Run Out Sensor (How to Actually use It)

cs2000

Hi guys,

Ive been playing with the resume features of the A5 over the last few days, resuming from power outage and also when your spool gets empty. Its that second one that seems....weird I guess.

So when your filament runs out, the printer lets off an ear piercing shriek and prompts you to insert new filament, which I did, only to find the motor controlling it just clicked. I figured it was due to the old filament still sticking out the end of the Bowden tube so the new one wasn't lined up correctly and wasn't able to make its way into the Bowden tube.

Basically, once the machine realises the filament has ran out, the end of it is already past the drive gear and you cant feed in new filament. I ended up removing the Bowden tube, shoving a Allen key up there to force it out of the extruder so I had 10mm of empty space in the Bowden, then manually fed filament through, inserted it into the free space in the Bowden tube, re-secured it in its connector and resumed the print.

Is this the correct way of doing this procedure? it seems rather convoluted. I don't plan on running out of filament on a regular basis, I was just testing the system out, but just good to know for if it happens in the future.

Samuel Pinches

I think these steps would be correct for using the filament run out function:

1. When the alarm goes, the first thing to do is use the LCD to remove the filament, using the change filament button. It will reverse the remainder of the old filament.

2. Then you can insert some new filament, and get it so it is engaging with the motor gear. You will need to press the stupid hard clutch button to insert the new filament, since the motor is powered up and will not move as it is holding position.

3. Then, use the LCD insert filament button to drive the filament up to the nozzle. Manually extrude filament after that point, until the new filament comes out the nozzle.
4. Resume the print.

Hope this helps.

Richy_T

Timely. I have a print right now that is at 66% with one turn left on the spool. I figured this was the way to do it but good to see it confirmed. I'll let you know. Additionally, this is the sample spool which came with the printer so a bit of a milestone...

Richy_T

Well, that was apparently the correct procedure but it looks like what I grabbed to put in after was not PLA as it didn't stick so ruined print. Oh well...

cs2000

Right, so I messed it up by trying to insert new before removing old. That makes sense!

From my quick look, it looked like the filament had passed the gear before the alarm sounded, meaning I couldn't reverse it, but seems like I was mistaken. Il try it again next time and see how I get on!