# Bad print quality and z-offset not saving **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [November 28, 2024, 7:17am UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308 "2024-11-28T07:17:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![moewzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@moewzy](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/moewzy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 7:17am UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/1 "2024-11-28T07:17:25Z")
### Basic Information: Printer Model: Wanhao d12 MCU / Printerboard: MKS robin nano v1.2 Host / SBC raspberry pi 4 klippy.log [klippy.log](https://klipper.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/tumCFPBvUw5FUil9YwLUH1eqmWI.log) (2.5 MB) [moonraker.log](https://klipper.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/6Drfej0rEcC7XebiKUjkwwIIRFb.log) (5.9 KB) _Fill out above information and_ **_in all cases attach your_ `klippy.log` _file_** (use zip to compress it, if too big). _Pasting your_ `printer.cfg` _is **not** needed_ _ **Be sure to check our “Knowledge Base” Category first. Most relevant items, e.g. error messages, are covered there** _ ### Describe your issue: good day Please assist my z-offset does not want to work i set it under probe\_calibrate but then when i start printing it digs into the bed and yet when i set it , it was set correctly and i need to adjust every print, the quality of prints and extrustion dont want to get better ive done rotation distance and pressure advance please advise on what i am doing wrong or what have i missed and now its giviing me the error Option ‘z\_offset’ in section ‘bltouch’ must have minimum of 0.0 but it was working fine and i changed nothing in the Z-offset … ---
**Author:** ![mykepredko](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/mykepredko/32/2085_2.png) [@mykepredko](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/mykepredko)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 7:47am UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/2 "2024-11-28T07:47:24Z")
Can you outline the complete procedure you’re using to set the Z axis offset? The big question that you’ll get is did you follow: [https://www.klipper3d.org/Probe\_Calibrate.html#calibrating-probe-z-offset](https://www.klipper3d.org/Probe_Calibrate.html#calibrating-probe-z-offset) and did you run `SAVE_CONFIG` after setting the probe height? ---
**Author:** ![moewzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@moewzy](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/moewzy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 7:57am UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/3 "2024-11-28T07:57:36Z")
I home the machine , then input into the console PROBE\_CALIBRATE I use a post it note and get the nozzle to my preferred height , and then I save\_config and the printer restarts The only thing I have not done is Z tilt but I’ve done everything as per the documentation ---
**Author:** ![mykepredko](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/mykepredko/32/2085_2.png) [@mykepredko](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/mykepredko)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 4:11pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/4 "2024-11-28T16:11:57Z")
Thanx for the clarification. Two questions back: 1. What kind of stepper drivers are you using? How have you confirmed the step specification is correct? 2. What are you setting `z_offset` to before doing `probe_calibrate`? I just checked one of my printers that uses a BLTouch and I’ve set it to 0 before running `probe\_calibrate’: ```auto [bltouch] sensor_pin: PB4 control_pin: PB5 x_offset: 0 y_offset: -40 z_offset: 0 pin_move_time: 0.4 speed: 20 ``` ---
**Author:** ![EddyMI3D](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/eddymi3d/32/1981_2.png) [@EddyMI3D](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/EddyMI3D)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/5 "2024-11-28T16:24:36Z")
Have you done a `Z_OFFSET_APPLY_PROBE` before `SAVE_CONFIG`? ---
**Author:** ![moewzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@moewzy](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/moewzy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 8:48pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/6 "2024-12-09T20:48:52Z")
So step specification yes I’ve checked they are correct I’m using a MKS TMC2209 drivers The Z-offset is set to 0.0 I cleared my printer.cfg folders and started fresh still digging into the bed ---
**Author:** ![mykepredko](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/mykepredko/32/2085_2.png) [@mykepredko](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/mykepredko)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/7 "2024-12-09T20:50:42Z")
So what is the value of `z_offset:` after you do a `probe_calibrate` followed by `save_config`? ---
**Author:** ![moewzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@moewzy](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/moewzy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/8 "2024-12-09T20:52:35Z")
I have yes , and confirmed it’s applied in the printer.cfg ---
