Changing MINDA probe for BL touch?  

RE: Changing MINDA probe for BL touch?

I am not expert tinkerer and probably won't help with problem of fluctuating first layer - but if you need to adjust to -2 mm, your MINDA probe is too low, Re-adjust it to height of let's say credit card. Live Z should be around 1 mm, not 2. Here's how: https://help.prusa3d.com/en/guide/how-to-replace-a-heaterblock-heatbreak-mini_122769#154290 Step 26.

RE:

Posted by: @salvinor

Hi there,

I hope some experienced tinkerer can help me out.

Unfortunately, I too have the "first layer height constantly needs readjusting" problem.
Somtimes I even would have to go past -2.0 mm adjustment which isn't possible.

I'm pretty annoyed to calibrate 1st layer EVERY TIME.
Not even a sub 200$ printer needs this.

I have the MK3S as well and although I really like its little brother Mini there are some very obnoxious flaws which really mar the 3D printing experience.

There are at least 3 ongoing threads in the forums, one opened 9 months ago and still there seems to be no real solution to the problem but always just workarounds.

So since I own an Artillery Genius with added BL Touch I'd really like to install a BL touch to the Mini as well.
This would make for perfect leveling, heat wouldn't affect it and I could use non-metal build plates like glass, FR4, etc.

Can anybody tell me if I could swap the MINDA out with the BL touch?

First and foremost: can I use the MINDA connector on the mainboard?
Does it maybe need some resistors/capacitors/whatever to make it usable?

I have an original spare BL touch lying around and would really like to try.

Obviously some firmware changes would be needed and I'd surely have to break the "warranty void" circuit breaker to flash the custom firmware.

I don't care as long as mesh bed leveling works properly.
I want the Mini to reach the same level as the MK3S in where you can just hit "print", go away some hours and pluck the finished model from the bed.

So how would I go about installing the BL Touch to the Mini?

Any help would be highly appreciated.

Did you find out? I'm having the same problem...for me it just slowly drifts -0.2mm per print until it hits 0. Pinda mount isn't loose, heatbreak grub screw isn't loose, when I pre-heat the bed (for MBL) I keep the Pinda far away (so the heat doesn't affect its accuracy)...I'm pulling my hair out, this is so stupid. Meanwhile, my original ender 3 with BLtouch is still going strong.

Posted by: @crawlerin

I am not expert tinkerer and probably won't help with problem of fluctuating first layer - but if you need to adjust to -2 mm, your MINDA probe is too low, Re-adjust it to height of let's say credit card. Live Z should be around 1 mm, not 2. Here's how: https://help.prusa3d.com/en/guide/how-to-replace-a-heaterblock-heatbreak-mini_122769#154290 Step 26.

Did you even read the post. The problem isn't the probe being too low/high, it's the fact that it constantly needs readjusting (every print) till it eventually reaches one end of the extreme and you can no longer compensate for it anymore.

RE: Changing MINDA probe for BL touch?

Your X axe is not parallel to the heat bed. This is why you get so big numbers. Less than +- 0,1mm is hard to achive, since as soon as you try to tighten screws, it can move a bit. 
check aligment manual for mini.

RE: Changing MINDA probe for BL touch?

Have you contacted Prusa support via chat? I can't tell you what the issue is, but I can tell you it is abnormal for this printer. I have had my Prusa Mini for two and a half years now and the layer height has stayed the same for months since I did the Superpinda upgrade. I rebuilt the crudded up hot with a new heat block and sensors and after adjusting it once it has stayed the same since. Contact Prusa support via chat and see what they suggest. About the only maintenance I have had to do is replace the PTFE tube in the hot end occasionally. After adding a silicone sock, the hot end no longer gets crudded up. So, for me and many others, it is quite stable and "just prints".

Regards,

Mark

RE: Changing MINDA probe for BL touch?

I switched from MINDA to the SuperPinda probe on the Mini and it never has bed leveling issues and runs about 5 times faster than a BLTouch on a creality printer, all while being more accurate. I'd try really hard to get the Pinda probe to work, and only use the BLTouch, if there is absolutely no other way.