Opto End Stop Broken

Hello

I have a Prusa Mendel with Gen 6 set up and pretty much working however the Z endstop is now broken.

After every successful print the Z stop screwed up somehow. I've had to resolder it a couple of times but now the pin has come out and I dont think I can solder it back on.

Do I need it? What (if any) alternatives are there?

Thanks

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2012 12:54AM by nottheonlychris.

I think the Z endstop is the only important one. While one can set X and Y by moving the carriages by hand before starting the machine, Z has to be pretty accurate.

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Generation 7 Electronics	Teacup Firmware	RepRap DIY

Thanks, I'll try switch them around and see if I can get it printing still.

I am also considering purchasing mechanical endstops, are they better/easier to use?

The mechanical ones are harder to break (an opto would die the seconde you plug it backward).

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Most of my technical comments should be correct, but is THIS one ?
Anyway, as a rule of thumb, always double check what people write.

Quote

an opto would die the seconde you plug it backward

Gen6 endstops perhaps, but RAMPS/Gen7 ones can
a- be plugged backwards without harm
b- come with a connector which doesn't allow to plug in backwards.

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Generation 7 Electronics	Teacup Firmware	RepRap DIY

i think reprap is starting to get to the point now where maybe we should look at starting to design thing with that in mind, i know the connectors are a little more money, but i try to use any type of keyed connector when ever i can. or we start to design things with more diodes in them so that if they are put in the wrong way they just don't work, not just fry them.

its been making me think if the opto's were powered off 3.3v, would it be a moot point.?

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[mike-mack.blogspot.com]

All electronics I'm aware of do use keyed connectors. Which one doesn't?

Running endstops on 3.3V is possible, but a bit pointless, as the ATmega runs at 5V and expects 5V signals. Running an ATmega at 3.3V, handling 3.3V signals, is also possible, but only at 10 MHz.

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Generation 7 Electronics	Teacup Firmware	RepRap DIY