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IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)  

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jsada.xyz
(@jsada-xyz)
Active Member
IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)

Hi,

I updated my prusa i3 mk3 to the new mk3s with the mmu2s.
At the beginning it worked correctly (after some issues with the bed calibration).
Then I updated to firmware 3.7 (printer and mmu) and it stated having a strange behaviour and I downgraded to 3.6 again. But now the issue persists.

After many test I found that the IR sensor is working randomly. I calibrate it and it works perfectly on first load but when I unload the filament it stops working so when the next filament is loaded printer doesn't detect when it arrives to the sensor and mmu continues pushing filament infinitelly so printer extudes 0.4 filament (with an horrifing sound) until I force a reset. After the printer is reseted I need to unload the filament and calibrate the tower again.

How to reproduce it:
1- I calibrate the sensor as is described here ( https://help.prusa3d.com/article/wprwemqsmj-ir-filament-sensor-calibration )
2- I load any of the filaments on the mmu2s and everything works correctly (I saw all sensors in the correct status)
3- Load any other filament. MMU2s extrudes infinitelly
4- Reset printer.
5- Check sensors (IR Sensor has value 0)
6- Unload filament.
7- Check sensors (IR Sensor countiues having value 0)
8- Repeat from point 1.

At this point I don't know what I can try but the change of filament is imposible with or without the MMU2s

Any Idea?

Thank you.

Best Answer by jsada.xyz:

I just updated to the firmware 3.7.1 and now it is fixed 🙂

https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware/releases/tag/v3.7.1

Opublikowany : 05/04/2019 9:45 pm
Steve
(@steve)
Estimable Member
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)

I thought I also calibrated the IR sensor and figured everything worked well, but turned out that even the printer vibrations were enough to trigger the sensor and make the MMU stop feeding filament. I was looking elsewhere until I found a post talking about it and how scraping away some material from the lever made this more stable. It made a world of difference to me, perhaps this might also be the problem you're having? So in my case it was not technically possible to calibrate the IR sensor reliably with the procedure as described in the manual.

XL (5T) / MK4 / MK3S+-MMU3 / MK3S / MK2.5S-MMU2S / Mini / SL1S

Opublikowany : 06/04/2019 7:52 am
jsada.xyz
(@jsada-xyz)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)


I thought I also calibrated the IR sensor and figured everything worked well, but turned out that even the printer vibrations were enough to trigger the sensor and make the MMU stop feeding filament. I was looking elsewhere until I found a post talking about it and how scraping away some material from the lever made this more stable. It made a world of difference to me, perhaps this might also be the problem you're having? So in my case it was not technically possible to calibrate the IR sensor reliably with the procedure as described in the manual.

Thanks for your answer steve.g

My problem is just the oposite, the MMU doesn't stop feeding filament.
In any case for avoid discarting anything I tried your solution and It gotharder to calibrate the IR Sensor (I cutted a cuple of layers).

I tried unmounting the chimenei and triger the IR sensor with a allen key but it seems to be turned off and doesn't detect any change after load and unload the first filament. It seems to be working randomly.

Opublikowany : 06/04/2019 9:52 am
Steve
(@steve)
Estimable Member
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)


Thanks for your answer steve.g

My problem is just the oposite, the MMU doesn't stop feeding filament.
In any case for avoid discarting anything I tried your solution and It gotharder to calibrate the IR Sensor (I cutted a cuple of layers).

I tried unmounting the chimenei and triger the IR sensor with a allen key but it seems to be turned off and doesn't detect any change after load and unload the first filament. It seems to be working randomly.

This is probably also related to the IR sensor, but the other way around: it's most likely not being triggered instead of too much.
Cutting material is definitely not a solution then, you need the opposite.
Have you looked on the printer in the Support menu to Sensor Info. Does the IR ever switch from 0 to 1 when you feed it filament? If not you have to look into the Calibration of the IR in the manual (section 7.1). I prefer doing it with filament instead of that alan key, but to each his own.

XL (5T) / MK4 / MK3S+-MMU3 / MK3S / MK2.5S-MMU2S / Mini / SL1S

Opublikowany : 06/04/2019 10:58 am
jsada.xyz
(@jsada-xyz)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)

Hi steve.g

I have been touching many things and I found something interesting.

I was able to calibrate the IR sensor but depending the tension on some screws the sensor works better (both screws in the chimenei and extruder idler one).

I adjusted everything in a way that I can check (in support -> sensors) that IR is correctly triggered when I insert a piece of filament (as you suggested) and it seem to work.

The current problem is the extruder idler screw needs to be with a very low tension and the printer is under extruding.

I suppose it can be result of the modification I did in the piece so I will try to print the piece again and recheck everything.

Other things I tried:
- Check connections to the EINSY (principally IR sensor)
- Recalibrate F.I.N.D.A
- MMU2s factory reset.

I will write you back when I recheck everything with the new part.

Thank you.

