<p>I managed to get rid of the problem by installing a <strong>linear rail</strong> for the y-axis!
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/4LlUD.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4LlUD.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Used this mod from thingyverse: <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3064275" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3064275</a></p>

<p>There are also solutions out there which are placing a linear rail on the left AND right side, but since for me the problem was only on the left side, this seemed sufficient (and was).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-22T11:32:54.783Z
2019-09-22T11:32:54.783Z
1125
<p>Blue Painters tape on the left side starting at the center and leaving a band on the far left side and the rear Perfetto side. I checked the before and after and the thickness of the tape shimmed out the deflection on the plate. It sounds like whatever the use to stamp the steel out is creating the bend we are only talking several thousands of an inch but when I put a flat edge on the plate and shined a light from the rear I could see daylight. The blue tape was from Nearys video on creality cr-10 bed leveling. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-31T11:04:58.623Z
congrats on introducing a step on your bed...
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-31T04:45:57.493Z
2020-03-31T04:45:57.493Z
Mitchell
<p>Your video shows that your bed seems warped somewhat.</p>
<h2>Ammount of error</h2>
<p>As I assume you did level the bed with a sheet of paper to be 0.1 mm thick, we can estimate the change of thickness. The thickest point seems to be 0.2 mm, the thinnest 0.05. that's in average an error of 0.075 mm for the first layer. If you can live with that, no need to touch it.</p>
<h2>Fixing the issue</h2>
<p>Basically, if the error is too large for your liking, you need to fix it. To fix it, there are pretty much 2 ways. Remember that <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6342/what-voltage-does-the-creality-ender-3-run-at">the Ender-3 uses 24V</a> when ordering parts!</p>
<h3>Fix the part or install a replacement part</h3>
<p>If you feel like you need to get it even flatter, you'll need to try to flatten the bed mechanically or replace it. You'll need to be comfortable to remove the BuildTak-clone surface, then remove the leveling screws, open the electronics enclosure, remove some hot glue, unhook the bed.</p>
<p>Then you will need to flatten the bed in some way (grinding the upper side perfectly flat or bending it, replacing it for an entirely flat one).</p>
<p>Then reinstall it, going through the uninstallation backward, and add a new build surface on it.</p>
<h3>Switch to alternate leveling method: Mesh Bed Leveling</h3>
<p>If you consider yourself to be able to do some intermediate to advanced modification of your printer, you can change the hotend carriage to one that allows mounting a distance sensor and changing the firmware to mesh-bed-leveling.</p>
<p>You'll need to get an induction or capacity sensor (common operation ranges for those are 6-36V, so perfectly fine with 24V) and <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6358/inductive-sensor-in-24-v-machine">some way to couple that to the board</a>, most likely an optocoupler. Print a new mounting for sensor and fans.</p>
<p>To install you open the electronics compartment, hook up your chosen 24V-5V coupler as extra to the Z-switch, hook the power supply of the sensor up and run it up to the printhead. Replace the mounting for the hotend cooling fan and part cooling fan and <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/6660/8884">change your firmware</a>. Calibrate the height of the sensor to trigger correctly.</p>
<p>I did flash a bootloader <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6685/how-to-install-new-atmega-firmware-via-the-isp-pins">via the ISP</a> on my ender-3 since then, so I can just flash the new firmware via a direct connection.</p>
<h2>Last words</h2>
<p>In either way, after fixing, you should run a PID-tune on the machine.</p>
<p>Thermal Runaway might or might not be active, depending on your firmware iteration, so you should update it anyway, which might make Mesh Bed Leveling the slightly easier way to go.</p>
<p>This has <em>nothing</em> to do with the bed carriage wheels, as the bed hangs onto the carriage only via the screws in the corners.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-04T15:39:18.367Z
With that average error being so small mounting a sensor seems to be the best/easiest/cheapest(?) option and there are several videos on YouTube on mounting such on an Ender 3.
Lux Claridge
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-04T15:51:08.160Z
@LuxClaridge True. Note though, that Mesh Bed Leveling isn't that simple to set up, it is what I would consider *intermediate* or *advanced* thing, as you need to flash firmware and substantially modify the machine.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-04T16:06:18.990Z
Though it's getting easier. TH3D's Unified Firmware includes the Ender 3 and one only has to uncomment a few lines (as opposed to changing Marlin directly). Either way, modifying the machine has to be done, I think adding a mount is a lesser mod than potentially replacing the bed.
Lux Claridge
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-04T16:20:53.693Z
@LuxClaridge well, I think replacing is "simpler", but gave a rundown to both variants.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-02T22:15:11.550Z
2019-02-04T17:59:34.650Z
2020-06-18T08:29:41.667Z
Trish
<p>After I level my Ender 3, the distance between the nozzle and the bed seems fine on both ends, but moving the bed on the Y axis shows that it's increasing and decreasing for three times, which I just cant fix.</p>

