Purpose　The　purpose　of　this　study　is　to　propose　an　automatic　leveling　method　for　a　printing　platform　based　on　a　three-point　coordinate　feedback.　The　proposed　method　is　used　in　fused　deposition　modeling　additive　manufacturing　systems.　The　coordinate　error　of　the　leveled　plane　is　constrained　to　within　a　+/-　0.2　mm,　which　is　less　than　the　printed　layer　thickness.　Design/methodology/approach　First,　the　model　of　the　forward　and　inverse　solutions　of　the　parallel　arm　is　obtained　based　on　the　principles　of　vector　algebra.　Second,　the　automatic　leveling　mechanism　for　collecting　the　z-coordinate　is　designed.　The　best　position　of　the　virtual　origin　plane　is　obtained　by　comparing　the　z-coordinates　of　the　test　points.　Finally,　after　making　multiple　adjustments　through　a　closed-loop　z-coordinate　feedback,　the　parallelism　of　the　printing　plane　and　the　virtual　origin　plane　is　limited　to　an　effective　range.　Findings　The　experimental　results　show　that　after　three　leveling　attempts,　the　z-coordinate　of　the　test　points　can　be　constrained　to　within　a　+/-　0.2　mm,　which　shows　that　this　method　can　effectively　achieve　automatic　leveling　in　a　delta　three-dimensional　(3D)　printer.　Originality/value　This　study　presents　a　novel　and　distinctive　delta　3D　printer　leveling　system　by　designing　a　leveling　mechanism　and　a　leveling　algorithm.　The　method　uses　a　closed-loop　feedback　mode　to　make　the　leveling　process　simple,　convenient　and　efficient　without　requiring　major　changes　to　the　printer.　The　error　after　leveling　is　less　than　the　printed　layer　thickness,　which　fully　guarantees　the　accuracy　of　the　leveling　process.