**Author:** ![moewzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@moewzy](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/moewzy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 8:55pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/9 "2024-12-09T20:55:09Z")
After it’s 0.053 there after I go check in the printer.cfg under the saved\_config section and it shows the saved offset but the minute I start a print it digs into the bed ---
**Author:** ![moewzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@moewzy](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/moewzy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 8:55pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/10 "2024-12-09T20:55:59Z")
![17337777316814309071265553513019](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/7/0/70e0a8f01c433f6e5827efc4043db59c51f0af83.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![mykepredko](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/mykepredko/32/2085_2.png) [@mykepredko](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/mykepredko)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/11 "2024-12-09T20:58:52Z")
Could you please download and post the current `printer.cfg` that’s on your printer? Could you go through the exact process that you use to set the Z-Offset? ---
**Author:** ![moewzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@moewzy](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/moewzy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 9:10pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/12 "2024-12-09T21:10:59Z")
[klippy …log](https://klipper.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/jGtmn5xzBN5F6xKObj7tljWJpjK.log) (5.0 MB) [printer.cfg](https://klipper.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/ymWqcjCupyk4n6HrtOIigmP4dyn.cfg) (5.1 KB) process G28 home all axis PROBE\_CALIBRATE the manual probe menu appears, i decrease the value until i feel resistance on the post it note under the nozzle, once i am happy i click accept, i then insert Z\_OFFSET\_APPLY\_PROBE to which i get report back Nothing to do: Z Offset is 0 , I enter SAVE\_CONFIG , the printer restarts I then confirm the new value in the PRINTER.CFG under the SAVED CONFIG section and then i attempt to print but no luck it goes straight into the bed ---
**Author:** ![EddyMI3D](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/eddymi3d/32/1981_2.png) [@EddyMI3D](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/EddyMI3D)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/13 "2024-12-09T21:19:01Z")
For clarification: `PROBE_CALIBRATE` is intended to calibrate the probe. It’s not meant to get the correct distance for the first layer. For that, you may go with this: > **[First Layer Squish](https://ellis3dp.com/Print-Tuning-Guide/articles/first_layer_squish.html)** > > Ellis’ Print Tuning Guide Or this: [https://teachingtechyt.github.io/calibration.html#firstlayer](https://teachingtechyt.github.io/calibration.html#firstlayer) ---
**Author:** ![moewzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@moewzy](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/moewzy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/14 "2024-12-09T21:19:54Z")
If I start the print and there after adjust the z-offset mid print it works fine but the next print I start does the same issue even with saving that z-offset ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/a/f/af139f5e8528b2ba705996e358ed23ea4e736f99.png) ---
**Author:** ![mykepredko](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/mykepredko/32/2085_2.png) [@mykepredko](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/mykepredko)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/15 "2024-12-09T21:27:21Z")
Thanx for the .cfg and log. Could you try your `[bltouch]` as: ```auto [bltouch] sensor_pin: PC4 #^PC4 control_pin: PA8 x_offset: -48 y_offset: 4 #$# stow_on_each_sample: false #$# probe_with_touch_mode: false #$# pin_up_reports_not_triggered: false #$# pin_up_touch_mode_reports_triggered: false z_offset: 0.0 ``` I don’t run with any of these and I’m wondering if they’re causing a problem. As for this image: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/a/f/af139f5e8528b2ba705996e358ed23ea4e736f99.png) It’s showing a “Z-Offset: 3.115” BUT in your `printer.cfg` it’s: ```auto #*# z_offset = 0.677 ``` Do you know which one is correct? If it’s the 3.115 then for some reason you’re not updating your `printer.cfg` which will lead to the nozzle digging in… ---
**Author:** ![moewzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@moewzy](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/moewzy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/16 "2024-12-09T22:16:52Z")
i’m not sure why the z-offset is saving as a negative when i set it to a positive see the pictures where i have set it to 2.610 but when i click save into the console it saves as -2.530 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/6/1/611697e22358c333a667c0c9eeaa1055c5cbbadb.png) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/2/4/24173194dd49ec65dba85c1c8323f20e15ffaebd.png) PLEASE HELP I uncommented the sections in the BL touch section I redid the z-offset but its not saving the correct z-offset but it still refuses to work [klippy.log](https://klipper.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/4waafass1ZWljVSFXvJZ5Fkg72H.log) (513.9 KB) [printer.cfg](https://klipper.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/cX9wsr42O1GMoYa6RhLeF5MlLRO.cfg) (5.1 KB) ---
