Auto bed leveling using piezo discs

thingiverse

Auto Bed Leveling using Piezo Electric Discs for High Sensitivity Update v 0.2! Now using a Single Piezo Disc Glued to the X-Carriage: I've attached a single piezo disc temporarily to the x-carriage, positioning it between two bearings sliding on the x-axis shafts. Even tiny forces from the hotend touching the bed can be detected using some electronics due to its flexible setup. The Mechanical Advantage Explained: A minuscule force acting upon the hot-end causes a slight bending of the plastic in the x-carriage, and since the piezo is attached on top, it bends too. This produces a large signal, enabling accurate detection even with very small forces involved. No More Sensitive Sensitivities Problem from V 0.1: In version v 0.1, there was an issue where three separate piezo discs had different sensitivity levels, likely due to the discs themselves or their mechanical setup. With the single piezo disc solution, we can expect consistent performance every time. A New Perfect First Layer Every Time: This latest development gives us perfect first layers, always and forever (as long as you clean your nozzle regularly). Check out our latest videos: Watch a Video Here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWRq2t9Pr-E And Another One https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oBzWWZYKgE The To-Do List: I'm currently facing issues with the Electronics sensitivity to EMI. For that reason, I've ordered a metal case for it. Meanwhile, there's a simple workaround to prevent accidental triggers when probing too close to the x-axis stepper. Simply pause the z movement (using firmware) right after reaching your designated position. What we learned from v 0.1: One piezo disc attached between bed springs and the z-stage detects any pressure on the bed using it as a probe signal. No hotend or carriage modification is necessary, plus the sensor doesn't get affected by temperature fluctuations! Current Issues Still to Be Addressed: We still have room for improvement; the electronics need more work while some mechanical parts could be optimized further. Design and development continues in progress mode! Budget Breakdown Estimated at $20: Guesswork suggests a total cost of under $20 using only SparkFun components, making this an affordable project overall.