What is CR Touch and Why You Need It
If you are a 3D printer user, you probably know how important it is to have a level bed for successful prints. A level bed ensures that the nozzle is at the right distance from the print surface, which affects the adhesion, quality, and accuracy of your prints. However, leveling the bed manually can be a tedious and time-consuming process, especially if you have to do it frequently or for different filament types.
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That's where CR Touch comes in. CR Touch is an automatic bed leveling sensor developed by Creality, one of the leading 3D printer manufacturers. It is compatible with most Creality 3D printers, as well as other FDM 3D printers that support auto bed leveling. It uses an optical sensor to detect the position of a metal pin that probes the bed surface at multiple points. Based on the measurements, it generates a mesh that compensates for any unevenness or tilt of the bed.
With CR Touch, you don't have to worry about leveling the bed manually every time you start a print. You just need to install it once, calibrate it once, and then let it do its magic. It will save you time, frustration, and filament waste. It will also improve your print quality, reliability, and consistency.
How to Download CR Touch Firmware for Your 3D Printer
Before you can use CR Touch, you need to update your 3D printer firmware to support it. Firmware is the software that controls your 3D printer hardware and settings. Updating the firmware will enable the auto bed leveling feature and allow you to adjust the settings related to CR Touch.
To download the correct firmware for your 3D printer model, you need to visit the official Creality website and go to the download page . There you will find a list of firmware files for different 3D printer models and accessories. You need to find the one that matches your 3D printer model and has "CR Touch" in its name. For example, if you have an Ender 3 Pro with a 32-bit mainboard, you need to download the file named "Ender-3 Pro CR Touch Firmware".
Once you have downloaded the firmware file, you need to unzip it and copy it to a micro SD card. Make sure that the SD card is formatted as FAT32 and has a capacity of no more than 32 GB. Also, make sure that there is only one firmware file on the SD card and that it is named "firmware.bin".
How to Install CR Touch on Your 3D Printer
After updating your firmware, you need to physically install the CR Touch sensor on your 3D printer. This involves attaching the sensor to the extruder assembly, connecting the wires to the mainboard, and securing the cables with zip ties. The installation process may vary slightly depending on your 3D printer model, but the general steps are as follows:
How to Install CR Touch on Your 3D Printer
Turn off your 3D printer and unplug the power cord.
Remove the fan shroud and the hotend cover from the extruder assembly.
Unscrew and remove the Z endstop switch from the left side of the frame.
Attach the CR Touch sensor to the extruder assembly using the provided screws and spacers. Make sure that the sensor pin is aligned with the nozzle tip.
Connect the CR Touch wires to the mainboard. You need to plug the 3-pin connector into the Z endstop port and the 2-pin connector into the dedicated CR Touch port. Refer to your mainboard manual for the correct orientation of the connectors.
Route the wires along the frame and secure them with zip ties. Make sure that there is enough slack for the sensor to move freely.
Reinstall the fan shroud and the hotend cover on the extruder assembly.
Insert the micro SD card with the firmware file into the 3D printer slot.
Plug in the power cord and turn on your 3D printer. The firmware will update automatically and you will see a message on the screen when it is done.
Remove the micro SD card from the 3D printer slot.
Congratulations, you have successfully installed CR Touch on your 3D printer!
How to Configure CR Touch Settings in Your Slicer
Now that you have installed CR Touch, you need to configure some settings in your slicer software to enable auto bed leveling. A slicer is a software that converts your 3D model into a series of instructions (G-code) that your 3D printer can understand and execute. There are many slicers available, but some of the most popular ones are Cura, PrusaSlicer, and Simplify3D.
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The settings you need to adjust may vary depending on your slicer, but they generally include:
The start G-code: This is a set of commands that are executed before every print. You need to add a command that tells your 3D printer to perform auto bed leveling before printing. The command is usually G29 or M420 S1, depending on your firmware version.
The Z offset: This is a value that determines how far or close your nozzle is from the bed after auto bed leveling. You need to adjust this value to get optimal first layer adhesion. You can do this either in your slicer or on your 3D printer LCD screen.
The bed size and origin: This is a set of values that define the dimensions and position of your print area. You need to make sure that these values match your actual bed size and origin, otherwise you may encounter errors or collisions during auto bed leveling.
For more details on how to configure these settings in your slicer, please refer to your slicer manual or online tutorials.
How to Use CR Touch for Better 3D Printing Results
Once you have configured your slicer settings, you are ready to use CR Touch for better 3D printing results. Here is a brief overview of how CR Touch works and how it improves your 3D printing quality and reliability.
