FDM printed Magnetic Filament Sensor housing doesn't look good

BrideValley

Hi everyone, new Duet 3 Mini 5 owner here, currently building a Prusa i3 Bear. I was able to obtain a magnetic filament sensor recently from a reseller in Europe (I live in France) at what I thought was a decent price. Having received it, I'm concerned about the quality of the printed housing.

Having skimmed through this forum I'm aware that Duet3D are trying to source injection moulded housings but that there have been some delays. There's mention of the housing being resin printed in the dozuki documentation but the one I received is definitely FDM printed and it doesn't look great. So much so that I'm wondering if it's a far-Eastern knock-off. I don't want to mention the supplier in case my copy turns out to be genuine but I'd obviously like to know that my sensor is what I paid for.

So, my question is how do I tell if my sensor is genuine?

dc42

@bridevalley can you post some photos of the housing?

BrideValley

dc42

@bridevalley as you say that's definitely FDM printed. I don't think we have ever supplied FDM-printed housings, except perhaps when we shipped prototypes (and your PCB isn't a prototype); but I am checking with my colleagues.

BrideValley

Thanks @dc42, looking forward to finding out what you think...
It's reassuring to know that the PCB is genuine!

alankilian

@bridevalley I printed my own housing and I'd be happy to print one for you if we can find a way to get it to France inexpensively.

BrideValley

Thank you @alankilian , that's a most generous offer. I fancy having a go myself first though. I've already downloaded copies of the CAD files and will probably eventually incorporate some sort of attachment bracket to the top of my extruder so that the sensor isn't flopping about. As I run with reverse a Bowden then perhaps it can stay on the spool holder rather than be fixed to the extruder. I'll enjoy finding out!

My main concern and the reason for the original post was to make sure I was sent the genuine article. The earlier post from @dc42 confirms that the PCB is genuine. We wait to hear how the housing arrived as it did . . .

Thanks again for your kind offer.

alankilian

@bridevalley I learned that if I put the plastic part that holds the idler bearing and spring in upside-down that it works better. Otherwise, it wants to fall off the filament.

You might find the same thing.

BrideValley

@dc42 Any news on this?

Phaedrux

It's not an official housing, that's certain. It would have been something the seller chose to add. The PCB looks genuine.

Are you able to print your own replacement? Is it otherwise functional?

BrideValley

@phaedrux Thanks for the update. I do have a well tuned Prusa i3Mk3S so I can see how I get on with printing a new housing. I don't foresee any issues . . .

The sensor and my Duet 3 Mini 5+ are destined for a new machine that's currently being built so I won't be able to test it for a while.

I might write to the supplier to see if they have something to say about the housing - I assume they must have sourced the PCB from Duet3D?

Phaedrux

@bridevalley said in FDM printed Magnetic Filament Sensor housing doesn't look good:

I assume they must have sourced the PCB from Duet3D?

Possibly. Who is the seller?

BrideValley

@phaedrux https://hobby-store.co.uk/expansion-modules/magnetic-filament-sensor-duet3d.html

Phaedrux

Yes they are a genuine reseller.

BrideValley

@phaedrux Sorry to keep asking questions but can you tell from the photos if the PCB is the latest version? Thanks!

T3P3Tony

@bridevalley its v1.7a so yes the latest version.

BrideValley

@t3p3tony thanks