<p>This only occurs on the left side - the right side is constant from beginning to end.
Also I've been using three different beds (the magnetic one and two glasses) to make sure it's really something else.</p>

<p>I created <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqLqTGeljyw" rel="noreferrer">this video</a> to demonstrate the problem. </p>

<p>I'm sure that this has something to do with the carriage wheel adjustment, but tightening those did not change anything.</p>

<p>How do I get rid of this problem?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-16T13:19:18.033Z
I'm having the same problem on my Geeetech A10m (Ender 3 clone), but the distance changes on X and Y axis. Did you find a solution? I know the bed is not warped, so the answer bellow doesn't work for me.
Davide
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-16T23:58:36.940Z
I switched the carriage wheels and tried to tighten things differently, which really changed the position of the increases and decreases. Tightening them seemed to have the most positive effect.
1125
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-17T00:06:18.913Z
@Davide if your bed is not warped, then it should be just slanted in one direction or incorrectly leveled.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-18T11:58:30.630Z
Messing with the eccentric nuts for the X axis seems to make a difference, but didn't really fix anything. I also noticed a change in the noise the printer makes when the head lifts, as if the vibration from the fans is transfered more to the frame. It almost seems as if the X axis is twisting or something. Or maybe the wheels are just bad...
Davide
<troubleshooting><creality-ender-3><bed-leveling><y-axis>
Ender 3 distance between nozzle and bed changing on Y-axis
1125
# Ender 3 distance between nozzle and bed changing on Y-axis

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-02-02)

After I level my Ender 3, the distance between the nozzle and the bed seems fine on both ends, but moving the bed on the Y axis shows that it's increasing and decreasing for three times, which I just cant fix.

This only occurs on the left side - the right side is constant from beginning to end.
Also I've been using three different beds (the magnetic one and two glasses) to make sure it's really something else.

I created [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqLqTGeljyw) to demonstrate the problem.

I'm sure that this has something to do with the carriage wheel adjustment, but tightening those did not change anything.

How do I get rid of this problem?

**Tags:** troubleshooting, creality-ender-3, bed-leveling, y-axis
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm having the same problem on my Geeetech A10m (Ender 3 clone), but the distance changes on X and Y axis. Did you find a solution? I know the bed is not warped, so the answer bellow doesn't work for me.  
> **username_0**: I switched the carriage wheels and tried to tighten things differently, which really changed the position of the increases and decreases. Tightening them seemed to have the most positive effect.  
> **username_2**: @Davide if your bed is not warped, then it should be just slanted in one direction or incorrectly leveled.  
> **username_1**: Messing with the eccentric nuts for the X axis seems to make a difference, but didn't really fix anything. I also noticed a change in the noise the printer makes when the head lifts, as if the vibration from the fans is transfered more to the frame. It almost seems as if the X axis is twisting or something. Or maybe the wheels are just bad...  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-02-02. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Your video shows that your bed seems warped somewhat.

