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3D printer filament tracker
The BB023 Spool Tracker « Fabbaloo
By Kerry Stevenson on August 21st, 2019 in Hardware
Tags: browns brain, filament, length, spool, tracking, weight
The BB023 spool tracker [Source: Browns Brain]I’m looking at a device that can apparently track your 3D printer filament usage by spool, the BB023 from Browns Brain.
Partly-used spools are the curse of 3D printer operators. Everyone has them, and usually lots of them. They accumulate because we’re lazy; we don’t want to spend time swapping spools during prints. Because of this we tend to mount a full or near-full spool on the 3D printer to avoid the laborious requirement of operator intervention when end-of-filament occurs.
Leftover 3D Printer Spools
Thus you end up with piles of partly used spools. Some people will simply toss them, while a very few will make the extra effort to use the material on smaller prints. Usually this is done by guessing. The scene usually involves keeping one eye on an image of the 3D model and its weight as predicted by the slicing software, and the other eye on the spool. Does that spool have that many grams on it? Yes. No. Maybe.
We’ve all been there.
Filament Tracking
But there are solutions, of a sort. Previously we’ve written about the Spül Tracker, a gizmo that attaches to your filament path and keeps track of the filament usage directly.
Now we’ve learned of another similar product, the BB023 from Browns Brain.
You might think tracking filament use would be straightforward: just watch the filament as it passes by. But it’s more complicated than that, as filament does strange things during a 3D print job. In particular, there are repeated retractions occurring on some complex 3D print jobs. These might confuse a friction wheel over time.
The BB023’s filament sensor [Source: Browns Brain]Browns Brain has an ingenious solution for this effect: a pivoting mount. The BB023 device has a one-way filament path. If a retraction occurs, then the unit pivots backwards a small amount as pushed by the retraction movement.
In this way it should be able to accurately track filament used during a print.
BB023 Spool Tracker Video
You can see how this works in this video:
Where does this information go? The idea is to maintain a database of filament usage for each individual spool. That allows you to confidently select a partly-used spool for a given 3D print job and be sure there’s just enough filament to succeed.
The BB023 has a tiny control panel that allows you to identify the spool being used, and then it keeps track of the usage. There’s two steps required: you must first measure the physical dimensions of the spool and input them into a supplied spreadsheet that calculates the full spool length.
BB023 Interface
This information is then used by the BB023 unit itself. One complication is that the interface to the BB023 seems a bit tricky.
There’s only one input button, and so digit entry, say for the naming of spool, is done by waiting for the right number to scroll by and clicking. The BB023 is able to handle a tracking capacity of up to ten spools.
If this sounds a bit tedious, it probably is, but if you do want to track filament usage on spools, this is the way to do it. I’m a bit skeptical as to how many 3D printer operators would go through the trouble to achieve this level of tracking, but certainly some would. A device like the BB023 would be more widely accepted if it had an even simpler interface, but for that you’d have to make arrangements with materials providers and printer manufacturers.
BB023 Price
Meanwhile, you can purchase the BB023 at a cost of only CAD$39.99 (US$31) on the Browns Brain website. Note — don’t be alarmed by the rather old style of the site, it’s the product you’re looking for. And finally, don’t forget their slogan: “THERE’S NOTHING SMARTER THAN A BRAIN!”
Via Browns Brain
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Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!
View all of Kerry Stevenson's posts.
Wi-fi Filament Consumption Counter/tracker for 3D Printers
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New filament is a consumable for 3D printing.
An increasing number of industries are interested in metal 3D printers. Industrial metal 3D printers are used to create high quality prototypes, durable test specimens, and products with complex geometries that can only be reproduced with a 3D printer.
The average cost of a metal 3D printer ranges from a few hundred thousand to millions of dollars, which automatically puts these printers out of reach for most companies. And, despite the growing demand for inexpensive and fast metal 3D printing technology, this production principle is still unusual in the 3D industry. In the near future, the likelihood of the situation changing to a general three-dimensional “metallization” is low. Right? Not really!
Metal filaments for 3D printers: what the industry has to offer
The rapid development of materials science can offer the 3D printing industry an alternative PLA filament for FDM desktop 3D printers: metallic filaments.
