Use IR probe as filament switch?
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I'd need a small and reliable filament switch to mount it under a screw extruder (VDE100) and thought of an optical switch or the IR probe.
Has anyone done that and wants to share the experience? -
@o_lampe Prusa used an IR sensor for a while, and Duet had the laser filament monitor, but the main problem is inconsistent readings from these on different filament types. Mechanical switches and filament monitors have proved more reliable.
Ian
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@o_lampe rq3 also developed an LED driven filament sensor that allegedly (I never used it myself) works better than the usual IR approach especially with filaments like PETG which are invisible to IR.
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@oliof I think, I try to use a microswitch, because a precise filament position isn't critical for me. I'll have to purge the nozzle after the tool change anyway.
It may even work without any switch, just by measuring the required retraction length. -
@o_lampe if you just want to know whether the filament is loaded, you can try using stall detection on the extruder for that.
