<p>It seems the <code>DEFAULT_LEVELING_FADE_HEIGHT</code> of the TH3D firmware was causing the issue, which was something I was aware of but didn't think that it would cause this.</p>
<p>I set it to zero and then re-printed the calibration cube. It came out with the dimensions of 20 mm x 20 mm x 20.1 mm, which was incredibly accurate for the setup I have.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/16793/creality-ender-3-pro-z-travel-issue-with-th3d-firmware">Creality Ender 3 Pro - Z travel issue with TH3D firmware</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-03T13:07:35.927Z
Nice.  Yet another reason I don't feel the need for BLTouch.
Zeiss Ikon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-03T10:18:07.737Z
2021-08-03T11:14:04.223Z
2021-08-03T11:14:04.223Z
Tim
<p>I have an <code>Ender 3 Pro</code> with a <code>BLTouch 3.1</code> attached and I have this weird problem. Whatever I print, whether it's a 3rd party STL or my own design, the Z is always getting stretched up to a point and then it fixes itself.</p>
<p>i.e. I printed these calibration cubes at 100% and 150%. While there is a slight wobble on the X axis, X, Y and the top half dimensions are almost perfect.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ta9py.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ta9py.jpg" alt="Z prints higher than it should" /></a></p>
<p>Not sure if I had this problem prior to BLTouch installation, so I suspect that it might be messing Z jump between the layers somehow but no idea what to look for.</p>
<p>I am using TH3D's Marlin Firmware and I did nothing other than enabling the corresponding flags for BLTouch and ENDER_V44_BOARD when compiling the firmware.</p>
<ul>
<li>The problem occurs on my custom designs and other models too, so it's definitely not the model</li>
<li>I tried to use Simplify3D, Ultimaker Cura, Prusa Slic3r to slice and then print with Octoprint, Simplify3D or Pronterface, it didn't make a difference.</li>
<li>I calibrated the E steps, so I am not no under or over-extruding.</li>
<li>I also tried to re-calibrate the Z steps so the height would match, which it did but didn't solve the problem. I now have a squished top half and a weird looking print.</li>
<li>The steps/mm values were at default, X80, Y80 and Z400 - as described, reducing the Z to 320 to compensate the height difference didn't help. See the picture below.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/6vRkd.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6vRkd.jpg" alt="Squished top half after reducing the Z steps" /></a></p>
<p>I am pretty much stuck at this point, so I'd appreciate any guidance very much!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-03T09:33:45.943Z
I just found out about the `fade height` right after posting this. Guess I am suffering from the same: https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/16793/creality-ender-3-pro-z-travel-issue-with-th3d-firmware
Tim
<creality-ender-3><z-axis><bltouch><layer-height><th3d>
First half of the prints are getting stretched on the Z axis
Tim
# First half of the prints are getting stretched on the Z axis

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-08-03)

I have an `Ender 3 Pro` with a `BLTouch 3.1` attached and I have this weird problem. Whatever I print, whether it's a 3rd party STL or my own design, the Z is always getting stretched up to a point and then it fixes itself.

i.e. I printed these calibration cubes at 100% and 150%. While there is a slight wobble on the X axis, X, Y and the top half dimensions are almost perfect.

[![Z prints higher than it should](https://i.sstatic.net/ta9py.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ta9py.jpg)

Not sure if I had this problem prior to BLTouch installation, so I suspect that it might be messing Z jump between the layers somehow but no idea what to look for.

I am using TH3D's Marlin Firmware and I did nothing other than enabling the corresponding flags for BLTouch and ENDER\_V44\_BOARD when compiling the firmware.

* The problem occurs on my custom designs and other models too, so it's definitely not the model
* I tried to use Simplify3D, Ultimaker Cura, Prusa Slic3r to slice and then print with Octoprint, Simplify3D or Pronterface, it didn't make a difference.
* I calibrated the E steps, so I am not no under or over-extruding.
* I also tried to re-calibrate the Z steps so the height would match, which it did but didn't solve the problem. I now have a squished top half and a weird looking print.
* The steps/mm values were at default, X80, Y80 and Z400 - as described, reducing the Z to 320 to compensate the height difference didn't help. See the picture below.

[![Squished top half after reducing the Z steps](https://i.sstatic.net/6vRkd.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/6vRkd.jpg)

I am pretty much stuck at this point, so I'd appreciate any guidance very much!

**Tags:** creality-ender-3, z-axis, bltouch, layer-height, th3d

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I just found out about the `fade height` right after posting this. Guess I am suffering from the same: https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/16793/creality-ender-3-pro-z-travel-issue-with-th3d-firmware  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2021-08-03. Score: 2

It seems the `DEFAULT_LEVELING_FADE_HEIGHT` of the TH3D firmware was causing the issue, which was something I was aware of but didn't think that it would cause this.

I set it to zero and then re-printed the calibration cube. It came out with the dimensions of 20 mm x 20 mm x 20.1 mm, which was incredibly accurate for the setup I have.

Related: [Creality Ender 3 Pro - Z travel issue with TH3D firmware](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/16793/creality-ender-3-pro-z-travel-issue-with-th3d-firmware)

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Nice.  Yet another reason I don't feel the need for BLTouch.  

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