MK3S upgrade and filament sensor is intermittent, ball needs to be pushed more
Had a MK3, bought the kit (print your own parts) to make it a MK3S.
I printed the parts with what I had on hand before the parts came in (esun black PETG). Printed 2 copies of the parts right from the gcode downloads.
https://www.prusa3d.com/prusa-i3-printable-parts/
Followed all the steps and got it back together and upgraded firmware to MK3S 3.6.
Everything seemed to work, but when I tried the filament sensor it was flakey. If I watch the status in the firmware. When you insert the filament the screen changes quickly from 0 to 1 and then back to 0. If I take curved filament and push the ball a little further it goes to a 1. But when I insert the filament further down into the PTFE tube the sensor goes back to 0.
Anyone else see this? It's like the IR sensor doesn't get blocked enough. Maybe it's the esun PETG. Printing a new set with the included prusa petg. Gonna try that soon too.
Re: MK3S upgrade and filament sensor is intermittent, ball needs to be pushed more
Have you flashed the correct version of firmware for the MK3S?
Re: MK3S upgrade and filament sensor is intermittent, ball needs to be pushed more
Yes, or at least I hope so. It WAS originally a MK3, and after doing the physical changes I flashed the MK3S firmware. It says it's a MK3S and 3.6.0.
I think that's the right firmware. Yes?
Re: MK3S upgrade and filament sensor is intermittent, ball needs to be pushed more
3.6.0 is the current release for the mk3s
Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
Re: MK3S upgrade and filament sensor is intermittent, ball needs to be pushed more
I have success. Used the supplied Prusa PETG and I'm good.
Originally I had printed my parts with esun black PETG (I have always used this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZAUQZTA/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ). And when I took my parts and put them together, printed with the downloadable gcode, it didn't work.
I powered up the filament sensor and assembled my parts with the esun PETG. And I watched the output pin. Problems. No filament 5V, insert the filament and the output drops to 0V and then right back to 5V. It's like it senses the filament but immediately thinks it's removed. If I wiggle the filament and push the ball more, it senses the filament. But not if the filament is straight into the hot end.
I printed out a set of the parts with the Prusa supplied PETG. Assembled the filament sensor and housing and tested and it works perfectly. I'm testing it on the bench. No extruder motor, just the housing and lever parts. Hooked up to a power supply and monitoring the output from the sensor using a voltmeter. But it works.
So what was my problem? I don't know.
Was it the prints I happened to make? The esun printed parts look physically ok. But was it the esun brand filament? I didn't see any damage, but maybe the brand of filament doesn't block the IR as much as prusa filament? The esun is very shiny and maybe reflective. Maybe.
Either way, downloaded their gcode and used their filament and it's all good. Weird.
Re: MK3S upgrade and filament sensor is intermittent, ball needs to be pushed more
I have success. Used the supplied Prusa PETG and I'm good.
Originally I had printed my parts with esun black PETG (I have always used this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZAUQZTA/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ). And when I took my parts and put them together, printed with the downloadable gcode, it didn't work.
I powered up the filament sensor and assembled my parts with the esun PETG. And I watched the output pin. Problems. No filament 5V, insert the filament and the output drops to 0V and then right back to 5V. It's like it senses the filament but immediately thinks it's removed. If I wiggle the filament and push the ball more, it senses the filament. But not if the filament is straight into the hot end.
I printed out a set of the parts with the Prusa supplied PETG. Assembled the filament sensor and housing and tested and it works perfectly. I'm testing it on the bench. No extruder motor, just the housing and lever parts. Hooked up to a power supply and monitoring the output from the sensor using a voltmeter. But it works.
So what was my problem? I don't know.
Was it the prints I happened to make? The esun printed parts look physically ok. But was it the esun brand filament? I didn't see any damage, but maybe the brand of filament doesn't block the IR as much as prusa filament? The esun is very shiny and maybe reflective. Maybe.
Either way, downloaded their gcode and used their filament and it's all good. Weird.
Possibly the esun PETG is not completly opaque to IR, it may look ok to the naked eye but not to the IR sensor.
Re: MK3S upgrade and filament sensor is intermittent, ball needs to be pushed more
Possibly the esun PETG is not completly opaque to IR, it may look ok to the naked eye but not to the IR sensor.
Very possible. I was also thinking that it's possible that it reflect that wavelength of light and could possibly bounce around inside the chamber and register enough.
So this is just a warning to others, stick with the prusa supplied roll. 🙂
Re: MK3S upgrade and filament sensor is intermittent, ball needs to be pushed more
Highly unlikely stray IR is an issue. IR sensors are rather robust, and even in shiny metal enclosures have a history of working rather well. Either the material is opaque, or it isn't. Unfortunately, the human eye is a very bad judge of "opaque."
Re: MK3S upgrade and filament sensor is intermittent, ball needs to be pushed more
many plastics are IR transparent. Hold a plastic bag in front of you and look in a thermal camera - it will see right through.
So that leaves it up to the additives in the plastic to make it non-transparent... and that's going to vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.