side filament sensor ... why does it exist?
Hello,
I've had my C1+ for a week now. I'm not clear on the function of the side filament sensor. I can't find a description of what it's for. The only purpose I can see is that the filament can be pulled out of the PTFE tube again when it runs out. Or is there another deeper meaning that I don't understand?
RE: side filament sensor ... why does it exist?
The purpose is to immediately pause the printer when the end of the filament passes the sensor. In other words, the printer pauses when the filament spool is empty. This gives you a chance to add more filament without having to restart the print. Also for the C1+ and C1L there is a switch that disables a magnetic and allows you to more easily insert soft filaments likes TPU.
RE: side filament sensor ... why does it exist?
But then there's always some filament left over, right? Why isn't the sensor on the extruder used for that?
RE: side filament sensor ... why does it exist?
To save you the trouble of digging out the last piece of filament out of the extruder when switching to a new spool. When the side sensor works as intended it leaves you just enough filament sticking out to grab it and pull it out from the outside without opening the printer and extruder. There are a lot more options for screwing something up in the middle of a print if you have to do extruder surgery to get the last stump of filament out.
/Anders
RE: side filament sensor ... why does it exist?
My impression with the side sensor is that if the filament runs out and the end runs through the sensor and pauses the print, the end of the filament is now deep inside the sensor. It may be 12” from the Nextruder head, but it’s still buried and hard to get to. To change out that last 12” of filament you would have to remove the sensor and pull it off the Bowden tube.
Maybe I am missing something, but the Mk4S did not have this extra sensor, just the one directly on the top of the Nextruder, and it worked just fine.
So far this first filament sensor just seems to be there to detect when you first feed filament into the machine, so it will alert the software. I think Prusa could have saved time and money by eliminating it.
RE: side filament sensor ... why does it exist?
My impression with the side sensor is that if the filament runs out and the end runs through the sensor and pauses the print, the end of the filament is now deep inside the sensor. It may be 12” from the Nextruder head, but it’s still buried and hard to get to. To change out that last 12” of filament you would have to remove the sensor and pull it off the Bowden tube.
No, that is not necessary. The Nextruder will retract the filament and push it back just far enough to make it stick out of the side feeding tube a bit. You grab it there and pull it out.