There are many options for a 3D printer's bed sensor and even more misconceptions

3D Printing
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There are many options for a 3D printer’s bed sensor and even more misconceptions about what they can and should do. So after a ton of testing with a custom-built precision test apparatus ™, 12 sensor options and 9 myths about these sensors have been examined - and we got a ton of data about how precise each one can be!

All the raw data here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QDtd-0IK79gme_f80Rw_PB-nIActKWJJJvvAYd4u2uM/edit?usp=sharing
IGUS W-compatible printed parts https://cad.onshape.com/documents/576f471b5dc2c3a9c19b7010/w/eb450345dab529c4eef1f05f/e/cf0671a5d51803413c1d74f7 (built from a free IGUS sample kit)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il9bNWn66BY

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Excellent!!!

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Nice summary. I would like to see if a thin sheet of stainless steel under 1/4" glass allows sensors to work, in addition to price comparison on the table provided. I did not get a sense of which is best for glass over aluminum, and for example, is the mechanical switch a good option.

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@Alex_Skoruppa yes, but then again, you need something to lower the switch when probing.

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OR… if your printer is solid there’s always the option of bed leveling and then leaving it. on my machines I use 3 point leveling and may occasionally adjust a bit. I check how it starts by observing the 1st outer ring and adjusting if needed. but once the machine is done this happens maybe once a month.

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@Michael_Scholtz true, a solidly built machine doesn’t necessarily require any form of autoleveling, but then again, especially for larger build areas, it’s much easier and cheaper to use a probe than it is to even find a flat enough sheet of material and to keep it flat

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@Thomas_Sanladerer , I know this is a bit off subject but I would love it if you could do a video on Servo options for these sensors such as Allen Key Probes, Servo Probes, Z-Sled Probes. I have a BLT Touch that needed to be mounted to a 9 gram servo, but I’m struggling to understand where in Marlin 1.1.0 RC8 I need to go to configure it to run on my Azteeg X3 Pro board using Servo probe option.

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@Doug_Walmsley , this is the official documentation and step by step configuration guide: http://marlinfw.org/docs/configuration/configuration.html