## Ammount of error

As I assume you did level the bed with a sheet of paper to be 0.1 mm thick, we can estimate the change of thickness. The thickest point seems to be 0.2 mm, the thinnest 0.05. that's in average an error of 0.075 mm for the first layer. If you can live with that, no need to touch it.

## Fixing the issue

Basically, if the error is too large for your liking, you need to fix it. To fix it, there are pretty much 2 ways. Remember that [the Ender-3 uses 24V](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6342/what-voltage-does-the-creality-ender-3-run-at) when ordering parts!

### Fix the part or install a replacement part

If you feel like you need to get it even flatter, you'll need to try to flatten the bed mechanically or replace it. You'll need to be comfortable to remove the BuildTak-clone surface, then remove the leveling screws, open the electronics enclosure, remove some hot glue, unhook the bed.

Then you will need to flatten the bed in some way (grinding the upper side perfectly flat or bending it, replacing it for an entirely flat one).

Then reinstall it, going through the uninstallation backward, and add a new build surface on it.

### Switch to alternate leveling method: Mesh Bed Leveling

If you consider yourself to be able to do some intermediate to advanced modification of your printer, you can change the hotend carriage to one that allows mounting a distance sensor and changing the firmware to mesh-bed-leveling.

You'll need to get an induction or capacity sensor (common operation ranges for those are 6-36V, so perfectly fine with 24V) and [some way to couple that to the board](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6358/inductive-sensor-in-24-v-machine), most likely an optocoupler. Print a new mounting for sensor and fans.

To install you open the electronics compartment, hook up your chosen 24V-5V coupler as extra to the Z-switch, hook the power supply of the sensor up and run it up to the printhead. Replace the mounting for the hotend cooling fan and part cooling fan and [change your firmware](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/6660/8884). Calibrate the height of the sensor to trigger correctly.

I did flash a bootloader [via the ISP](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6685/how-to-install-new-atmega-firmware-via-the-isp-pins) on my ender-3 since then, so I can just flash the new firmware via a direct connection.

## Last words

In either way, after fixing, you should run a PID-tune on the machine.

Thermal Runaway might or might not be active, depending on your firmware iteration, so you should update it anyway, which might make Mesh Bed Leveling the slightly easier way to go.

This has *nothing* to do with the bed carriage wheels, as the bed hangs onto the carriage only via the screws in the corners.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: With that average error being so small mounting a sensor seems to be the best/easiest/cheapest(?) option and there are several videos on YouTube on mounting such on an Ender 3.  
> **username_2**: @LuxClaridge True. Note though, that Mesh Bed Leveling isn't that simple to set up, it is what I would consider *intermediate* or *advanced* thing, as you need to flash firmware and substantially modify the machine.  
> **username_4**: Though it's getting easier. TH3D's Unified Firmware includes the Ender 3 and one only has to uncomment a few lines (as opposed to changing Marlin directly). Either way, modifying the machine has to be done, I think adding a mount is a lesser mod than potentially replacing the bed.  
> **username_2**: @LuxClaridge well, I think replacing is "simpler", but gave a rundown to both variants.  

---

### Answer by username_0 on 2019-09-22. Score: 2

I managed to get rid of the problem by installing a **linear rail** for the y-axis!
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/4LlUD.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/4LlUD.jpg)

Used this mod from thingyverse: <https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3064275>

There are also solutions out there which are placing a linear rail on the left AND right side, but since for me the problem was only on the left side, this seemed sufficient (and was).


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-03-31. Score: 0

Blue Painters tape on the left side starting at the center and leaving a band on the far left side and the rear Perfetto side. I checked the before and after and the thickness of the tape shimmed out the deflection on the plate. It sounds like whatever the use to stamp the steel out is creating the bend we are only talking several thousands of an inch but when I put a flat edge on the plate and shined a light from the rear I could see daylight. The blue tape was from Nearys video on creality cr-10 bed leveling.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: congrats on introducing a step on your bed...  

---

