre>
<p>From <code>X_MIN_POS</code> we read that there is no extra space, the endstop marks the start of the bed, so if this is exactly the position of the start of the bed area, you probably cannot center your print area, but, it is added below for application in case there is space left. If the nozzle is above the bed when hitting the X endstop (so not exactly at the start of the print area), you cannot use the full 240  as you cannot define a negative offset as this goes past the endstop.</p>
<p>So, for printers that have additional space on the X axis, it is very important (when you use the whole bed) to center the printable area exactly in the middle of the building plate, see <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6375/how-to-center-my-prints-on-the-build-platform-re-calibrate-homing-offset">How to center my prints on the build platform? (Re-calibrate homing offset)</a>. This may imply that you need to adjust the endstop offsets.</p>
<p>Furthermore, you need to define the correct probing area for your build plate, see <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/8153/how-to-set-z-probe-boundary-limits-in-firmware-when-using-automatic-bed-leveling">How to set Z-probe boundary limits in firmware when using automatic bed leveling?</a>. Note that it is far more easy in Marlin 2 to specify the probing area.</p>
<p>Once configured, you need to build the firmware, flash the controller board, load the default settings, re-calibrate your probe Z-offset and bed center and start using the whole printing area (don't forget to change the slicer bed dimensions).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-15T18:53:23.437Z
I think your solution would probably work, except that there are no examples to configure CR-Touch for the 4.2.7 board from what I saw in the [repo](https://github.com/MarlinFirmware/Configurations/tree/import-2.1.x/config/examples/Creality/Ender-3%20Pro). I suppose I'll have to wait until then.
Ícaro Lorran
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-15T21:05:05.230Z
@ÍcaroLorran CT Touch is no different from a BLTouch, there are numerous examples to be found to configure that. Furthermore, it is not that difficult to setup. Google is your friend to find how to configure this.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-05T04:04:21.060Z
2024-06-05T15:37:06.123Z
2024-06-05T15:37:06.123Z
0scar
<p>If you are going to flash new firmware and compile it, you can update the <code>Configuration.h</code> with the following values:</p>
<pre><code>#define X_MAX_POS 240
#define Y_MAX_POS 240
</code></pre>
<p>In Cura or other slicer software, you also have to increase the size of the printer's build platform. <strong>Settings</strong> &gt; <strong>Printer</strong> &gt; <strong>Manage Printers</strong> &gt; <strong>Machine Settings</strong> &gt; X (Width), Y (Depth)</p>
<p>If you don't execute both steps, the print head position will always be clamped to the 21x21 cm.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-04T12:31:26.863Z
2024-06-04T14:14:35.177Z
2024-06-04T14:14:35.177Z
Hacky
<p>My Ender 3-Pro has a printing area of about 24x24 square centimeters. However, when I move the nozzle around either the x or y axes, it only goes up to 21 centimeters. Printing something that requires the whole width of the bed gets truncated to 21 cm x 21 cm.</p>
<p>I don't know if this is related, but I installed a CR Touch leveling kit, which required me to re-flash the printer's firmware. I used the file specified in the link provided by the <a href="https://www.creality.com/products/cr-touch-auto-leveling-kit?spm=..page_1934481.products_display_1.1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">manual</a>.</p>
<p>Is there a way to change the settings so that the printer uses the whole bed?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-05T03:41:36.360Z
Is the head physically able to reach the whole bed of 240 x 240 mm?
0scar
<creality-ender-3>
Ender 3 Pro Not Using the Whole Bed
Ícaro Lorran
# Ender 3 Pro Not Using the Whole Bed

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-05-26)

My Ender 3-Pro has a printing area of about 24x24 square centimeters. However, when I move the nozzle around either the x or y axes, it only goes up to 21 centimeters. Printing something that requires the whole width of the bed gets truncated to 21 cm x 21 cm.

I don't know if this is related, but I installed a CR Touch leveling kit, which required me to re-flash the printer's firmware. I used the file specified in the link provided by the [manual](https://www.creality.com/products/cr-touch-auto-leveling-kit?spm=..page_1934481.products_display_1.1).

Is there a way to change the settings so that the printer uses the whole bed?

**Tags:** creality-ender-3
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Is the head physically able to reach the whole bed of 240 x 240 mm?  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-06-05. Score: 3

If the head is physically able to reach the whole bed of 240 x 240 mm, the answer is yes, you can change the printing area. But, the downside is that you need to change your firmware for it. This generally implies that you need to configure the firmware yourself, rather than flashing a ready made solution; this is a skill you need to have or develop. It involves downloading development software (e.g. Visual Studio Code, with addons) and printer firmware source code (e.g. Marlin 2.x). It requires you to configure the settings in the Configuration.h and Conffiguration_adv.h. You can find many of these settings in preconfigured configuration files, e.g. here: config/examples/Creality/Ender-3 Pro.
You find that recent configuration files already use a bed size of 235:
// @section geometry

// The size of the printable area
#define X_BED_SIZE 235
#define Y_BED_SIZE 235

// Travel limits (linear=mm, rotational=°) after homing, corresponding to endstop positions.
#define X_MIN_POS 0
#define Y_MIN_POS 0
#define Z_MIN_POS 0
#define X_MAX_POS X_BED_SIZE + 10
#define Y_MAX_POS Y_BED_SIZE
#define Z_MAX_POS 250

From X_MIN_POS we read that there is no extra space, the endstop marks the start of the bed, so if this is exactly the position of the start of the bed area, you probably cannot center your print area, but, it is added below for application in case there is space left. If the nozzle is above the bed when hitting the X endstop (so not exactly at the start of the print area), you cannot use the full 240  as you cannot define a negative offset as this goes past the endstop.
So, for printers that have additional space on the X axis, it is very important (when you use the whole bed) to center the printable area exactly in the middle of the building plate, see How to center my prints on the build platform? (Re-calibrate homing offset). This may imply that you need to adjust the endstop offsets.
Furthermore, you need to define the correct probing area for your build plate, see How to set Z-probe boundary limits in firmware when using automatic bed leveling?. Note that it is far more easy in Marlin 2 to specify the probing area.
Once configured, you need to build the firmware, flash the controller board, load the default settings, re-calibrate your probe Z-offset and bed center and start using the whole printing area (don't forget to change the slicer bed dimensions).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I think your solution would probably work, except that there are no examples to configure CR-Touch for the 4.2.7 board from what I saw in the [repo](https://github.com/MarlinFirmware/Configurations/tree/import-2.1.x/config/examples/Creality/Ender-3%20Pro). I suppose I'll have to wait until then.  
> **username_1**: @ÍcaroLorran CT Touch is no different from a BLTouch, there are numerous examples to be found to configure that. Furthermore, it is not that difficult to setup. Google is your friend to find how to configure this.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2024-06-04. Score: 0

If you are going to flash new firmware and compile it, you can update the Configuration.h with the following values:
#define X_MAX_POS 240
#define Y_MAX_POS 240

In Cura or other slicer software, you also have to increase the size of the printer's build platform. Settings > Printer > Manage Printers > Machine Settings > X (Width), Y (Depth)
If you don't execute both steps, the print head position will always be clamped to the 21x21 cm.


---

