Velocity sensor to study the speed of a 3D printer

Question

Velocity sensor to study the speed of a 3D printer

Ferran_97 (Student)

(OP)

23 May 21 15:44

Hello!

I`m in a 3D printing project using high performance 3D printing machines with FDM technique (the most standard printing technique). I`d like to accurately measure the X and Y speed of the nozzle (the filament extruder) of the printer during a normal print. I have seen there`re different types of sensors that can measure speed like optical, laser, piezoelectric, etc. Since the nozzle of the printer moves in X and Y directions, I think the best option could be a small sensor attached to the moving part that can record information about the movement. What do you think? Which options do you recommend me? Let`s say no limit in budget to get optimal results, but the cheaper the better for sure!

Thank you all!

Ferran

IRstuff (Aerospace) · Answer 1 · 2021-05-23 16:05:45

Your printer will have sensors for measuring its own position, so that's the best place to get the measurements. The gold standard for add-on sensors would be laser interferometers, or possibly just optical encoders attached to the mechanisms

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Compositepro (Chemical) · Answer 2 · 2021-05-23 17:50:54

The printer already knows exactly how fast it is moving because the controller is telling it how to move. This is usually by pulses to a stepper motor. Every pulse is a fixed unit of movement.

itsmoked (Electrical) · Answer 3 · 2021-05-23 20:29:06

And, those pulses and the motor steps are completely deterministic as evidenced by the prints being even vaguely successful.

Besides, adding anything at all to the head changes the system. (see Heisenberg uncertainty principle with a vengeance)

Hook an oscilloscope to the X and Y motor drive signals and do some simple math that takes into account the motor angle per step and any gear ratios dealt out by the pulley diameters and you'll have the accelerations.

Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com

MacGyverS2000 (Electrical) · Answer 4 · 2021-05-24 11:54:38

Or just download the firmware and look at what the code is commanding, no measurement necessary... many of the printers out there use open-source firmware.

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Velocity sensor to study the speed of a 3D printer