Opublikowany : 06/04/2019 12:58 pm
jsada.xyz
(@jsada-xyz)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)

Hi,
Finally I reprinted the "extruder-idler-mmu2s" and calibrated again the IR sensor. It seems to be working now. My original piece came on the "UPGRADE MMU2 to MMU2S with printed parts" kit, I don't know if it could be realted.

After trying to many things I don't know where was exactly the problem. If someone has any similar problem I recommend:

1 - Check the connections with "EINSY RAMBo" - https://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/8.+Electronics+assembly/1052?lang=en
2 - Re-print "extruder-idler-mmu2s" and change - https://www.prusa3d.com/downloads/others/MMU2toMMU2S_upgrade_stl.zip
3 - Re-calibrate IR Sensor with a piece of filament - https://help.prusa3d.com/article/wprwemqsmj-ir-filament-sensor-calibration
5- Re-calibrate F.I.N.D.A - https://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/5.+Pulley+body+assembly/1040?lang=en
6 - Factory reset of MMU2s - https://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/Service+menu+-+Factory+Reset/871?lang=en

At this moment my mk3s + mmu2s is printing the test sheep. I will update the results.

Thank steve.g for your support.

UPDATE: Sheep finished perfect

Opublikowany : 06/04/2019 6:31 pm
jsada.xyz
(@jsada-xyz)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)

I said victory to early.

As you saw printer and mmu were working perfectly.

I decided to try again the firmware 3.7 and the problem raised again.

With the firmware 3.7 it gets stuck in a while:
- mmu2s loads filament to the extruder
- filament is detected by IR sensor
- mmu2s unloads filament
- repeat

So after try to calibrate IR sensor and factory reset mmu2s again I decided to downgrade to 3.6 because the printer was working.

Now I am having some problems with filament change again (I suppose it's related to calibration) but at least filament is loaded.

Could be something related to IR sensibility in the new firmware?

Thank you

Opublikowany : 07/04/2019 9:19 am
PJR
 PJR
(@pjr)
Antient Member Moderator
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)


With the firmware 3.7 it gets stuck in a while:
- mmu2s loads filament to the extruder
- filament is detected by IR sensor
- mmu2s unloads filament
- repeat

That's a firmware problem. I too have this and have reported it to the devs. Currently reverted to 3.6 which works fine for me.

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…

Opublikowany : 07/04/2019 10:27 am
jsada.xyz
(@jsada-xyz)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)

Hi Peter,

Thanks for your answer! It is good to know because I was getting crazy.
Do you know if there is any place where track the issue?

Thank you

Opublikowany : 07/04/2019 11:13 am
PJR
 PJR
(@pjr)
Antient Member Moderator
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)

Do you know if there is any place where track the issue?

Sorry, I don't. I find Github confusing, so I use other ways to let the devs know. It seemed to work for the fault I found in 3.7.0-RC1, so hopefully it will also work for this 😉

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…

Opublikowany : 07/04/2019 2:01 pm
Peel
 Peel
(@peel)
Eminent Member
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)


Hi Peter,

Thanks for your answer! It is good to know because I was getting crazy.
Do you know if there is any place where track the issue?

Thank you

One of these looks to be your issue on Github (not sure if they are the same problem or not):
https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware/issues/1689
https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware/issues/1700

Opublikowany : 10/04/2019 1:47 am
PJR
 PJR
(@pjr)
Antient Member Moderator
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)


One of these looks to be your issue on Github (not sure if they are the same problem or not):
https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware/issues/1689
https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware/issues/1700

They are similar issues, but the first definitely relates to the new method for preventing missed layers.

3.7.0 behaviour is for MMU to load Bondtech and trigger IR sensor, Bondtech loads 50mm then unloads 45mm and the sensor is checked to ensure filament is present. If not, only a single retry occurs.

Good in theory, but in practice, unfortunately it's a fail. Especially because the subsequent code ignores the MMU error condition and continues to print without filament 🙁

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…

Opublikowany : 10/04/2019 9:29 am
richard.l
(@richard-l)
Member Moderator
Re: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)

3.7.0 behaviour is for MMU to load Bondtech and trigger IR sensor, Bondtech loads 50mm then unloads 45mm and the sensor is checked to ensure filament is present. If not, only a single retry occurs.

Good in theory, but in practice, unfortunately it's a fail. Especially because the subsequent code ignores the MMU error condition and continues to print without filament 🙁

Peter

And...this just happened to me. Nothing but issues since I upgraded to the MMU2s and 3.7.0. Had my MMU dialed in and working beautifully and decided to upgrade. When am I going to learn to leave things that are working alone. 🙁

Opublikowany : 10/04/2019 3:15 pm
jsada.xyz
(@jsada-xyz)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: IR filament sensor stops working (mk3s + mmu2s)

I just updated to the firmware 3.7.1 and now it is fixed 🙂

https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware/releases/tag/v3.7.1

Opublikowany : 15/05/2019 5:45 pm
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