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MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature  

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shawn.n2
(@shawn-n2)
New Member
MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature

Perhaps I am biased, I haven't had the filament sensor "save my bacon", but it has reported false positives somewhat regularly. I've blown out the dust, but every few hours it decides I'm out of filament.

I was excited that the 3.4.0 cited improvements, but It doesn't seem to be the case.

Continuing the job isn't possible when using Octoprint, and Octoprint is a better feature than "There's a 5% chance that maybe you're out of filament".

To be clear, I am not looking for help. I am just disabling it full time. This is feedback, rather than a support request.

In the future, let's save a few dollars on the MK4 and remove it. I am hoping that the mechanical one in the MMUv2 is more useful and I hope they can be enabled/disabled separately.

Posted : 03/10/2018 2:29 pm
Holger
(@holger-2)
Honorable Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature

you're not alone with that, many have a problem with it, me too.
But there are solutions:

https://shop.prusa3d.com/forum/general-discussion-announcements-and-releases-f61/do-you-want-your-filament-sensor-to-work-with-any--t23002.html

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3129921

shop.prusa3d.com/forum/benutzermodifikationen-octoprint-gehaeuse-duesen-%E2-f276/neues-filament-sensor-gehaeuse-t24920.html

greetings...

2x Personal MK3IR-BMG09 (Full) BEAR + MMU3 mod., ...

Posted : 03/10/2018 2:47 pm
Jay
 Jay
(@jay-11)
Eminent Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature

I skipped 3.4.0 and installed 3.4.1-RC1, it has the following changes: filament runout detection bug #1154 fixed, stealth mode bug #1152 fixed, "filament sensor response is poor, disable it?" feature temporarily disabled, statistics during active print bug #1151 fixed, OctoPrint "Printer reset detected" warning #1184 issue fixed.

Be aware this is only a Release Candidate, not a final version, so it's up to you if you want to try it or not. I've used it for several hours of printing and so far my filament sensor has worked perfectly.

You can download it from GitHub: https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware/releases/tag/v3.4.1-RC1

Posted : 03/10/2018 3:59 pm
nathan0876
(@nathan0876)
Estimable Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature

I agree, disabled mine too. Total waste of time.

They should remove it moving forward and just save the weight on the extruder assembly.

Posted : 03/10/2018 6:06 pm
chiark
(@chiark)
New Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature

I've had this problem with 3.4.0, but on resume the print head ploughed into the print. Thankfully I reset before it did damage to the printer!
Others seem to have had this problem, too...

Posted : 04/10/2018 4:20 pm
matteosacco
(@matteosacco)
Active Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature

Same problem here...

a lot of filament runout problem with the latest firmware .... very disappointed.

Posted : 07/10/2018 9:32 pm
The Plastic Shed
(@the-plastic-shed)
Estimable Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature

Mines been disabled from day one, based on what I've heard and read it will remain so. The mechanism used is inappropriate / inadequate, a two part optical sensor would have been a better option shining light across the tunnel, a correctly placed and adjusted microswitch could achieve a similar result. There are just too many variations in materials to consider a 'reflectivity' solution such as that used in optical mice (some of which won't work on certain surfaces for the same reasons the filament sensor won't).

It's a great idea but the implementation needs work.

Posted : 07/10/2018 10:31 pm
matteosacco
(@matteosacco)
Active Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature

If we disable the filament sensor , how we can feed the filament correctly without Autoload? Manually?

Posted : 08/10/2018 11:32 am
Jay
 Jay
(@jay-11)
Eminent Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature


If we disable the filament sensor , how we can feed the filament correctly without Autoload? Manually?

If you have to disable the filament sensor, you simply feed the filament in by hand until it meets resistance, then select Load Filament from the menu and it will begin loading.

Fortunately I'm not one of the few who've had problems with the filament sensor. I did however skip 3.4.0 since a lot of people like me who had perfectly functioning sensors before started having problems with the new Filament Sensor 2.0 engine. Firmware version 3.4.1 disabled one of the features that was causing the problem and has been working great so far.

Posted : 08/10/2018 3:35 pm
michael.m148
(@michael-m148)
Active Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature

I got my MK3 kit last week, had it assembled after about 3 evenings of work on it, the filament sensor has worked just fine for me, even with clear PETG (which is most of what I've printed so far.).

I do wonder if it would be good for Prusa to pack it even more carefully and increase the warnings about handing (including avoiding static discharge). Also I wonder if some people are in higher ambient light environments than me and the extruder doesn't keep outside light out enough?

Posted : 09/10/2018 1:38 am
Pathogen
(@pathogen)
Estimable Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature

I enjoyed flawless functionality from the sensor until it failed outright. Having said that, and reading this thread, I'm wondering what actually is the point of it? Surely not just to save pressing 'load filament'. Anyway the cost can't be much for it and I could see a filament sensor future version that can actually track the filament speed, and heck maybe even diameter variances.

Posted : 09/10/2018 2:09 am
michael.m148
(@michael-m148)
Active Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature

Well it is nice having the printer pause when filament runs out, so you can use up nearly all of a spool...

Posted : 09/10/2018 6:21 am
CybrSage
(@cybrsage)
Honorable Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature


I enjoyed flawless functionality from the sensor until it failed outright. Having said that, and reading this thread, I'm wondering what actually is the point of it? Surely not just to save pressing 'load filament'. Anyway the cost can't be much for it and I could see a filament sensor future version that can actually track the filament speed, and heck maybe even diameter variances.

I love not ruining a print when I run out of filament. I would upgrade to a better sensor, like the one you mentioned, in a heartbeat.

Posted : 09/10/2018 7:51 pm
Pathogen
(@pathogen)
Estimable Member
Re: MK3 FIlament Sensor is a non-feature


Well it is nice having the printer pause when filament runs out, so you can use up nearly all of a spool...

Yes that makes good sense. I've never let the spool get that low just because I saw that video of the MMU routine having all your low spools together for a big finale print. FUN!

Posted : 10/10/2018 10:35 am
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