RE: newest INDX picture
You would most definitely need run out sensors. It would be even better if they were motorized as well. I can see this becoming a PITA. But then the other problem is that filaments that need to be printed from a dry box or a dryer also need an enclosed (and hot enough) chamber. I have a feeling after printing a few multicolor and multi-material projects I'm going to soon outgrow it. Especially if I don't have a functional 55° chamber.
RE: newest INDX picture
If you want the printer to push the rest of the filament back (so you can remove it), you would need a filament sensor right at the entry point to the PTFE tube. Otherwise one would have to disconnect the tube somewhere to get hold of the leftover filament.
For what it's worth, the "Kit Comparison" table on https://www.bondtech.se/indx-by-bondtech/ mentions that a "Runout Sensor" is part of the Core One INDX kit, but not of the generic "Development Kit". Which would suggest that it is an additional sensor, not just the one in the extruder itself? Well, wishful thinking maybe...
RE: newest INDX picture
If you want the printer to push the rest of the filament back (so you can remove it), you would need a filament sensor right at the entry point to the PTFE tube. Otherwise one would have to disconnect the tube somewhere to get hold of the leftover filament.
For what it's worth, the "Kit Comparison" table on https://www.bondtech.se/indx-by-bondtech/ mentions that a "Runout Sensor" is part of the Core One INDX kit, but not of the generic "Development Kit". Which would suggest that it is an additional sensor, not just the one in the extruder itself? Well, wishful thinking maybe...
I honestly think they'll have to have external sensors set up if they want to compete. Change over is a basic feature in all their competitors set ups, and one of the big benefits of mutli spool set ups. I'm wondering if they've finalized it yet though. Heres hoping for more info soon.
RE: newest INDX picture
If you want the printer to push the rest of the filament back (so you can remove it), you would need a filament sensor right at the entry point to the PTFE tube. Otherwise one would have to disconnect the tube somewhere to get hold of the leftover filament.
For what it's worth, the "Kit Comparison" table on https://www.bondtech.se/indx-by-bondtech/ mentions that a "Runout Sensor" is part of the Core One INDX kit, but not of the generic "Development Kit". Which would suggest that it is an additional sensor, not just the one in the extruder itself? Well, wishful thinking maybe...
I honestly think they'll have to have external sensors set up if they want to compete. Change over is a basic feature in all their competitors set ups, and one of the big benefits of mutli spool set ups. I'm wondering if they've finalized it yet though. Heres hoping for more info soon.
I think we all agree that the sensors are a must and the point made by Jürgen on recovering the run-out piece (that will be rather long in the INDX setup) is quite good as well. If Prusa want to do it right, it means a new expansion board that need to connect into the main board (or replace the expansion board) by adding the connections for 8 sensors. from there bringing the cables out would be the next challenge but not unsurmountable.
Given that some sort of new HW is anyway needed (the nextruder and the love board are gone, probably the whole cable tree as well) so another board is not a huge problem. I start to see why we do not see any updates to the FW... to implement this new stuff is a lot of work... and end of Q1 2026 is near...
RE: newest INDX picture
As @jurgen-7 says, it does say that runout sensor is provided in the Prusa kit, but I just cant see how they've implemented that without holes in the acrylic or steel frame....so maybe they are just referring to the one in the toolhead, but if that were the case then surely the dev-kit would also have that ?
My understanding is that there will only be minor, if any differences between the toolheads on the Prusa version vs the dev kit version. I guess the obvious differences will be wiring and cooling.
RE: newest INDX picture
I think we all agree that the sensors are a must and the point made by Jürgen on recovering the run-out piece (that will be rather long in the INDX setup) is quite good as well. If Prusa want to do it right, it means a new expansion board that need to connect into the main board (or replace the expansion board) by adding the connections for 8 sensors. from there bringing the cables out would be the next challenge but not unsurmountable.
Given that some sort of new HW is anyway needed (the nextruder and the love board are gone, probably the whole cable tree as well) so another board is not a huge problem. I start to see why we do not see any updates to the FW... to implement this new stuff is a lot of work... and end of Q1 2026 is near...
There are options for expansion already, though the expansion bits do need a bit of brains. The current xBuddy Expansion board is CAN BUS capable. According to the schematic (page 10) the transceiver should already be populated on the boards. The sensors would just need at most ATtiny class processors to communicate over CAN BUS. This is already a solved problem if one looks to the automotive industry. (Yes, I know integration is at least the second 80% of the work needed for implementation. 😉 I'm just pointing out it is possible without _completely_ reinventing the wheel.) How Prusa actually ends up cracking this nut is anyone's guess (who doesn't work on that team at Prussa, but I don't think they are talking).
I expect the existing connector/wire harness from the xBuddy board to the Love Board to be repurposed for the INDX active head. Maybe with some signal lines re-purposed, but that connection seems set.
See my (limited) designs on:
Printables - https://www.printables.com/@Sembazuru
Thingiverse - https://www.thingiverse.com/Sembazuru/designs
RE:
As @jurgen-7 says, it does say that runout sensor is provided in the Prusa kit, but I just cant see how they've implemented that without holes in the acrylic or steel frame....so maybe they are just referring to the one in the toolhead, but if that were the case then surely the dev-kit would also have that ?
My understanding is that there will only be minor, if any differences between the toolheads on the Prusa version vs the dev kit version. I guess the obvious differences will be wiring and cooling.
I saw a Prusa video on YouTube where they are replacing the rivets in some places with screw mounted brackets since the rivets are sitting in M3 holes. So there shouldn't be a need to get out a drill.
RE: newest INDX picture
Having a sensor for each spool is certainly a nice to have, but it isn't an absolute necessity. If the filament sensor is on the print head, then you can just check the filament after each tool change to see if the filament is present. All that is required is a way of sensing filament which doesn't obstruct tool changes, which is entirely possible.
RE: newest INDX picture
Having a sensor for each spool is certainly a nice to have, but it isn't an absolute necessity. If the filament sensor is on the print head, then you can just check the filament after each tool change to see if the filament is present. All that is required is a way of sensing filament which doesn't obstruct tool changes, which is entirely possible.
The problem with that though is if you have a run out, how will you retrieve the filament. The runout detection needs to be closer to the spool.