Filament_Path_Pregate_Switch-durability mod

[qqqwqk]

Implement a wear-resistant 3x10mm dowel pin to enhance the overall lifespan.

Thanks to kinematicdigit for the detailed response to my previous issue #1.

[qqqwqk]

I just printed both the modified and original versions a few minutes ago. It seems I misunderstood the mechanism again: the friction is actually provided by excessive squeezing from the BMG idler. However, even in my idealized scenario, this modification could still prolong the effective lifespan of the pre-gate sensor to some extent.

[Miriax]

Respectfully, you've made this mod before printing and testing out the parts. You also said that your initial understanding of the mechanism was flawed. Our internal testing did not show any wear on this part, and durability is one reason why we settled on a roller bearing for the actuator. The bearing has been tested over months by dozens of the beta crew. From my point of view, you're trying to fix a problem that nobody has encountered/mentioned yet, without trying the existing parts first. You can imagine my disappointment that you immediately want to change a part that we've spent months making.

Can I ask, why are you concerned about filament block wear-in? Have you encountered this issue already with ERCF v2? Are you using a lot of abrasive filaments that would exacerbate this issue?

It doesn't seem to me that your mod will decrease wear in its current state, especially if the bearing and the pin make contact with every actuation - that may in fact increase wear on the bearing and pin. As the design stands, the pin will change the actuation distance of the microswitch by about 0.4mm, which will matter, as the location of the bearing and microswitch are very finely tuned for overtravel. In my opinion, you should relocate the pin forward of the bearing so that they just barely miss contacting each other.

All that being said, we will accept this submission if you and a few friends test the mechanism and find it stable (as per the submission rules) so please find volunteers on the Discord - I'm sure you can find people willing to give this a try, especially in the Mods sub-discord.

P.S. The supports are in their own folder at the bottom of the design tree in Fusion360.

[qqqwqk]

Can I ask, why are you concerned about filament block wear-in? Have you encountered this issue already with ERCF v2? Are you using a lot of abrasive filaments that would exacerbate this issue?

I've found in the Chinese community that some users, when printing with carbon fiber (CF) or glass fiber (GF) filled filaments using an ABS-printed Filametrix extruder, experience a 'runout' sensor error after a period of time.Upon inspection after replacement, they discovered wear occurring in the filament path near the extruder's sensor. One user even mentioned that the surface of the 5.5mm steel ball made of 304 material also gets worn flat. My hypothesis is that the steel ball is pressing the filament against one side of the filament path, causing continuous friction on that side and ultimately leading to an enlargement of the hole's diameter at that point.I noticed that in V3, the sensor was changed from a 5.5mm steel ball to an MR85 bearing. This change is likely a lower-cost method to upgrade this standard component from 304 stainless steel to a bearing steel with higher hardness.”

P.S. The supports are in their own folder at the bottom of the design tree in Fusion360.

I have successfully exported the STL file containing the supports by replacing the STL within Orca (Slicer).