<p>Dirt. It was dirt. Most likely.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/mtwhz.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mtwhz.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Apparently the machine establishes bed level with a sensor, and I might be wrong, but I think the ET4 monitors capacitance as a means to notice how far the nozzle is from the bed.</p>
<p>After all else failed I looked at the nozzle closely and noticed that the whole thing looked fuzzy. Looks like soot (from where though!?) had settled on the machine's sensitive components and <em>de facto</em> blind-folded its sensor.</p>
<p>A wipe and a levelling later, all was back to normal. Yay!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-27T08:20:00.390Z
metal, carbon, or filament dust deposits can drastically alter the capacity
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-27T08:37:34.533Z
The strange thing is is that the Anet ET4 uses an external sensor based on nozzle pressure that you connect during the levelling phase to the loose connector hanging next to the hotend. It doesn't use a inductive or capacitive sensor, it uses [this sensor](https://shop.anet3d.com/products/6pcs-auto-leveling-sensor-of-et4).
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-27T08:53:24.787Z
@0scar Is it possible that there are two different ET4? Cause mine is from Labists and I don't recognize this probe?
B7th
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-27T10:36:27.947Z
I've changed the question to the correct printer. There are 2 ET4 printers! Yours does use an inductive sensor!
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-27T07:40:25.987Z
2021-01-27T08:54:26.150Z
2021-01-27T08:54:26.150Z
B7th
<p>I use Slic3r to create G-codes for my Labists ET4 printer. Usually, no problem.</p>
<p>Now, as soon as I tried to start a print, the nozzle head went down as usual, but this time it went a bit lower than 0 and the machine made angry noises for less than a second.</p>
<p>It went back up again and heated the bed and the nozzle, only to go back down too strongly with angry noises again. Even left a little pokey hole on the bed.</p>
<p>I got scared and turned the machine's switch off and manually raised the Z axis with ease.</p>
<p>Never had this problem before and now I'm afraid to turn on my machine.</p>
<p>I've had the following setup for G-codes prior to today's incident and it had worked just fine:</p>
<pre><code>G28 ; Home extruder
G1 Z15 F[travel_speed]
M106 S[max_fan_speed]; Turn on fan
G90 ; Absolute positioning
M82 ; Extruder in absolute mode
; Activate all used extruder
M104 T0 S[first_layer_temperature]
M190 S[bed_temperature]
G92 E0 ; Reset extruder position
; Wait for all used extruders to reach temperature
M109 T0 S[first_layer_temperature]
</code></pre>
<p>After this, I did try the auto levelling, however it still tried to plow into the bed, albeit not as angrily.</p>
<p>Here's other things to potentially consider:</p>
<ul>
<li>I haven't used the machine 10 days.</li>
<li>It's been chilly in the room where the machine is.</li>
</ul>
<p>So here's my questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>&quot;What could cause a 3D printer to have an incorrect impression of Z-axis=0 even in absolute position mode?&quot;</li>
<li>&quot;What can I do to fix it?&quot;</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-26T03:17:37.490Z
Hi @0scar! I added info. Unfortunately the auto levelling still had the nozzle attempt to burrow into the bed. Not sure what my next step should be :/
B7th
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-26T13:22:38.003Z
That is quite strange, the sensor should have established the level seen from the top.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-27T07:31:27.703Z
I guess your comment made me try something! I just passed a clean fabric around the nozzle and found a bit of soot (!?) had settled and may have blinded the machine. Thank you!
B7th
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-27T08:18:47.247Z
So it probably is a build-up of molten carbonized filament, yes, that makes that the "nozzle + gunk" hits the bed after leveling. Heat up the hotend and remove all the additional material on the nozzle.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-27T10:33:24.253Z
This is not an Anet ET4 then! I've updated the question for you!
0scar
<z-axis><labists-et4>
Labists ET4 printer nozzle hits bed after automatic levelling
B7th
# Labists ET4 printer nozzle hits bed after automatic levelling

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-23)

I use Slic3r to create G-codes for my Labists ET4 printer. Usually, no problem.
Now, as soon as I tried to start a print, the nozzle head went down as usual, but this time it went a bit lower than 0 and the machine made angry noises for less than a second.
It went back up again and heated the bed and the nozzle, only to go back down too strongly with angry noises again. Even left a little pokey hole on the bed.
I got scared and turned the machine's switch off and manually raised the Z axis with ease.
Never had this problem before and now I'm afraid to turn on my machine.
I've had the following setup for G-codes prior to today's incident and it had worked just fine:
G28 ; Home extruder
G1 Z15 F[travel_speed]
M106 S[max_fan_speed]; Turn on fan
G90 ; Absolute positioning
M82 ; Extruder in absolute mode
; Activate all used extruder
M104 T0 S[first_layer_temperature]
M190 S[bed_temperature]
G92 E0 ; Reset extruder position
; Wait for all used extruders to reach temperature
M109 T0 S[first_layer_temperature]

After this, I did try the auto levelling, however it still tried to plow into the bed, albeit not as angrily.
Here's other things to potentially consider:

I haven't used the machine 10 days.
It's been chilly in the room where the machine is.

So here's my questions:

"What could cause a 3D printer to have an incorrect impression of Z-axis=0 even in absolute position mode?"
"What can I do to fix it?"

**Tags:** z-axis, labists-et4
> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Hi @0scar! I added info. Unfortunately the auto levelling still had the nozzle attempt to burrow into the bed. Not sure what my next step should be :/  
> **username_1**: That is quite strange, the sensor should have established the level seen from the top.  
> **username_0**: I guess your comment made me try something! I just passed a clean fabric around the nozzle and found a bit of soot (!?) had settled and may have blinded the machine. Thank you!  
> **username_1**: So it probably is a build-up of molten carbonized filament, yes, that makes that the "nozzle + gunk" hits the bed after leveling. Heat up the hotend and remove all the additional material on the nozzle.  
> **username_1**: This is not an Anet ET4 then! I've updated the question for you!  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2021-01-27. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Dirt. It was dirt. Most likely.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/mtwhz.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/mtwhz.png)

Apparently the machine establishes bed level with a sensor, and I might be wrong, but I think the ET4 monitors capacitance as a means to notice how far the nozzle is from the bed.

After all else failed I looked at the nozzle closely and noticed that the whole thing looked fuzzy. Looks like soot (from where though!?) had settled on the machine's sensitive components and *de facto* blind-folded its sensor.

A wipe and a levelling later, all was back to normal. Yay!

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: metal, carbon, or filament dust deposits can drastically alter the capacity  
> **username_1**: The strange thing is is that the Anet ET4 uses an external sensor based on nozzle pressure that you connect during the levelling phase to the loose connector hanging next to the hotend. It doesn't use a inductive or capacitive sensor, it uses [this sensor](https://shop.anet3d.com/products/6pcs-auto-leveling-sensor-of-et4).  
> **username_0**: @0scar Is it possible that there are two different ET4? Cause mine is from Labists and I don't recognize this probe?  
> **username_1**: I've changed the question to the correct printer. There are 2 ET4 printers! Yours does use an inductive sensor!  

---

