Ok so I am nearing the end of my first Mendel build (TechZone lasercut, TZ gen 3 electronics, pinchwheel extruder). After I hook up the extruder and get that working tonight (hopefully) I will verify that the Frame and everything else is square, level, correct spacing, etc. I have already wired up the motors and controllers, I am able to jog the axis's as will in both directions. What I would like to know from you guys is what are the steps to get the machine ready to print. Such as establishing a 0 point for all three axis, since I will have min_stop opto's. Do I manually jog the machine to the ends that I want to start as a 0 position and then restart the software so that will be the default spot to start with? I saw in another thread somewhere (can't find it again) that each axis has a higher and lower position in regards to right and left?

I believe the 0 position is determined before (or after) every print, by moving the platform until the optoswitches triggers. Also, the RepRap host has a home button which does the same.

Here are a few wiki pages that might help:
http://reprap.org/wiki/Builders/Config/Getting_Started
http://reprap.org/wiki/Builders/Config/Config_Axes
http://reprap.org/wiki/Builders/Config/Config_Extruder

I always take it to the home position right after powering up the mendel. Also, it will home itself yes when you print,so that it knows where it is. If you have the Z optoflag on the bottom which i believe is the standard, you can make sure the Z 0 position is about a paper height above the bed by first moving the z down to that heigh and then adjust the z optoflag so that the opto endstop light turns on at that exact position. That way you can predeterminate the starting height above the bed /z0 /height when the z axis is homed.

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