CR Touch works by probing the bed surface at multiple points before every print. It measures the distance between the sensor pin and the bed at each point and stores these values in a mesh. The mesh represents the shape and tilt of your bed, which may not be perfectly flat or level due to various factors such as manufacturing tolerances, temperature changes, or mechanical wear.
Based on this mesh, CR Touch adjusts the Z axis movement of your nozzle during printing, so that it follows the contour of your bed. This ensures that your nozzle is always at a consistent distance from your bed, regardless of any unevenness or tilt. This results in better first layer adhesion, smoother surface finish, higher dimensional accuracy, and fewer failed prints.
How to Calibrate CR Touch Z Offset
One of the most important settings for using CR Touch is the Z offset. The Z offset is a value that determines how far or close your nozzle is from the bed after auto bed leveling. If the Z offset is too high, your nozzle will be too far from the bed and your first layer will not stick well. If the Z offset is too low, your nozzle will be too close to the bed and your first layer will be squished or even damage the bed. Therefore, you need to calibrate the Z offset to get optimal first layer adhesion.
To calibrate the Z offset, you need to follow these steps:
Heat up your nozzle and bed to your printing temperature.
Perform auto bed leveling by sending the command G29 or M420 S1, depending on your firmware version.
Move your nozzle to the center of the bed by sending the command G1 X110 Y110 F3000.
Lower your nozzle until it barely touches a piece of paper on the bed by sending the command G1 Z0 F300.
Slide the paper under the nozzle and feel the resistance. If the paper is too loose or too tight, you need to adjust the Z offset.
To adjust the Z offset, you can either use the LCD screen or send commands via a terminal software. On the LCD screen, go to Configuration > Probe Z Offset and use the knob to increase or decrease the value. Alternatively, you can send the command M851 Zx, where x is the desired Z offset value in millimeters. For example, if you want to lower the nozzle by 0.1 mm, you can send M851 Z-0.1.
After adjusting the Z offset, save it to your EEPROM by sending the command M500.
Repeat steps 4 to 7 until you get a slight resistance when sliding the paper under the nozzle.
Congratulations, you have successfully calibrated your CR Touch Z offset!
How to Test CR Touch Accuracy and Consistency
After calibrating your CR Touch Z offset, you may want to test its accuracy and consistency. This will help you verify that your CR Touch is working properly and that your bed is level. To test your CR Touch accuracy and consistency, you need to follow these steps:
Download a bed leveling test file from Thingiverse or create your own using a slicer.
Slice the file with your slicer settings and save it to your SD card.
Insert the SD card into your 3D printer slot and start printing.
Observe the first layer of the print and check for any gaps, overlaps, or unevenness.
If you see any issues, you may need to adjust your Z offset, bed screws, or CR Touch sensor position.
If you see no issues, you have successfully tested your CR Touch accuracy and consistency!
The table below shows some examples of good and bad first layers and their possible causes and solutions:
First Layer Cause Solution --- --- --- Good Z offset and bed leveling No action needed Z offset too high Lower Z offset Z offset too low Raise Z offset Bed screws loose or tight Adjust bed screws CR Touch sensor loose or misaligned Secure or reposition CR Touch sensor How to Troubleshoot CR Touch Issues
Sometimes, you may encounter some issues with your CR Touch that prevent it from working properly. Here are some common problems and solutions related to CR Touch:
The sensor pin does not deploy or retract: This could be caused by a faulty sensor, a loose wire, or a wrong firmware. You can try to check the sensor for any damage, reconnect the wires, or update the firmware.
The sensor pin does not trigger: This could be caused by a dirty pin, a bent pin, or a wrong sensitivity setting. You can try to clean the pin with a soft cloth, straighten the pin with pliers, or adjust the sensitivity setting on the LCD screen.
The sensor pin triggers randomly: This could be caused by electromagnetic interference, a loose wire, or a wrong sensitivity setting. You can try to move the sensor away from any sources of interference, reconnect the wires, or adjust the sensitivity setting on the LCD screen.
The sensor does not measure the bed correctly: This could be caused by a warped bed, a dirty bed, or a wrong firmware. You can try to level the bed manually, clean the bed with alcohol, or update the firmware.
The nozzle crashes into the bed or prints in mid-air: This could be caused by a wrong Z offset, a wrong bed size or origin, or a wrong start G-code. You can try to calibrate the Z offset, check the bed size and origin settings, or add the auto bed leveling command to your start G-code.
If none of these solutions work, you may need to contact Creality customer support for further assistance.
CR Touch vs BLTouch: Which One is Better?
CR Touch is not the only auto bed leveling sensor available on the market. Another popular option is BLTouch, which is developed by Antclabs, a Korean company. BLTouch is compatible with most 3D printers that support auto bed leveling and uses a magnetic sensor to detect the position of a metal pin that probes the bed surface.
