Which firmware to use?
Hi everyone,
I'm currently in the process of doing a DIY upgrade of my MK3 extruder to the 3S extruder. I want to use the filament sensor that I already have (the black board sensor) which according to the manual (E-axis assembly - Step 20) should be fine.
However, I'm unsure which firmware I should then be using. Should it be the MK3 firmware, as the electronics won't have changed? Or should I use the MK3S firmware as the mechanics of the extruder are now a MK3S? Or should I just give up all hope of using a black board sensor and order a new red one from the store?
RE: Which firmware to use?
You say you want to use the (black) filament sensor you already have.
If that filament sensor was mounted in your MK3 then you cannot use it for MK3S because it works in a different way.
But if you have purchased an MK3S filament sensor that you intend to use, then you should use firmware for MK3S.
Bear MK3 with Bondtech extruder
RE:
As far as I can tell, the filament sensor doesn't work in a different way at all though. In both MK3 and MK3S the sensor fires an IR beam that when broken tells the printer that filament is present. The only difference is that in the MK3 the IR beam is broken by the filament itself, rather than a small black lever as is the case with the 3S.
Equally, the instructions for the E-axis state:
Your package includes IR-sensor with black or red PCB. The red is a new version with some hardware optimisations. Filament detection is the same on both.
Emphasis is mine.
There is also someone in the comments section of step 20 that states they received a black sensor. Support told them it was fine to use the black one, but that then returns me to my original question of which firmware to use with it.
RE: Which firmware to use?
And I mention it again, that you cannot use a filament sensor from an MK3 to an MK3S.
The sensor in the MK3 is a laser sensor that immediately detects if the filament is moving. On the MK3S, the filament thread affects a rocker that breaks a beam of light.
Therefore, it is not possible to mount a sensor from MK3 in an MK3S because they are physically different.
On the other hand, there is a red and a black sensor for the MK3S that must not be confused with an MK3 sensor.
Bear MK3 with Bondtech extruder
RE: Which firmware to use?
MK3 and MK3S Filament sensors.
Bear MK3 with Bondtech extruder
RE: Which firmware to use?
Ahh! That image clears up my confusion. Thanks for that. New sensor it is then.