Filament Sensor for Luzlbot TAZ 6 (2.85mm Design)

cults3d

Just over a week ago, I decided to take one of my Raspberry Pi boards that I had just been storing in my shop and implement an Octoprint server for my TAZ 6. I was blown away by the genius behind Octoprint, and still am today. If you're unfamiliar with Octoprint, let me give you a quick rundown - it turns your Raspberry Pi into a web server for your 3D printer, allowing you to do everything from printing a gcode file to slicing an STL file. Plus, it's loaded with great features that make integrating your own hacks super easy. I use Simplify3D for slicing and was hesitant to try Octoprint because I wasn't sure about compatibility, but I'm so glad I gave it a shot - it works amazingly well with S3D! For more information on Octoprint, click here. Octoprint has an impressive array of convenient plugins at your disposal, including Filament Sensor Reloaded by Kontakt. This handy plugin uses a specific pin on the Raspberry Pi in conjunction with a filament sensor to pause your printing if you run low on filament. Paired with Octoprint's 'Pause Script' setting, you can send virtually any gcode when your filament sensor triggers. In my case, I set up Octoprint to play a series of beeps and execute an M600 filament change command whenever my filament sensor is triggered. For my sensor, I employed Lulzbot's Feed Tube Spinner concept and modified it with a built-in optical sensor. Installation was as simple as swapping out Lulzbot's Feed Tube Spinner and running three conductors to your Raspberry Pi header pin. Parts Needed: (1) EE-SX472 Omron Optical Sensor - Please note that I'm aware there are cheaper sensors available, but I'm a huge fan of Omron Sensors and they're well worth the investment. Before buying from Digikey, I always check eBay first - you can often find them for between $5-10. (2) 3mm Plastic Screws (Flat or Button depending on Cap) (1) 1kOhm 1/4 Watt resistor (for output of Omron Sensor) Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFRdjNEk3mU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVh-ysysu4g