So, which one is better: CR Touch or BLTouch? The answer depends on your preferences and needs. Here are some of the pros and cons of each sensor:
CR Touch BLTouch --- --- Pros - Developed by Creality, so it has better compatibility and support for Creality 3D printers - Uses an optical sensor, which is less prone to interference and wear - Has a dedicated port on Creality mainboards, which makes wiring easier - Has a lower price than BLTouch - Compatible with most 3D printers that support auto bed leveling - Uses a magnetic sensor, which has faster response and higher accuracy - Has more settings and features than CR Touch, such as self-test, alarm, and manual deploy/retract Cons - Compatible only with 3D printers that support auto bed leveling - Uses an optical sensor, which has slower response and lower accuracy - Has fewer settings and features than BLTouch, such as self-test, alarm, and manual deploy/retract - Compatible only with 3D printers that support auto bed leveling - Uses a magnetic sensor, which is more prone to interference and wear - Requires more wiring and configuration than CR Touch - Has a higher price than CR Touch Ultimately, both sensors are great options for improving your 3D printing experience. You can choose the one that suits your budget, 3D printer model, and personal preference.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered everything you need to know about CR Touch, an automatic bed leveling sensor developed by Creality. We have explained what CR Touch is and why you need it, how to download and install it on your 3D printer, how to configure it in your slicer software, how to use it for better 3D printing results, how to calibrate it and test it for accuracy and consistency, how to troubleshoot it for common issues, and how it compares to another popular sensor called BLTouch.
We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback about CR Touch or this article, please feel free to leave a comment below. Happy 3D printing!
FAQs
What is the difference between CR Touch and BL Touch?
CR Touch and BL Touch are both automatic bed leveling sensors that probe the bed surface at multiple points before every print and adjust the Z axis movement of the nozzle accordingly. The main difference between them is that CR Touch uses an optical sensor while BL Touch uses a magnetic sensor. They also have different features, settings, compatibility, wiring, and price.
How do I update my firmware for CR Touch?
To update your firmware for CR Touch, you need to visit the official Creality website and go to the download page . There you will find a list of firmware files for different 3D printer models and accessories. You need to find the one that matches your 3D printer model and has "CR Touch" in its name. Then you need to unzip it and copy it to a micro SD card. Make sure that the SD card is formatted as FAT32 and has a capacity of no more than 32 GB. Also make sure that there is only one firmware file on the SD card and that it is named "firmware.bin". Then you need to insert the SD card into your 3D printer slot, plug in the power cord and turn on your 3D printer. The firmware will update automatically and you will see a message on the screen when it is done. Then you need to remove the SD card from the 3D printer slot.
How do I enable auto bed leveling with CR Touch?
To enable auto bed leveling with CR Touch, you need to configure some settings in your slicer software. A slicer is a software that converts your 3D model into a series of instructions (G-code) that your 3D printer can understand and execute. The settings you need to adjust include the start G-code, the Z offset, and the bed size and origin. For more details on how to configure these settings in your slicer, please refer to your slicer manual or online tutorials.
How do I calibrate my CR Touch Z offset?
To calibrate your CR Touch Z offset, you need to heat up your nozzle and bed to your printing temperature, perform auto bed leveling, move your nozzle to the center of the bed, lower your nozzle until it barely touches a piece of paper on the bed, slide the paper under the nozzle and feel the resistance, adjust the Z offset using the LCD screen or sending commands via a terminal software, save the Z offset to your EEPROM, and repeat these steps until you get a slight resistance when sliding the paper under the nozzle. For more details on how to calibrate your CR Touch Z offset, please refer to the article above.
How do I test my CR Touch accuracy and consistency?
To test your CR Touch accuracy and consistency, you need to download a bed leveling test file from Thingiverse or create your own using a slicer, slice the file with your slicer settings and save it to your SD card, insert the SD card into your 3D printer slot and start printing, observe the first layer of the print and check for any gaps, overlaps, or unevenness, and adjust your Z offset, bed screws, or CR Touch sensor position if you see any issues. For more details on how to test your CR Touch accuracy and consistency, please refer to the article above.
How do I troubleshoot my CR Touch issues?
If you encounter any issues with your CR Touch that prevent it from working properly, you can try some of these solutions: check the sensor for any damage, reconnect the wires, update the firmware, clean the pin with a soft cloth, straighten the pin with pliers, adjust the sensitivity setting on the LCD screen, move the sensor away from any sources of interference, level the bed manually, clean the bed with alcohol, check the bed size and origin settings, or add the auto bed leveling command to your start G-code. If none of these solutions work, you may need to contact Creality customer support for further assistance. For more details on how to troubleshoot your CR Touch issues, please refer to the article above. 44f88ac181