In your slicer you will have a section for GCode commands that are run at the very start and end of every print. In Cura/JGCreat, these are found in the machine settings.

There are several good videos on this topic that are linked at the bottom of this article. These will give you a great introduction into what is possible to achieve with starting and ending gcode commands.

Typically this contains several functions:

• Home and reference all axis
• Set position to zero
• Prime the extruder
• Wipe the nozzle on the bed (not enabled by default - you need to add your own commands)
• Enable auto-bed or mesh-bed levelling (if configured)

1. G28 ; Home all axis
2. G1 Z15.0 F6000 ; Move up 15mm at 6000mm/min (note: more than the max speed set in the printer firmware)
3. G92 E0 ; Reset extruder length to zero
4. G1 F200 E10 ; Extrude 10mm at 200mm/min
5. G92 E0 ; Reset extruder length to zero

The lift up and extrude is the “purge and prime” to ensure that filament is flowing correctly. If the filament is left at home position for too long while the nozzle is hot, the filament can ooze out. Then the nozzle will not be ready for printing. The purge and prime gets the filament flowing again ready for printing.

You can add a “wipe”step to the starting gcode after the “purge” - watch the videos above.

• Turn off the bed heater
• Turn off the nozzle heater
• Home the X and Y axis
• Turn off the motors

One command that is not included with the A5 but is good to add, is a command to move the Y-axis forward once the print is finished. e.g. “G0 Y280 F600

• Start GCode Routines at Reprap wiki
• Great Start GCode Snippets at PrusaMK2.com