Filamometer MK1
Description
I'm currently printing the first set of parts to validate the design, after some tweaks, I'll upload the first working design to share and build from!
The next version will have a second resettable counter. I will also provide just the counter mechanism as a separate "thing" once I make sure everything works okay.
Instructions
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So, Any updates? If not, then could you please post Work In Progress designs?
Please don't let this be a dead project, was really looking forward to seeing/making this! :(
Erik, just to let you know, I've put a lifetime filament counter into V24 firmware for Gen4 LCD users (thanks for the idea): http://www.thingiverse.com/thi...
Hello everyone!
Sorry for the lack of updates. I'm swamped at work and the heavy snow (by Seattle standards) has made getting around, hairy. I'm printing a new design this afternoon that I think will be the one that I'll upload. I got my Thing-O-Matic back together and re-calibrated and I'm hopeful for some st
ellar prints.
Thanks for your patience and I am humbled by the popularity that this idea (soon to be released) project has received.
Can a slideable spring be put on the counter teeth?
Something that would either ding a small bicycle bell or trigger a switch. the switch could run a batch program that might take a picture or send an email or something.
Slidable so it could be moves between the wheels, so it goes off at what ever increment you need it to be.
Short answer, yes!
Long answer, in my effort to keep every single part printable, I have designed "keepers" that intrude between the gap next to the gears to keep them from binding. A switch like that could be put in place of one of the keepers to facilitate what you're looking for.
Also, update coming!
I store my spools of filament in drawers of a rolling stack-chest, and it would be awesome to have one of these for each color of filament, maybe attach them in the front of each drawer next to where the filament exits :-)
I just weigh the darn thing...
How does that translate into length of plastic used? I realize you can make a number of assumptions based upon average diameter of plastic, fill ratio used, number of solid shells, etc. but that seems to be really crude and not really accomplishing the same goal as Erik's piece, as you also need to know the specific density of the plastic you're working with (a piece printed with the same exact settings in SF would print different in ABS vs PLA vs HDPE, etc.). All in all, weight will only ever crudely approximate CM of plastic used.
I look forward to printing this someday :)
so "you" (dear thingiversian) think it can be done in another way... lovely! looking forward to see your new thing/derivative doing it in that other way :)
I hate to say this but can't this be done mutch more effectivly and accuratly buy using the extruder stepper motor and a bit of software knowhow..... intergated into repG as a script/calibration tool...
but I cant argue against a 3d object (especially for the dc motor guys)
whatever number you get from that is the same number you can calculate from looking at the gcode before you even run things.
this would be interesting as an additional/confirmatory measurement.
While it's true this can be done in RepG, I envisioned this to be more useful for those with the DC motor extruders and those printing straight off an SD card without a computer. Still this is more of an exercise in designing the mechanism which can be used for other things, than out of necessity.
I agree with timmytool... to some extent. The encoders are in place on the stepper motor, and the filament is already being pulled through the drive gears. I do see his point.
I used to know computers pretty well. Back in the IBM (clone or not) 486 days, I was pretty damned good at "hacking" into things. That was when I was a kid. Now I'm married and have a job that requires MOST of my attention. Still, people in my neck of the woods think I'm a computer geek, but I
'm not. Not at all.
Sure, I'm great with CAD software... the 3D spatial relationships just always made sense to me (I've designed and built custom homes, apartment complexes, my own homes, my own spec homes,
&
amp; basically earned my own "blue collar design/engineering degree" in the process. I"ve done things that certified architects and engineers can't do, when it comes to building.
Am I at that level with CAD? Not hardly. I've designed some pretty neat things, and have for many years. It was ONLY with the introduction of MakerBot products that I could finally see the realization of some of these designs. I used to own a metal lathe and milling machine, but it was not set
up for CNC. I used both as a hobby, just as I do my Gen-4 Thing-O-Matic today.
MY POINT IS: Many of us who subscribe to Thingiverse.com ARE NOT skilled computer programmers. THIS "THING" MAKES SENSE TO ME. Would it be as accurate as a built-in software encoder that simply put it all into on-sc
reen text?
Well, maybe for you programmer-types, it would be. (No offense to "programmer types", as I don't lean towards the stereotype that all computer programmers wear horn-rimmed glasses and are skinny runts. At least not ALL of you... :-E
The absolute theory behind making "things" like thi
s is (to me) to challenge yourself and prove whether or not you can do it.
It means creating things that have never been created before (even if your design ecorporates design elements from a previous inventor).
It means making things out of thin air (if you consider the fact that you're not R
EMOVING material from a solid block of aluminum, wood, or plastic (as with most CNC machines), I truly do believe that MakerBot (and similar Open Source-based resources) are TRULY REVOLUTIONIZING THE FUTURE.
While it could be done on a print-by-print basis in software, I think that this type of hardware device is much better suited to use for lifetime print runs, similar to how many pieces of large equipment (Mainframe lasers for example) have hardware lifetime hour meters.
What if you put Sugru on the wheel the filament passes through. ;)
awesome.. exactly what i was looking for.
i hope i get to print one soon
Looking very forward to the dual-counter version of this "thing"... would be VERY interested to know how many inches (errr... centimeters) comes in a full spool of MBI filament, plus how many centimters I use on each print.
Awesome idea!
Very Cool, you need to make it as elaborate as possible - Heath Robinson style contraptions rock. :)
Is there a target filament size for the final assembly, or will the most common 3mm and 1.75mm sizes be supported? Awesome idea!
Hey...I was thinking along those lines, but I was going to use a mouse wheel encoder and count electronically.
I got as far as a wheel with a rubber band for a tire...Way to go! 8-)
Ok this is pretty darned cool. This *will* be printed out when you've got the design ready to go. :D
License
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Allo? At this point i guess this project is dead :-/ if you still have any of the design files, It would be AWESOME if you could post them, regardless of if they work or not!!