I’ve thought that maybe smarter firmware would be a nice change. The firmware might probe the bed and if it is +/- some percentage different from the previous reading it could prompt the user to clean the nozzle. It could then probe again instead of having to go through extra steps. I find it extremely frustrating to have to go through the extrude, clean and then try again dance. It doesn’t happen very often but when it does I cringe each time the bed bends.
I keep a set of tweezers handy. If it seems like the probe is going to go too far, I touch the tip and the washer to short it out and prevent it from warping my bed.
In most of the CNCs I have run if a probing move gets to the commanded position before the probe is triggered you get an error. That way if you program a position just a little bit beyond the expected trigger point you limit the potential damage, which gets more important when your servos are rated in 10s of kilowatts.
Guessing from the conversation that the controls in 3D printers are not yet at that level.
Sorry to be jumping in at this late date, but I’ve been busy on other projects and haven’t logged in for awhile.
I used to have some minor bed deflection issues during leveling, but they never affected my prints. When I started my now standard routine of using Green 3M pads for wiping the nozzle just before the wiping sequence starts (just watch the hotness temp and go a degree or two above the setpoint), I used the pad to clean the leveling washers: this totally eliminated bed deflection.
Periodic cleaning of these washers is one thing that I didn’t see suggested in this thread, but it has been noted in other, older threads.
