A simple method to calculate the filament left on a reel
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Not sure if this is the right section of the forum to post this so mods feel free to move it.
I've just uploaded a 2 part video to my YouTube channel. The first part (from about 1:12) details a simple method to calculate the amount of filament left on a reel using nothing more than a ruler and the linked spread sheet which can be downloaded from my Google drive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QIZ67XyJBE
Hope this might be of help to some of you.
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Hi Ian,
Thanks for the nice method - spreadsheet is downloaded (although not tested yet as most of my prints these days use less than a meter of filament)!
Also thanks for confirming the firmware issues you were experiencing have been resolved (and for spending your time helping @dc42 tie down the bug).
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@deckingman I weigh new spools to determine the empty spool weight, then mark that on the spool. If I need to print something and I'm not sure if there's enough filament on the spool for the job, I weigh the spool + filament again and subtract the empty spool weight. Very quick, easy, and works every time...
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Thanks Deckingman,
Tested the spreadsheet, works well with the near empty spool, 38.5mtrs calculated. So I physically measured it out 38.8mtrs. -
@mrehorstdmd said in A simple method to calculate the filament left on a reel:
@deckingman I weigh new spools to determine the empty spool weight, then mark that on the spool. If I need to print something and I'm not sure if there's enough filament on the spool for the job, I weigh the spool + filament again and subtract the empty spool weight. Very quick, easy, and works every time...
Yes, I mentioned in the video that one can use other means to determine the length - including weighing the spool. The reason I went to the trouble of devising this method, is that more people have access to a ruler or tape measure, than have access to accurate weighing scales (myself included).
Edit. Also, with my method, one can determine the amount of filament remaining on the spool while it is still on the machine and loaded into the hot end. Weighing the spool involves unloading the filament, removing the spool, weighing it, and re- fitting/loading it.
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@SJI said in A simple method to calculate the filament left on a reel:
Thanks Deckingman,
Tested the spreadsheet, works well with the near empty spool, 38.5mtrs calculated. So I physically measured it out 38.8mtrs.Thanks for the confirmation
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@T3P3Tony More than happy if you want to "host" that spread sheet somewhere. I think you already do that with another one I started and which Manuel embellished for calculating motor torque. At some point in the future I might delete it from my Google drive so it would be good if it was available from other sources.
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If anybody here is fluent in Javascript, this could be a useful online calculator.
Extra points for saving the configuration in the URL for sharing and providing predefine configurations for major vendors and typical spools.
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@zapta said in A simple method to calculate the filament left on a reel:
If anybody here is fluent in Javascript, this could be a useful online calculator.
Extra points for saving the configuration in the URL for sharing and providing predefine configurations for major vendors and typical spools.
That sounds like a job for @wilriker.
@T3P3Tony Tony, will you mention it to him or shall I?