So, in the arsenal of ColorFabb there are already PLA-consumables of this type: the share of metal powder in them varies from 40 to 50%. The material allows you to polish and “finish” the printed elements with a metal coating on the surface.
However, despite the metal content of such parts, they remain plastic - with their inherent disadvantages (for example, the lack of a safety margin of a full-fledged metal). Plastic filaments with metal content remain an interesting curiosity in amateur 3D printing - with little hope for their industrial application. After all, the market is full of durable plastics for professional use and carbon fiber filaments.
Filamet - a new type of metal consumable for full-fledged 3D printing
A year ago, a young Wisconsin-based start-up called Virtual Foundry launched a Kickstarter fundraising campaign. It was about a project that would allow a “consumer” 3D printer to print all-metal objects using FDM, a well-established technology for working with thermoplastics.
Kickstarter users actively responded to such a tempting idea: the campaign was overfunded by about 5 thousand dollars. A few months ago, the first sponsors of the project began to receive the consumables promised to them. And now the Virtual Foundry company on its website offers everyone an unusual filament of its own design.
Bradley Woods, Founder of Virtual Foundry: “For years, 3D printer manufacturers have tried unsuccessfully to make metal printers cheaper and affordable for the mass market.
New filament
Our product called Filamet is a different approach to solving the problem. Instead of driving down the price tags on industrial 3D printers, Filamet is expanding the capabilities of personal 3D printers to expensive high-tech machines. Our company offers a working solution for the production of full-fledged, truly useful metal products using existing “desktop” 3D printers.
The surface of the Filamet metal consumable (by the way, this is not a typo, but a play on English words: “Fila” indicates filament, “met” is an accepted abbreviation of the word “metal”) looks almost like other PLA materials with the addition of metal powder.
At the same time, the proportion of metal content in Filamet is much higher than its analogues: the density of the metal makes the new filament noticeably heavier, and the finished products have properties that are as similar as possible to real metal.
As in the case of products made from other filaments, the “baked” parts require final polishing - after which the metal will appear on the surface. The chemical composition of "Filamet": 88% of metal materials, and only 12% - plastic. In practice, these numbers mean that parts require much less post-processing time to achieve a metallic look.
Moreover, the high metal content in the Filamet consumable allows processing any 3D print in such a way as to physically burn out all the PLA content from this part and get a completely metal product. In order for the strength of the finished part to match the metal, it only needs to be “baked” in a kiln. Inside the furnace, the plastic will be burned out completely, moreover, without harm to the structure: the metal particles will simply “bake” to each other under the influence of high temperatures and harden after cooling.
In fact, Filamet can be used on any of the common desktop 3D printers. Not only that, it is fully compatible with 3D pens as well. Currently, Virtual Foundry offers five-kilogram coils of a filament thread with a diameter of 1.75 mm in the following range:
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Copper pil55 Top 20 Free 3D Printing and 3D Printing SoftwareLooking for 3D printing software? We've rounded up the top 20 software tools for beginners and professionals alike. Most slicers are free. What is a slicer? This is a program for preparing a digital model for printing. Models for 3D printing are usually distributed in STL files. To turn an STL file into G-code (a language that a 3D printer understands), a slicer program is required. It is called a slicer because it cuts (to slice - English) a 3D model into many flat two-dimensional layers, from which a 3D printer will add a physical object. Which slicer should I choose? In this article, we will tell you which slicer is best for 3D printing for each stage of your work. Which one is better for preparing a 3D model for printing? But what if you need to create a 3D model from scratch? And if you are only taking the first steps in 3D? Don't be afraid: we've answered all of these questions, including the required skill level for each program and where you can download it. The great thing is that most of these programs are completely free and open source.
