Laser Filament Monitor - test results

T3P3Tony

@qdeathstar looks like color of pigment is playing more of a part than the filament material for those ABS's

@DC42 It would be great to have the ability to set the 100% amount in much the same manner as the mm/revolution of the magnet can be set in that version.

dc42

@t3p3tony said in Laser Filament Monitor - test results:

@DC42 It would be great to have the ability to set the 100% amount in much the same manner as the mm/revolution of the magnet can be set in that version.

I think it would be confusing to change the 100% amount. Also, if the sensor under-reads the average amount for a particular filament, you are also likely to get much bigger variation for that filament. For example, the post by @Qdeathstar gives 93% to 99% for one filament, and 45% to 89% for another. So simply adjusting the 100% amount wouldn't be sufficient.

Instead I think you should use the new M703 command in conjunction with the filament management facility to set up appropriate R limits in the M591 command for the filament in use.

wilriker

@dc42 said in Laser Filament Monitor - test results:

Instead I think you should use the new M703 command in conjunction with the filament management facility to set up appropriate R limits in the M591 command for the filament in use.

I had the same thought.

T3P3Tony

@dc42 said in Laser Filament Monitor - test results:

@t3p3tony said in Laser Filament Monitor - test results:

@DC42 It would be great to have the ability to set the 100% amount in much the same manner as the mm/revolution of the magnet can be set in that version.

I think it would be confusing to change the 100% amount. Also, if the sensor under-reads the average amount for a particular filament, you are also likely to get much bigger variation for that filament. For example, the post by @Qdeathstar gives 93% to 99% for one filament, and 45% to 89% for another. So simply adjusting the 100% amount wouldn't be sufficient.

Instead I think you should use the new M703 command in conjunction with the filament management facility to set up appropriate R limits in the M591 command for the filament in use.

Hi David, sure can set the limits to whatever, I was just thinking that it would be nice to "zero" the filament on the average for that type. Actually I might have zeroed it on the low reading as I don't care if it reads an "over extrusion" since the failure modes we are generally interested in lead to under, not over extrusion.

wilriker

Something seems to not want me to use this sensor. Second attempt to print the housing failed also. This time my fan shroud was somehow coming loose (never ever had this before) and knocked the print of the bed.

Qdeathstar

Ok, last ABS test

Matterhackers Light - Blue ABS filament - Benchy Test

Calculated Steps/mm 424

M591 D0
Duet3D laser filament monitor on endstop input 3, disabled, allowed movement 40% to 120%, check every 3.0mm, current position -2.4, brightness 92, shutter 11, measured minimum 0%, average 93%, maximum 102% over 3975.4mm

wilriker

@qdeathstar You seem to like ABS.

T3P3Tony

@qdeathstar said in Laser Filament Monitor - test results:

Ok, last ABS test

Matterhackers Light - Blue ABS filament - Benchy Test

Calculated Steps/mm 424

M591 D0
Duet3D laser filament monitor on endstop input 3, disabled, allowed movement 40% to 120%, check every 3.0mm, current position -2.4, brightness 92, shutter 11, measured minimum 0%, average 93%, maximum 102% over 3975.4mm

minimum 0?

do you mind checking that again?

Qdeathstar

Yes, i can rerun that test later today. I think that might have been a real slippage, as this blue filament feels pretty slippery. I also noticed while i was loading it it didn't move the first time i pressed "extrude" but i chalked it up to me accidentally pressing the "retract" button instead. Its about 2 years old....

kraegar

I like spreadsheets, so I created one for tracking my results. Any other data needed?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a5suKtijUsatl3DhUFiox_rfW39qo9kHSlihYHaAcxo/edit?usp=sharing

tinkerz

@kraegar Thank you! Not sure why I didn't think of putting it up on Google docs, here I have all my results in good 'ol Notepad++. Thank you again. This makes it easy to keep updated without worrying about saving, losing or sharing.

Tinkerz

kraegar

@tinkerz No problem - I have a ridiculous number of data tracking spreadsheets for 3d printing. I can't do anything without tracking it, lol.

Qdeathstar

@t3p3tony said in Laser Filament Monitor - test results:

@qdeathstar said in Laser Filament Monitor - test results:

Ok, last ABS test

Matterhackers Light - Blue ABS filament - Benchy Test

Calculated Steps/mm 424

M591 D0
Duet3D laser filament monitor on endstop input 3, disabled, allowed movement 40% to 120%, check every 3.0mm, current position -2.4, brightness 92, shutter 11, measured minimum 0%, average 93%, maximum 102% over 3975.4mm

minimum 0?

do you mind checking that again?

M591 D0
Duet3D laser filament monitor on endstop input 3, disabled, allowed movement 40% to 120%, check every 3.0mm, current position -3.0, brightness 91, shutter 11, measured minimum 88%, average 95%, maximum 102% over 3973.3mm

Better result this time.

wilriker

Finally managed to print the sensor housing. It seems that the lazy-me (why should I disassemble my X axis before lubricating it?) got some PTFE on my build plate - perfect for first-layer adhesion. Luckily nothing that gluestick won't overcome.

So, assembly and mounting of the sensor probably tonight.

wilriker

Finally, the first result I can contribute:

Generic Black PLA (the same that is used for the housing):
Duet3D laser filament monitor on endstop input 3, disabled, allowed movement 40% to 120%, check every 3.0mm, current position -7.9, brightness 60, shutter 17, measured minimum 80%, average 87%, maximum 93% over 320.6mm

Housing: @dc42 original, Open Top, 9mm base
PTFE Tubing: Generic 4mm OD 2mm ID (I will probably switch to the included Capricorn when I first switch housing parts.

I am so happy to be part of the test group. As I don't have too many filaments I will probably mainly be concentrating on housing performance.

Also, this gave me a chance to solve a very annoying issue I introduced myself when I added my reverse bowden. It literally took me 15-20 minutes(!) to change filament because the extruder-near end of it was totally in the way and I ended up disassembling the extruder every other time.
The sensor housing now also is my reverse bowden endpoint and is mounted via nuts and screws so I can easily remove it when loading filaments.

EDIT: Also no started a Google Spreadsheet.

fma

Ok, here is my first result. I use David's enclosure, printed in black PLA.

I printed a part with Dailyfil cream white: https://www.filimprimante3d.fr/filament-pla-175-mm/1470-bobine-pla-dailyfil-blanc-creme-175-mm-1kg.html

Duet3D laser filament monitor on endstop input 3, disabled, allowed movement 40% to 140%, check every 3.0mm, current position -10.2, brightness 94, shutter 8, measured minimum 53%, average 93%, maximum 107% over 5764.6mm

fma

Second test with SOVB3D purple PLA: http://www.sovb3d.fr/pla-175mm-standard-500g/90-fil-pla-violet-175mm-500g.html

Duet3D laser filament monitor on endstop input 3, disabled, allowed movement 40% to 140%, check every 3.0mm, current position 2.7, brightness 93, shutter 11, measured minimum 56%, average 84%, maximum 99% over 3425.2mm

dc42

FWIW the shutter reading is an indication of how much of the laser light is returning back to the sensor, which should be mostly determined by how reflective the filament is. High shutter reading = low refectivity.

wilriker

@dc42 I wanted to ask about shutter anyway. What is the range of values and what qualifies as high/low value?
And when we are at that, can you also say something about the brightness value?

dc42

The brightness is the average brightness of IR light received on the sensor. It doesn't usually vary as much as the shutter does, because the sensor appears to adjusts the shutter to try to keep the brightness constant.