**Author:** ![mykepredko](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/mykepredko/32/2085_2.png) [@mykepredko](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/mykepredko)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/17 "2024-12-10T01:38:37Z")
Just looked and the offset value is 0.080. Can you go through the following sequence and show me the results? I’m going through what I think you’re doing on one of my printers. 1. Home your printer. 2. Start `PROBE_CALIBRATE` and set it to the height you want it to be at (I use the paper test) and show the results before you click on “ACCEPT”: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/9/2/925d319243ecd45710fb5bf91d449499da913ec8.png) 3. When you’re ready, click on “ACCEPT” and you should get the message to do a `SAVE_CONFIG` which includes the new `probe: z_offset`, please save a screenshot like: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/5/7/575797b656a44b9004951fb3e48e120437bbdd01.png) 4. Enter `SAVE_CONFIG` and let the printer reboot. I should point out that before I Enter on `SAVE_CONFIG`, I move the Z axis up by 25mm so I don’t have to worry about toolhead crashes when I restart. 5. Upon restart, look at your `printer.cfg` and post the new `z_offset` in the “SAVE\_CONFIG” section at the end: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/f/e/fe3b0ed08631eff39e21d147e753f0632d852755.png) 6. Home your printer again and see where your Z = 0 point is in relation to where you were at step 3. (ie is the tension on the paper test the same?). ![2024.12.09 - Final Papertest at 0.00 mm](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/a/9/a977fa36515604b91631743acd2ddeb21cf4140b.jpeg) When I got to step 6, did a Homing All, I then down the same piece of paper I used for the original `PROBE_CALIBRATE` height in Step 2. and then moved the print head down to Z = 0.00 (as you can see in the final picture above) and checked to see if I got the same tension on the paper (which I did). Could you repeat this, with screenshots so we can review the process and see if any problems appear? ---
**Author:** ![moewzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@moewzy](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/moewzy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 6:22am UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/18 "2024-12-11T06:22:00Z")
Hi I have not yet been able to try this as the thermistor is now faulty so Klipper is shutting down once I replace it I will try and provide my findings thank you ---
**Author:** ![moewzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@moewzy](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/moewzy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 8:06pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/19 "2024-12-17T20:06:33Z")
hi okay So i have done everything as said i homed the printer then i put into the console PROBE\_CALIBRATE then the prompt came up ![before probe calibrate](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/e/1/e17250fd227c4df49f250784a2f6bbd7544b21c4.png) after that i used a postit note and did the paper test so that i felt slight friction on the paper and this was the value before i pressed accept ![before accept is presesd](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/1/7/17a9638641f7272a2e07386443388580f765ad79.png) this was what was posted into the console ![before save_config is hit](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/1/7/17d187c4a5eb946e02af664a5aa5a5a2bd8e611a.png) and then i did SAVE\_CONFIG and an error occured ![error](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/klipper/original/3X/4/4/4425207405e005c6644c85c2e2f05458e7590151.png) here is my klippy log, my moonraker log as well as my printer.cfg [klippy.log](https://klipper.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/3f8k1H103iDoGr1J7HPXeGYXCIk.log) (798.5 KB) [moonraker.log](https://klipper.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/zN7P7DVRtYpI2OYJLDSTiXBx9vE.log) (15.3 KB) [printer.cfg](https://klipper.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/9Y9lulFv9HDte5bCETL3VZiljrS.cfg) (4.5 KB) ---
**Author:** ![mykepredko](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/klipper.discourse.group/mykepredko/32/2085_2.png) [@mykepredko](https://klipper.discourse.group/u/mykepredko)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308/20 "2024-12-17T21:01:54Z")
Do exactly as the error message says. When I look at your `printer.cfg`: ```auto [bltouch] sensor_pin: PC4 control_pin: PA8 x_offset: -48 y_offset: 4 #stow_on_each_sample: false #probe_with_touch_mode: false #pin_up_reports_not_triggered: false #pin_up_touch_mode_reports_triggered: false #z_offset: 0.0 #$# <== Remove "#" at the start of this line ``` If you remove the “#” (comment character) at the start of the line and rerun `probe_calibrate` and when it comes to do a `save_config` everything will be fine. Just as a hint, after you click on “ACCEPT” in the `probe_calibrate` window, move your gantry up 25mm and THEN enter `save_config`. Doing that will make sure there’s no change your nozzle will come into contact with the print surface (ie a corner or edge that is high) when the printer restarts. [Next page](https://klipper.discourse.group/t/bad-print-quality-and-z-offset-not-saving/20308.md?page=2)