SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster for Prusa MINI/MINI+

prusaprinters

The same great SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster for the MK3S+, now available for your MINI/MINI+! The SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster (SPA) is an integrated mount and adjustment tool for the SuperPINDA probe on your MINI/MINI+. Overview:The SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster is a two-part design, the SPA and a required modification to the MINI-minda-holder. The SPA allows precise adjustment of the height of the SuperPINDA probe via rotation of the SPA. The SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster also provides a much more secure mount for the SuperPINDA probe when the clamping screw is tightened. No more shifting the position of the SuperPINDA and throwing off your first layer calibration when you accidentally bump it! There's also no risk of stripping out the M3nN (nyloc) nut hole in the MINI-minda-holder when trying to secure the SuperPINDA probe because much less torque on the clamping screw is required to lock it in place! The body of the SPA has a numbered scale which equates to 0.1mm of height adjustment when used and aligned with the reference mark on the MINI-minda-holder. Printing Considerations:The SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster is printed in PETG at a 0.1mm layer height (use the default "0.10mm DETAIL" profile in PrusaSlicer) for better detail/resolution on both the internal threads and the numbered scale on the exterior circumference of the SPA. For even better results, use a 0.25mm nozzle, which will further improve the resolution of the internal threads and the numbered scale.It is highly recommended that you dry your filament thoroughly prior to printing the SPA to reduce the amount of potential stringing which will in turn reduce the amount of post processing/clean up you have to do before installing and using the SPA. Excessive stringing will also clog the threads and prevent the SPA from working properly (it may be VERY difficult to adjust/rotate once installed).The modified MINI-minda-holder should be printed in PETG at a 0.2mm layer height; use the default “0.20mm QUALITY” profile in PrusaSlicer.Both the SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster and the MINI-minda-holder can also be printed in various other materials which have a high thermal resistance. PLA is not recommended due to its lower thermal resistance and the close proximity of the SPA and holder to the heater core and nozzle. Post Processing:Use a hobby knife to clean up any stringing between the quadrant legs of the SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster. You may also use a heat gun to aid in cleaning up any stringing between the quadrant legs of the SPA, but be careful not to apply the heat for too long because you may accidentally deform the quadrant legs. Also check the overhang (underside as printed) of the locking pawls on each quadrant leg and trim any bulging/sagging extruded filament with the hobby knife.Don't skip this step! While trimming the stringing between the quadrant legs is more of a cosmetic concern, leaving any bulging/sagging extruded filament on the overhang of the locking pawls will cause excess drag when rotating the SPA inside the MINI-minda-holder, which will make adjustments difficult. Depending on how well your printer handles overhangs, the bulging/sagging extruded filament may also prevent the SPA from properly fitting into the MINI-minda-holder.Check the inside surface of the modified MINI-minda-holder for any obstructions and clean up/remove any excessive stringing. Light/thin stringing should not cause any issue and will get worn away/removed by rotation of the SPA when the parts are test fit before installation. Installation Preparation:Before installing your new SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster and the modified MINI-minda-holder onto your MINI/MINI+, it is important to test fit all of the components to make sure everything will fit together nicely in order to minimize the chance of running into any issues while your printer is temporarily out of commission.If you don't have a spare SuperPINDA probe laying around for test fitting the components and you also don't want to pull the one off of your MINI/MINI+ before you're sure everything is going to fit together correctly, then I highly recommend going to your local hardware store and picking up an M8-1.0x30mm bolt to use for the test fitting process. A bolt length of 30mm is as short as I would go, but longer will work just as well, if not better.Work the SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster onto and off of the SuperPINDA probe (or stand-in M8-1.0 bolt) several times to “break in” the part. Depending on how the print went, you may only have to do this once, but you may find it necessary to do it several times. In testing, I had some iterations thread onto the bolt easily the first time, and some that had to go on and off five or six times before they began to loosen up. The end result should be that you are able to thread the SPA onto the probe or bolt with minimal effort; we want this to be smooth so adjustments are easy to make once everything is installed.Next, test fit the SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster in the modified MINI-minda-holder. You will need to spread the holder apart slightly in order to fit the SPA in. The quadrant legs of the SPA will flex together as you insert them into the holder, but there's not quite enough clearance for it to fit through without spreading the holder open slightly. Be careful not to spread the holder open too far or you could break it! Once fully inserted, the SPA should rotate easily within the holder.If the SPA drags on the inside of the holder, remove the SPA (don't forget to spread the holder open a bit as you pull the SPA out!) and check both parts for any debris or rough areas. Smooth out any problem areas you find and try the test fit again. Once you're satisfied with the fit of the SPA in the holder, thread the probe or bolt into the SPA while it's in the holder. The final check is to hold the probe or bolt stationary with one hand and rotate the SPA with the other to verify you're able to easily rotate the SPA, thereby adjusting the height of the probe (or in this case, the bolt). Installation:Loosen the clamping screw on the MINI-minda-holder and remove the SuperPINDA probe from the holder. If you find there's not enough slack in the SuperPINDA cable to completely remove it, you can leave it loose in the holder for now.Remove the two screws securing the MINI-minda-holder to the X-carriage and hot end fan and remove the holder. Simultaneously remove the SuperPINDA from the holder if you left it loose in the holder on the previous step.Transfer the M3nN (nyloc) nut and M3x12mm screw from the original holder to the modified holder; leave the M3x12mm screw loose for now.Insert the SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster into the modified MINI-minda-holder if you happened to remove it after the pre-installation test fit.Secure the modified MINI-minda-holder to the X-carriage and hot end fan using the two screws removed from the original holder (the longer screw is the one for the fan).Check for proper clearance between the top of the SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster and the hot end fan. There should be approximately 1-2mm clearance between the knurling on the SPA and the hub of the hot end fan.Insert the SuperPINDA probe into the top of the SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster and begin rotating the SPA counter-clockwise (when viewed from above) to lower the probe until there are approximately 4-6 threads of the probe visible above the top of the SPA. If you find you do not have enough slack in the SuperPINDA cable to reach the top of the SPA once mounted, begin threading the probe into the SPA before attaching the MINI-minda-holder to the X-carriage and hot end fan. Secure the holder with the screws after the probe has been threaded into the SPA far enough for the screw holes to align.Adjust the height of the SuperPINDA probe in the same manner as described in “Step 1” of the MINI+ Preflight Check. The difference being, instead of pushing the probe down onto the zip tie like a caveman, you will now be able to precisely adjust the probe height by rotating the SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster to move the probe up or down (use the arrows on the side of the modified MINI-minda-holder as a guide). It is recommended you hold the top or bottom of the probe as you rotate the SPA while making adjustments to avoid applying any rotational stress on the SuperPINDA cable.Once you are happy with the positioning of the SuperPINDA probe, don't forget to tighten the holder screw to lock the probe and adjuster in place!Fire up your MINI/MINI+ and redo your first layer calibrations, since the height of the SuperPINDA will have changed slightly from where it was with the original holder. Look at that fancy new SuperPINDA Precision Adjuster on your MINI/MINI+! I hope the build was fun and I hope you are enjoying your new SPA! Please leave any feedback you have in the comments so I have insight into how the design is working for everyone and so I can make improvements to the design if necessary. Thank you! Change Log:25AUG2022 — Added model and print files of a 3-point version of the modified MINI-minda-holder for using the SPA with Sparkyman987's Fan Spacer Mod.11NOV2023 — Added .step file of the SPA for MINI/MINI+; added remix description.