Fitted a BTT smart filament switch/sensor to the Zero, but noted whilst I was in the process of doing so that I was unable to find dedicated info regarding the Zero on the subject, so thought I’d post this here incase it comes in useful for anyone else considering doing so. Apologies if I’ve overlooked/missed information already available.
Printed this bracket for fitting the sensor.
Wiring wise, the switch connector, I placed in the socket where the exisiting filament switch was plugged in, and the motion sensor I used the socket next to that, (which is unused), for the motion sensor plug.
Changes I made to printer.cfg in order to get it working. This may still need a tad of tweaking, but it appears to be working fine currently. I based this on the example configuration from BTT.
Nicely done! Thanks for posting this to help those who may want to add the BTT run out sensor. It’s in my Amazon Saved For Later list, but I’d get it to use at the top of my pyramidal insulated top for the Zero, but I’m waiting to get my SV08 upgraded so I can print the top for the Zero in one piece.
Just hope it saves someone a hour or two of searching around online, & having that moment of trepidation when the printer is powered on, wondering whether it’s going to work else go pop. It seems quite a nice sensor. I’ve tested it on both runout & movement, & it appears to pick both conditions up fine.
There’s also a good length of cable on the supplied loom, as this photo shows, where I’ve had to bundle it, (the green cable ties), so the sensor has enough cable to be placed elsewhere.
I installed one on my Zero just this past weekend. Used the same connectors.
A note on the motion sensor, you may need to disable it in Mainsail when printing TPU/TPE. I printed a part in TPU the next day, and after three pauses from tripping the motion sensor, turned it off for the rest of the print. Works fine with “hard” filaments.
I use a default of 4.88, so slightly more than double the trigger distance.
Issue is that TPU stretches when there’s any drag at all, and apparently in my case, it stretched more than the trigger value.
I could set the trigger length larger, but that has negative affects on recovery. I’ve yet to see any way to programatically/dynamically change the trigger value using the filament gcode, so for now, I just disable the motion sensor when printing TPU.
I’ve upped mine to 5.99, & currently testing it on that. I noted with a print which included a lot of fine verticals, it kept tripping the movement sensor at the previous setting.
I have also replaced the back panel screws with thumbscrews, to make removal easier when I inevitably want to add/modify something else. Tried nickel plated ones initially, but not fussed on those, so resorted to my preference of brass. M3, 10mm thread length.
@Matt I was inspired by your update to thumbscrews, that lime green is nice contrast with the brass thumbscrews! I ended up using these non brass slightly larger thumbscrews.
Side note, I use the stock spool holder quite a bit for the small 250g filament sample rolls. I found that the thumbscrews I chose extend just past the base of the stock spool holder and grabs the spool samples roll I’ll be working on finding or making a extender for the base of the stock spool holder. A side mount for the stock holder is a option, I prefer the stock location due to my setup.
Really nice addition, helps with cleaning and regular maintenance, thanks again for sharing!
Cheers,
-Mike
Not much room to capture the full picture, and for sure not as cool as the lime green and brass, but works well enough.
Looks good. I was tempted to get diamond knurled heads, but went with the straight knurl, as they were the only ones I could find with the domed tops.
They’re much easier to insert/remove than the Allen head screws, aren’t they.
With regards filament feed, mine has the side mount spoolholder, but I’ve not fitted that. Instead, I have separate to the unit spool rollers, & then I’ve fitted an inlet for the filament to the bottom corner of the enclosure. I’ll take a photo of the setup shortly. I find the spool rollers have less drag than the traditional spool holders.
The tube feeds straight to the BTT sensor. The bracket for that, (simply a bog standard right angle metal bracket as used on kitchen cabinets & such, hole drilled out to 6mm for that joiner), simply attaches to the case at one of the screw points, so it can be positioned anywhere on the case.
Thanks for sharing @Matt, really a nice clean straight forward setup. I’ve never seen a joiner with a brass intake like that before, is that brass intake also custom?
For completeness, the stock panel fasteners are M3x10, but I already had some M3x8 and those are just barely long enough. M3x6 are too short, as there are two recessed taps along the bottom strut that dictate the minimum length.
Did a TPU print on a Zero, earlier this morning. First time using TPU, but also used it as a test of the timing for that motion sensor, with it being mentioned that TPU can trigger it. Printed this grommet, for the SV08 max enclosure.
Decided to print a couple more. This second print took just over one hour. Current setting is 5.99 for the motion sensor. No false pause occured, on either print, so it appears it’s happy at that number.
When I had it set at 4.99, I found one print where the motion sensor triggered, (using PETG on that print), due to a lot of fine verticals, but had no problem there since on the 5.99 setting either.
It seems quite a nice sensor. I’ve tested it on both runout & movement, & it appears to pick both conditions up fine.
I’ll be working on finding or making a extender for the base of the stock spool holder. A side mount for the stock holder is a option, I prefer the stock location due to my setup.
I was tempted to get diamond knurled heads, but went with the straight knurl, as they were the only ones I could find with the domed tops.
