Manual First Layer Calibration on the Kobra 3 (No Wizard)

Manual First Layer Calibration on the Kobra 3 (No Wizard) The first layer is everything. If it's wrong, nothing sticks right. Here's how to manually calibrate without the built-in wizard. What You Need A piece of A4 paper (about 0.1mm thick — good feeler gauge) 10 minutes Patience Step 1 — Home All Axes Run G28 from your host software (Orca Slicer console, OctoPrint, or LCD menu). Step 2 — Disable Steppers But Keep Heated Bed M84 X Y Z ; disable X/Y/Z steppers only — keep E engaged M140 S60 ; heat bed to print temp Wait for bed to reach temp. Cold bed = false Z offset. Step 3 — Move Nozzle to Test Points Test 5 points: center + 4 corners. Move manually: G0 X125 Y125 Z0 ; center G0 X20 Y20 Z0 ; front left G0 X230 Y20 Z0 ; front right G0 X230 Y230 Z0 ; back right G0 X20 Y230 Z0 ; back left At each point: slide paper under nozzle. Should feel slight drag — not locked, not free. Step 4 — Adjust Z Offset In Orca Slicer or LCD: find Z Offset (Baby Step Z). Paper slides freely = nozzle too high → decrease Z offset (more negative) Paper won't move = nozzle too low → increase Z offset (less negative) Typical range: -0.1 to -2.5mm Adjust in 0.05mm increments. Step 5 — Print a Test Square Print a 100×100×0.2mm single-layer square at 30mm/s. Look for: Save the Value Once happy: save Z offset in firmware (M500 via console or save in LCD menu). Notes Re-calibrate after: nozzle change, PEI sheet swap, moving the printer PEI should be clean (IPA wipe) before every calibration First layer at 30mm/s always, regardless of print speed setting

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