The g-code attached is meant to print your sliced structure in a 12-well plate. It is coded to match the Corning Costar 3513 well plate model, but the coordinates for your well plate or your printer settings might vary.


To account for the coordinate differences, follow the steps below:


To prepare to edit the g-code, make a mark on the lid of the multi well plate to mark the center of the front-left well. Place it on the printbed and lower the printbed all the way to the bottom position. 

  1. Go to UTILITIES MENU and Select HOME AXES 
  2. Select MOVE AXIS -> MOVE 0.1mm -> MOVE X 
    • Jog the X-axis until PH1 nozzle is in the center of the front-left well. Record the X position (note: The position for each  axis will be written in the LCD display when jogging each axis). 
  3. Select MOVE AXIS -> MOVE 0.1mm -> MOVE Y 
    • Jog the Y-axis until PH1 nozzle is in the center of the front-left well. Record the Y position. 
  4. Select MOVE AXIS -> MOVE 0.1mm -> MOVE Z
  5. Jog the Z-axis until the PH1 nozzle touches the lid surface of the bottom left well well. Record the Z position.

Open the g-code attached and update the X and Y coordinates in line 7 with the values recorded above for X and Y (center of the bottom left well). 


Now your code matches your well plate better!


To insert the g-code for the structure you want to print, simply follow the instructions on the g-code file comments. If you are copying and pasting from a sliced file, do not include start and end commands (ex. M82, M84, G90).  


Save the updated g-code file in the SD card. 


To calibrate the Z-axis, follow these steps: 

  1. Go to UTILITIES MENU 
  2. Select HOME AXES
  3. Select MOVE AXIS -> MOVE 0.1mm -> MOVE X
    • Jog the X-axis until PH1 nozzle is in the center of the front-left well
  4. Select MOVE AXIS -> MOVE 0.1mm -> MOVE Y 
    • Jog the Y-axis until PH1 nozzle is in the center of the front-left well
  5. Select MOVE AXIS -> MOVE 0.1mm -> MOVE Z 
    • Jog the Z-axis until the PH1 nozzle touches the surface of the front-left well
  6. Select PREPARE BIOPRINT -> CALIBRATE Z*
  7. Select BIOPRINT -> select file to print


If the structures are not printed at the center of each well, check the X and Y value in lines 19 and 64, respectively of the g-code file attached. The X and Y value should match the distances between the center of each well in each axis in mm. Otherwise, update those coordinates throughout the g-code file by finding the difference in coordinate values. You can use a "find and replace" tool (Ctrl+H). 


*Z Calibration can be stored. See How to Store Z axis calibration on the INK/INK+ 


Click to watch this video for more information.


Happy Bioprinting!