BLtouch note

src/feed/posts/2026-05-16-ender3-bltouch.md

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+---
+layout: feed_post
+title: "Using BL Touch auto-leveling with Ender 3"
+slug: 7e95e99d-47bb-4754-b5ca-08b623d855a2
+date: 2026-05-16 11:30:00
+tags: feed
+permalink: /feed/2026-05-16/using-bl-touch-with-ender-3/
+feedtags:
+  - Future Reference
+---
+
+I have had/have used my Creality Ender 3 3D printer for nearly a decade now. It's not the fastest, it's not the most advanced, but it works well enough for the prototyping I do.
+
+One worthwhile upgrade I made a few years in was the addition of a [BL Touch auto bed-leveling add-on](https://www.creality3dofficial.com/products/creality-bl-touch). This lets the printer sense the bed surface before the print and adjust for a slightly-off-level bed.
+
+BL touch has a problem, though: while the bed leveling runs (which can take a minute or so), the extruder _cools down_ some 20 Celsius. Then, the print immediately starts with the temp well below spec.
+
+The solution? Add a 60 second wait (in Marlin g-code, this is called a ["dwell"](https://marlinfw.org/docs/gcode/G004.html)) _after_ bed leveling before the print starts to let the hot-end come back up to temp.
+
+In Cura, go to **Settings > Printers > Manager Printers > Ender 3 > Machine Settings**. Add the following lines to the custom g-code:
+
+```text
+; Ender 3 Custom Start G-code
+G92 E0 ; Reset Extruder  (EXISTING LINE)
+G28 ; Home all axes  (EXISTING LINE)
+G29 ; Auto bed-leveling  (ADD THIS LINE)
+G4 P60000 ; Wait for extruder to heat back up  (ADD THIS LINE)
+...
+```