Nextruder filament sensor / flexible filament
I can't get Filaflex40 to pass the filament sensor in the heatsink.
No problem to pass the side sensor.
Any idea what to do?
RE: Nextruder filament sensor / flexible filament
Well, after several attempts the filament gets through the heatsink sensor.
But the sensor does not activate loading the filament.
Using PLA there's no problem.
RE: Nextruder filament sensor / flexible filament
Hello, yes, this is a known problem. The filament is so soft that the force of the spring and ball of the Nextruder filament sensor compresses it to the point where it's in the off state. With this type of filament, you can deactivate the Nextruder filament sensor. Alternatively, you can switch to a mod with a magnet.
RE: Nextruder filament sensor / flexible filament
I'm printing rather soft TPE83A and everything works OK, but I have to pull the Teflon tube, cram the stuff through the sensor with my fingers right at the fitting, then replace the tube. It can't go around the bend and overcome the sensor. I should probably top-feed anyway, but this works for now.
RE: Nextruder filament sensor / flexible filament
There is probably some history to this -- but why is Prusa using the mechanical ball & spring sensor? Shouldn't an optical sensor do the job nicely, without exerting any mechanical force on the filament? Just an LED on one side of the filament path, photo-diode on the opposite side, and some apertures to define the light path.
I realize there are transparent filaments too, but they will strongly diffract the light. So a simple optical arrangement with slit apertures on both sides should work, I'd think.