The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere

Good morning, the filament seems to be out of stock in the whole world....does someone know if it is an abbandoned project? In case how to know when will it be available again?

Thanks
Andrea

achrn

Yes it's out everywhere. I've been looking for it since about July, though with reducing levels of effort, which is now sporadic at best. I understand the delay is to do with production of the casing.

However, since I disabled the optical filament sensor on my Prusa when I was doing a lot of clear and black PETG (neither of which it liked), and I don't particularly miss it, I might never get round to putting one on the other printer (which is supposedly waiting for the rotating magnetic). It has a microswitch pesent/absent already, and that's most of the required functionality.

@achrn said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

Yes it's out everywhere. I've been looking for it since about July, though with reducing levels of effort, which is now sporadic at best. I understand the delay is to do with production of the casing.

However, since I disabled the optical filament sensor on my Prusa when I was doing a lot of clear and black PETG (neither of which it liked), and I don't particularly miss it, I might never get round to putting one on the other printer (which is supposedly waiting for the rotating magnetic). It has a microswitch pesent/absent already, and that's most of the required functionality.

would it be possible to use a switch as a filament sensor? I own some sensors with three wires, S, V, G of course just to monitor the presence/absence of filament...

achrn

@the_dragonlord said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

would it be possible to use a switch as a filament sensor? I own some sensors with three wires, S, V, G of course just to monitor the presence/absence of filament...

Yes, I have a microswitch with a roller on a lever snapped into a small print that fits over a stub of PTFE tube sticking out from the extruder.

There are numerous of these on thingiverse, e.g. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2577717 but the one I tried (that one) didn't hold the microswitch I had in quite the right place, so it didn't trigger.

So I rolled my own, which is ugly, slightly fudged in places, but highly parameterised and works for me. You're welcome to the files, though they are offered without any support or warranty:
runout_sensor.scad
runout_sensor.stl

If your extruder moves around (mine doesn't) you might want a more securely located switch mount.

@achrn said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

@the_dragonlord said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

would it be possible to use a switch as a filament sensor? I own some sensors with three wires, S, V, G of course just to monitor the presence/absence of filament...

Yes, I have a microswitch with a roller on a lever snapped into a small print that fits over a stub of PTFE tube sticking out from the extruder.

There are numerous of these on thingiverse, e.g. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2577717 but the one I tried (that one) didn't hold the microswitch I had in quite the right place, so it didn't trigger.

So I rolled my own, which is ugly, slightly fudged in places, but highly parameterised and works for me. You're welcome to the files, though they are offered without any support or warranty:
runout_sensor.scad
runout_sensor.stl

If your extruder moves around (mine doesn't) you might want a more securely located switch mount.

what's the gcode to add to the firmware to configure and make the sensor work? even to configure the pause in event of run out

achrn

@the_dragonlord said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

what's the gcode to add to the firmware to configure and make the sensor work? even to configure the pause in event of run out

M591

I use

M591 D0 P2 C"io8.in" S1

because my switch is wired to pull input 'io8.in' low when the filament is present, but it will depend what firmware and hardware you're running - see the description at https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Gcode#Section_M591_Configure_filament_sensing

@achrn said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

@the_dragonlord said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

what's the gcode to add to the firmware to configure and make the sensor work? even to configure the pause in event of run out

M591

I use
M591 D0 P2 C"io8.in" S1
because my switch is wired to pull input 'io8.in' low when the filament is present, but it will depend what firmware and hardware you're running - see the description at https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Gcode#Section_M591_Configure_filament_sensing

excellent my friend, thanks!

fcwilt

@the_dragonlord said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

would it be possible to use a switch as a filament sensor?

Yes but it only tells you if the filament has broken or run out.

The failure of filament to feed is of importance and thus the existence of sensors like the laser and rotating magnet designs.

But I imagine you already know all that.

Frederick

@fcwilt said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

@the_dragonlord said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

would it be possible to use a switch as a filament sensor?

Yes but it only tells you if the filament has broken or run out.

The failure of filament to feed is of importance and thus the existence of sensors like the laser and rotating magnet designs.

But I imagine you already know all that.

Frederick

sure, infact I'll use a simple switch only for the time needed for the magnet sensor to be available again

fcwilt

@the_dragonlord

A while back I ordered two but they only had one.

So like everyone else I wait...

and wait...

Frederick

dc42

We were all set up to move to an improved injection-molded housing for the magnetic filament monitor. Then COVID struck, and the supplier concerned has quite reasonably decided to devote its resources to making PPE instead.

@dc42 said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

We were all set up to move to an improved injection-molded housing for the magnetic filament monitor. Then COVID struck, and the supplier concerned has quite reasonably decide to devote its resources to making PPE instead.

uh, ok... but have you got a reasonably forecast for the time needed to the device for be delivered again? are we talking about days, weeks, months or no forecast at all?

fcwilt

@dc42 said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

supplier concerned has quite reasonably decide to devote its resources to making PPE instead.

PPE? Have no idea what that is but it must be important.

Stupid virus - mucking everything up - in protest I'm going to refuse to get sick - I'll show that virus who's boss.

Frederick

achrn

@fcwilt said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

PPE? Have no idea what that is but it must be important.

Personal Protective Equipment - something worn by an individual to protect that individual.
Previously mostly commonly referring to stuff in industry or construction guarding against physical injury (steel toe-cap boots, helmet, safety glasses, etc) more recently most used with reference to infection control (masks, visors, gloves etc). Used somewhat loosely - face coverings are not for the benefit of the wearer.

Phaedrux

And here I thought it was poly propylene elastomer.

@Phaedrux said in The rotating magnet filament monitor is out of stock eveywhere:

And here I thought it was poly propylene elastomer.

I think it stands for Personal Protection Equipment----

Phaedrux

@the_dragonlord I think you're right.

IOIIOOO

@dc42 Is there an option to just buy the electronics in the meantime and print our own less-fancy housing?

elmoret

We have a few sets of housingless MFMs at Filastruder, drop an email at support@filastruder.com.