Z probes compatible with BuildTak magnetic system

fcwilt

Hi,

I was wanting to try the BuildTak build surface system on my printer but I don't think my BLTouch probe would like the magnetic field from the BuildTak.

Anyone with experience with the BuildTak system and what Z probes will work well?

Thanks.

Frederick

droftarts

There's a guide for that! https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Choosing_a_Z_probe

Ian

droftarts

For the DC42 IR sensor, @dc42 says here https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com/mini-height-sensor-board/

BuildTak: the dark grey variant works well with the sensor. I have not tested the white variant, but it should work too.

IR sensor works well for me, with Kapton on 3mm glass on sheet of black paper on red heatbed PCB. Offset is X20 and is about 1mm higher than the nozzle, though could do with being about 1mm higher, as can catch on prints that warp badly.

Ian

mloidl

@fcwilt

I have a magnetic build plate (not from buildtak) in use with a BL-Touch without problems so far

fcwilt

@mloidl said in Z probes compatible with BuildTak magnetic system:

@fcwilt

I have a magnetic build plate (not from buildtak) in use with a BL-Touch without problems so far

That's interesting. I would have thought given the nature of the BLTouch that a local magnetic field could cause problems.

Well since I have a backup plan (the IR sensor) no reason not to try the BuildTak system.

Thanks.

Frederick

zapta

@mloidl said in Z probes compatible with BuildTak magnetic system:

I have a magnetic build plate (not from buildtak) in use with a BL-Touch without problems so far

Same here. No problem whatsoever.

fcwilt

@zapta said in Z probes compatible with BuildTak magnetic system:

@mloidl said in Z probes compatible with BuildTak magnetic system:

I have a magnetic build plate (not from buildtak) in use with a BL-Touch without problems so far

Same here. No problem whatsoever.

Well that is good to hear. Thank you for responding.

Frederick

Phaedrux

It really depends on what kind of magnets are being used for the magnetic surface. A lot of them seem to use the fridge magnet like material that has a rather weak field. However some of them use strong magnets embedded into the plate. Those would likely prove a problem for the BLTouch if you tried to probe near the magnet itself. I think this was actually an issue on the early railcore printers.

fcwilt

@Phaedrux said in Z probes compatible with BuildTak magnetic system:

It really depends on what kind of magnets are being used for the magnetic surface. A lot of them seem to use the fridge magnet like material that has a rather weak field. However some of them use strong magnets embedded into the plate.

Well the magnets in this thing are strong and there are a lot of them covering a good deal of the area.

I have several of the Mini IR Sense units on hand so I can try those as well.

Plus I have some STL files for a device using one of those common slotted beam break sensors and a tiny servo to control the pin.

I would like the Mini IR to work as it has no moving parts - nothing to wear out.

Frederick

Phaedrux

The IR sensor is great if the bed surface is suitable.

A Former User

using bltouch on ender5 (creality buildtalk magnetic surface) and it works great, both original v3.0, and bunch of PRC clones (some black, some white ones, some with 5v/3v selector like old versions, some like 3.0 open drain) ...

since this material is made out of magnet strips it has very strong magnetic field very close to the bed but away from bed the field is much weaker than normal, also on "other side" field is almost non existent.. so if you look at your bed, when you put the top magnet buildtak cover it allines with the bottom one on top of it magnetic force is very very small ..

if you are interested in how this work read about Halbach arrays .. ( here is a pretty good place to start)

zapta

@smece said in Z probes compatible with BuildTak magnetic system:

also on "other side" field is almost non existent.

This works well for those advertisement fridge magnets, they stick only with business details visible.

Apropos magnetic beds, some are advertised as 'high temperature' and should not permanently loose the magnetic properties when exposed to higher bed temperatures.

A Former User

@zapta said in Z probes compatible with BuildTak magnetic system:

This works well for those advertisement fridge magnets, they stick only with business details visible.

the creality magnetic bed looks & feels very similar to fridge magnet

Apropos magnetic beds, some are advertised as 'high temperature' and should not permanently loose the magnetic properties when exposed to higher bed temperatures.

I tested creality bed for 85C ~50 hours so far and 110C ~10 hours and it did not lose the magnetic properties ..

some Nd2Fe14B magnets I tried before to hold my metal sheet would weaken at 85C (petg) and lose magnetic properties almost completely at 110C (abs) so I was weary about usability of the creality bed for anything but PLA but the magnetic part looks like have no issue with it (there are other issues with ABS not sticking ok and PETG not releasing and tearing the bed) ...

anyhow, it does not affect the bltouch ...