#1: Cura
For beginners who need a slicer to prepare STL files for 3D printing Cura is the standard slicer software for all Ultimaker 3D printers, but can be used with most others , including RepRap, Makerbot, Printrbot, Lulzbot and Witbox. This program is very easy to use and allows you to manage the most important 3D printing settings through a clear interface. Start in Basic mode to quickly get up to speed and change print quality settings. If finer control is required, switch to Expert mode. Cura can also be used to directly control the printer, but then the printer and computer must be connected to each other. Download: Cura Price: Free Systems: PC, Mac, Linux #2: CraftWare
For beginners to prepare STL files for 3D printing 3D printers by the Hungarian startup CraftUnique to support their CraftBot crowdfunding machine. However, the program works with other printers. Like Cura, CraftWare allows you to switch from "Easy" to "Expert" mode, depending on how confident you feel. It's a colorful app that features a visual G-code visualization with each function represented by a different color. Please note, however, that this program is still in beta, so bugs may occur. Download: CraftWare Price: Free Systems: PC, Mac #3: 123D Catch
-systems, smartphones and tablets, which allows you to convert images of objects into a 3D model. Pictures can be taken with a smartphone/tablet or digital camera. You need many photos of the object from different angles - the more the better - after which they will be compiled into a 3D model. 123D Catch is more of a fun app than a professional 3D printing tool, but after some tambourine dancing, you can get good results, especially when paired with an STL editor like MeshLab or Meshmixer. Price: Free Systems: PC, Android, iOS, Windows Phone #4: 3D Slash
and surprisingly simple, and refreshingly new. You can start with a large block and, like a virtual sculptor, remove small cups from it with tools such as a hammer or drill, or start from empty space and build a model from cubes and other shapes. You can paint with flowers or use template pictures. Other features worth mentioning are tools for creating logos and 3D text. The Logo Wizard imports an image and creates a 3D model, while the Text Wizard allows you to enter and format text, and then turn it into 3D. Recommended! Download: 3dslash.net Price: Free Systems: PC, Mac, Linux, Browser #5: TinkerCAD
- A computer-aided design (CAD) system for 3D printing, which is a good starting point for beginners. Since its capabilities are limited compared to Blender, FreeCAD and SketchUp, many users switch to more powerful tools after some time. As in 3D Slash, here you can build models from basic shapes. Come in: Autodesk TinkerCAD Price: Free Systems: Browser #6: 3DTin
For beginners who want to create 3D models for printing online is another easy and intuitive tool choice for beginners in 3D modeling. All you need is a Chrome or Firefox browser with WebGL enabled. Choose from a huge library of 3D shapes and add them to your sketch. All sketches are stored in the cloud, access to them is free if you honor the Creative Commons license. Everything can be exported to STL or OBJ formats. Enter: 3DTin Price: Free Systems: Browser #7: Sculptris
For beginners who want to create 3D printable models clay. This is a fantastic 3D modeling program if figurines are your main task. For example, you can make a bust of your favorite video game or comic book character. Download: Pixologic Sculptris Price: Free Systems: PC, Mac #8: ViewSTL
For beginners who want to view STL files ViewSTL is the easiest way to view STL files . Simply open a web page and drag the STL onto the dotted box. The STL online viewer allows you to display the model in one of three views: flat shading (for a quick view), smooth shading (for a high-quality image), and wireframe. Enter: ViewSTL Price: Free Systems: Browser #9: Netfabb Basic
some nice features that allow you to analyze, "repair" and edit STL files before moving on to the model cutting stage. A good choice if you need more than just a slicer and want to be able to quickly fix STL files without having to learn programs like MeshLab or Meshmixer. Don't let the 'Basic' in the name fool you, Netfabb Basic is actually a very powerful 3D printing tool. Download: netfabb.de Price: Free Systems: PC, Mac, Linux No. 10: Repetier
For advanced to prepare STL files for 3D printing 9002 the next level of 3D printer slicer software, but if you want to stay open source, you should look into Repetier. It is the great grandfather of 3D printing software and a favorite of the RepRap community.Today the program is moving by leaps and bounds from the level for beginners to advanced users. Packaged in an all-in-one configuration, it supports up to 16 extruders, multi-slicing via plug-ins, and virtually every fusing 3D printer on the market. Get ready to tinker! What's more, Repetier Host works remotely via Repetier Server, so that the 3D printer can be controlled via a browser, tablet or smartphone. Download: Repetier Price: Free Systems: PC, Mac, Linux #11: FreeCAD
The program is a great option for developing your design skills. Download: freecadweb.org Price: Free Systems: PC, Mac, Linux #12: SketchUp
