Simplify3D User Forum

C-line wrote:Well yes, but the readout shows the differential from the current Z Max value in EEPROM, not the absolute. That means you have to know the current value in order to calculate the new value.
And, if you've benn changing the current value in your Starting G-Code script, you have to first send M205 to see what it now is.

I guess this can be made a bit easier by always defaulting to a common Z Max value at the end of each print. This could be done in the Ending G-Code script with another M206 command...

I think the position readout is what you want to use for the Z-max value, you don't even need to know the current z-max value.

When you home the towers, it will set all the readouts to 0, and although the extruder is at Z-Max and not Z = 0, if you use the jog commands and keep jogging Z in the negative direction, eventually you'll get close to the bed at around -200, then jog in smaller negative increments, and when you're at the height you want, say -213.2, use the positive value for the M206 command so 213.2 should be your new Z-Max

You're right -- if you jog down using the arrow keys like you say, the desired value can be read directly from the readout and programmed with M206. I had been using a macro button to move down to Z=1 so that wasn't working for me.

The only other caveat is that it's not possible to jog down lover than the current Z Max value. To do that you would need to use the Ending G-Code to reset the Z Max to a higher, default max value after each print, as I suggested earlier. This is what I'm doing and it seems to be working well so far - thanks to all your helpful info and advice.

C-line wrote:You're right -- if you jog down using the arrow keys like you say, the desired value can be read directly from the readout and programmed with M206. I had been using a macro button to move down to Z=1 so that wasn't working for me.

The only other caveat is that it's not possible to jog down lover than the current Z Max value. To do that you would need to use the Ending G-Code to reset the Z Max to a higher, default max value after each print, as I suggested earlier. This is what I'm doing and it seems to be working well so far - thanks to all your helpful info and advice.

I'm not sure if the machine control panel readout will trigger on G92 commands, but try setting up one of the macro buttons to do the command:
G92 Z50

then when you get to around 5 to 10mm away from the bed, use the macro command, this will make your printer think the tool head is at 50mm, which will allow you to go past whatever current Z-max you have. Be careful not to move big increments though as you are now able to crash beyond the bed.