Calibration and the PINDA
I recently ordered the MK2 and am in the process of trying to calibrate it, but am having issues. I believe the heart of my current issue is that I'm having trouble understanding how the PINDA is intended to work with respect to the nozzle. I have the back end of the PINDA aligned with the little shelf its cable runs through on the extruder mount, but this means the tip of the PINDA is slightly above the nozzle. This is causing the printer to drive the nozzle into the heat bed.
My question is, is the tip of the PINDA probe meant to be above, below, or at the same level as the nozzle?
I would also like to know, generally speaking, what purpose does the PINDA serve, and how does it accomplish that function? I assume it is to prevent collisions between the nozzle and heat bed, but if the tip of the PINDA is supposed to be above the nozzle, how does it function to prevent collisions with the heat bed? And if it isn't intended to prevent collisions, why is my nozzle being driven into the heat bed?
Re: Calibration and the PINDA
Hi Jordan
The probe is an induction sensor which triggers on 9 inserts in the bed and acts as the Z end stop. It should be about 1mm higher than the nozzle.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: Calibration and the PINDA
What software version does your printer run? Did you run selftest and calibration process?
Re: Calibration and the PINDA
The printer is running version 3.0.6. I have run the selftest, everything is reported as being OK. I have tried running the XYZ Calibration and the Z Calibration. The Z Calibration passes pretty regularly, but the XYZ Calibration test has been inconsistent in its failures. But occasionally while running either calibration test, the PINDA probe doesn't seem to register that it has impacted or is about to impact the heat bed, and the Z axis motors will drive the nozzle into the heat bed. My frustration is that it's wildly inconsistent. It'll occur maybe once out of every five tests. Is it possible that the PINDA's inconsistency is that it's damaged in some way, resulting in its inconsistent behavior, or is my Y axis so far off that the PINDA probe is physically incapable of detecting the board?
Thank you for your help!
Re: Calibration and the PINDA
The probe can't detect the heatbed (in whole area). It only detects special inserts in probing points. XYZ calibration is there to find out exact positions of those inserts. If the nozzle hits the bed during this calibration, it could be because the probe is too high relative to the nozzle.
Re: Calibration and the PINDA
Ah, that must be the heart of my problem. Thanks again for your help!
Re: Calibration and the PINDA
> The printer is running version 3.0.6. I have run the selftest, everything is reported as being OK. I have tried running the XYZ Calibration and the Z Calibration. The Z Calibration passes pretty regularly, but the XYZ Calibration test has been inconsistent in its failures. But occasionally while running either calibration test, the PINDA probe doesn't seem to register that it has impacted or is about to impact the heat bed, and the Z axis motors will drive the nozzle into the heat bed. My frustration is that it's wildly inconsistent. It'll occur maybe once out of every five tests. Is it possible that the PINDA's inconsistency is that it's damaged in some way, resulting in its inconsistent behavior, or is my Y axis so far off that the PINDA probe is physically incapable of detecting the board?
It may be both. The PINDA probe or its cable may be bad, or more likely, there is some mechanical problem with the printer. For example, isn't the Y pulley slipping? Very often a failing XYZ calibration indicates such a problem in assembly.
Did you follow the instructions relating to the XYZ calibration error message?
http://help.prusa3d.com/mk2-movement-calibration/calibrate-x-y-info-and-errors
Vojtech
Re: Calibration and the PINDA
My Mk2 printed well for a couple of weeks but I did notice the Pinda probe was faintly brushing the print, which was not a problem.
Lately I have found that the Pinda is hitting the print and disturbing it, making it impossible to start a print. When I raise the Pinda, the head drives into the heat bed during calibration.
I have just noticed in the comments below that there are special inserts in the print bed.
Looking at my printer bed there is dotted circle on the front left side, and when I home the print head the Pinda is not quite in the circle, see photo.
Is this correct? How can I adjust the bed or Pinda position?
Re: Calibration and the PINDA
Mike
Run the XYZ calibration from the Calibration menu; the probe should be about 1mm higher than the nozzle; adjust that first then calibrate.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…