For beginners who want to create 3D printable models SketchUp is the perfect combination of simplicity and - the perfect combination functionality, with a user-friendly interface and a relatively flat learning curve (i.e., as experience grows with the time spent), the ideal program for developing three-dimensional models. The Make SketchUp version is free and will have everything you need for 3D modeling if you also download and install the free STL exporter. There is also a professional edition for architects, interior designers and engineers. Download: sketchup.com Price: Free (SketchUp Make), $695 (SketchUp Pro) Systems: PC, Mac, Linux #13: 3D-Tool Free Viewer
view and check STL files 3D-Tool Free Viewer is a sophisticated tool that, among other things, allows you to check the structural integrity and printability of your file. Download: 3D-Tool Price: Free Systems: PC #14: Meshfix
your model for errors. Price: Free Systems: Browser #15: Simplify3D
For professionals to prepare STL files for 3D printing print. A flexible algorithm checks the model for problems, fixes them, shows a preview of the printing process (ideal for identifying potential problems), and then slices it. This slicer offers the best infill pattern options in the competition. For models that require supports, Simplify3D will create the appropriate structures on its own and give you full control over their placement. For printers with a dual extruder, when printing with different materials, the Dual Extrusion wizard will help, as a result of which, for example, it will be easier to remove the dissolving filament. Simplify3D supports 90% of today's commercially available desktop 3D printers and is compatible with Marlin, Sprinter, Repetier, XYZprinting, FlashForge, Sailfish and MakerBot firmware. Simplify3D can also be used to directly control the printer, but then the printer and computer must be connected to each other. Download: simplify3d.com Price: $149 Systems: PC, Mac, Linux #16: Slic3r
source code, which has a reputation as a carrier of super new functionality, which you will not find anywhere else. The current version of the program is able to show the model from multiple angles, so that the user gets a better preview experience. There's also an incredible 3D honeycomb infill, the first of its kind that can extend over multiple layers rather than repeating itself like a stamp. This significantly increases the strength of the internal filling of the model and the final printout. Another option is direct integration with Octoprint. Download: Slic3r Price: Free Systems: PC, Mac, Linux #17: Blender
For professionals who want to create 3D printable models Blender is a popular computer-aided design (CAD) system with a steep learning curve. Not at all the best choice for beginners, but what you need if you are quite experienced and need something more complex for modeling and printing. In short, Blender is one of the most powerful tools in existence. Its community is always ready to help, there are a lot of educational materials. It's also open source, so enthusiasts often write extensions to make it even better and more powerful. Download: blender.org Price: Free Systems: PC, Mac, Linux #18: MeshLab
For professionals to prepare STL files for 3D printing MeshLab - advanced editor. Price: Free Systems: PC, Mac, Linux #19: Meshmixer
For professionals to prepare STL files for 3D printing files. It's especially good for identifying potential problems and fixing them automatically. For example, it will show paper-thin walls that can lead to problems with 3D printing. Meshmixer is part of the Autodesk family of 3D printer software, so it should work well with tools like TinkerCAD. Price: Free Systems: PC, Mac #20: OctoPrint
start, pause or interrupt 3D print jobs. Combined with Wi-Fi capable devices, it makes for a great monitor for remotely monitoring the 3D printing process. Octoprint understands the G-codes of almost all 3D printers and slicers and includes a gCodeVisualizer to visualize this code before or during printing. |
The program is completely open source, its capabilities can be extended using plugins. 
But the most outstanding feature is the individual support service. As far as we know, only the paid program Simplify3D has this. 
With 3D Slash, you can design 3D models using your dice skills. 
At the same time, unlike 3D Slash, TinkerCAD allows you to create vector shapes in 2D and convert them into three-dimensional models. 
Sculptris is completely free and bills itself as a stepping stone to the more complex (and expensive) ZBrush tool. 
It's "basic" only in the sense that it doesn't cost €1,500 like Netfabb Professional! 
More technically, this parametric 3D modeling program allows you to easily change the project by rolling back through the history of the model and editing the parameters. 
With the Cross-Section function, for example, you can look at the model from the inside and check the wall thickness. Very useful if you want to check your STL file for killer errors before printing. 
Once the files on the user's desktop are sliced, they can be directly uploaded to Octoprint with one click. 
It allows you to remove parts of a 3D model, merge two models into one, patch holes. If you need a program to modify models for 3D printing or some kind of "repair" work, MeshLab is the right choice. 
