Z calibration failure
Hi everyone,
I'm working with Prusa support in this issue, but due to the time difference, it's taking a while, so I thought I would try here as well. I bought my MK3S prebuilt and it's been working perfectly for a couple of years. However, it failed on the leveling step when I tried to print something earlier this week. I've flashed the firmware to the newest version and done a factory reset. I've also tested the PINDA sensor and it goes from 0 to 1 when something metal is near it. I tried to go through the wizard to recalibrate everything and it fails at the first point of the Z calibration every time. Here's a video of what's going on:
Customer support suggested that I lower the sensor and I even lowered it to the point that it's even with the hot end and it's still giving the error. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I'm currently stuck on a project reassuring to get this issue taken care of!
Thanks!
RE: Z calibration failure
hi, that looks like a Pinda issue.
if you hold a piece metal against the pinda, the lcd display should show 1. if you now wiggle the cable bundle behind the extruder, the pinda display should still say 1
if the pinda display toggles between 1 and 0, when you move the cable bundle, then your pinda cable has age/work hardened and fractured inside the insulation.
if this is the case, 
you can replace the damaged section... and get working whilst you wait for a replacement. ~
regards 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: Z calibration failure
Great, thanks, Joan! I'll give this a shot!
RE: Z calibration failure
Thanks for the advice. However, it doesn't seem to have helped. I tried moving the cable around and didn't notice any flickering in the 0/1 setting of the PINDA sensor. I tried soldering a replacement wire anyway just to try it and it didn't help. I'm still getting the same behavior on the Z axis calibration and the sensor is still behaving as expected.
RE: Z calibration failure
In your movie you see, on printer screen,
mk3s firmware on a mk3 printer, check this.
RE: Z calibration failure
Thanks! I'll check that. In not sure if it's the issue, tough, as the problem popped up before I changed anything with the firmware.
RE: Z calibration failure
Ha! I let Prusa know that I had tried to isolate a bad PINDA cable as a possibility via the suggestion above and got this response:
Hello Rob,
i am sorry to inform you that we do not approve this type of modification to the printer parts and this unfortunately voids the warranty on this PINDA i'm afraid, and i honestly do not understand what was the reason for this as we are here to provide you solutions to any of your problems and when necessary send you replacements as we should be law.
Best regards / Cordialement / Mit freundlichen Grüßen
RE: Z calibration failure
Also, when I went flashed to the MK3 firmware, it passed the first point on the calibration and failed on the second, so that's progress. I have two new PINDA sensors on the way and I'll throw one in when they get here and see if I'm back in business.