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Armored Turtle Automated Filament Changer (AFC) Buffer

This file describes the AFC_buffer module, part of the Armored Turtle Automated Filament Changer (AFC) project.

Overview

The AFC_buffer module is responsible for handling two types of buffers: TurtleNeck, TurtleNeck 2.0 and Annex Engineering Belay. The Turtleneck buffer involves two sensors (advance and trailing), while the Belay buffer uses a single sensor to control filament movement.

The buffer adjusts the filament movement based on sensor inputs and can either compress or expand to manage filament feeding properly. Each buffer type has unique configuration options and behaviors.

Basic Functionality

The AFC is a two extruder filament changer. The primary extruder is at the print head(s) and the second is in the AFC unit. While the 2 extruders are synced they will never be perfect. This is where a buffer comes in. The buffer is used to make up for any inconsistencies in the sync between the 2 stepper motors.

TurtleNeck Style buffer

Two sensor TurtleNeck-style buffers are used to modulate the rotation distance of the secondary extruder. The buffer's expansion or compression increases or decreases the rotation distance.

  • If the trailing sensor is triggered, this means that the buffer is compressed, the AFC will decrease rotation distance in order to move the filament quicker to the primary extruder.

  • If the advance sensor is triggered, this means that the buffer is expanded, the AFC will increase rotation distance in order to slow the filament moving to the primary extruder.

Turtleneck 1.0

Heading

TurtleNeck 2.0

Flashing TurtleNeck 2.0

image

Belay Style buffer

With the current implementation of AFC_buffer support for Belay is limited. Belay will still help to keep even tension on the primary extruder but in a different way. First, the AFC rotation distance has to be greater than the rotation distance of the primary extruder. While printing, the AFC will be pushing slightly less filament than the primary extruder, this will cause the Belay to become compressed toward the switch. When the switch is reached the AFC will make a configured amount of material to expand the Belay. This will continue for the duration of the print.

Configuration

Required AFC Configuration Options

In AFC_Hardware.cfg, buffer must be defined.

Example under AFC_extruder: buffer: TN

Required AFC Hardware Configuration Options

In your AFC hardware configuration file, ensure you include the following options:

TurtleNeck Style buffer

  • advance_pin: Pin for the advance sensor.
  • trailing_pin: Pin for the trailing sensor.

Optional for more fine tuning

  • multiplier_high: Factor to move more filament through the secondary extruder.
  • multiplier_low: Factor to move less filament through the secondary extruder.

TurtleNeck 2.0 LED Indicator Configuration

add to AFC_hardware file

[AFC_led Buffer_Indicator]
pin: TN:PD3
chain_count: 1
color_order: GRBW
initial_RED: 0.0
initial_GREEN: 0.0
initial_BLUE: 0.0
initial_WHITE: 0.0

Optional AFC.cfg LED settings

led_buffer_advancing: 0,0,1,0
led_buffer_trailing: 0,1,0,0
led_buffer_disable: 0,0,0,0.25

Belay Style buffer

  • pin: Pin for the buffer sensor.
  • distance: Distance the filament should move when triggered.

Optional

  • velocity: The speed the lane will move the filament.
  • accel: Lane acceleration.

Example Configs

[AFC_buffer TN]
advance_pin:     # set advance pin
trailing_pin:    # set trailing pin
multiplier_high: 1.05   # default 1.05, factor to feed more filament
multiplier_low:  0.95   # default 0.95, factor to feed less filament
velocity: 100

[AFC_buffer TN2]
advance_pin: !turtleneck:ADVANCE
trailing_pin: !turtleneck:TRAILING
multiplier_high: 1.05   # default 1.05, factor to feed more filament
multiplier_low:  0.95   # default 0.95, factor to feed less filament
led_index: Buffer_Indicator:1
velocity: 100

[AFC_buffer Belay]
pin: mcu:BUFFER
distance: 12
velocity: 1000
accel: 1000

AFC buffer commands

QUERY BUFFER

The QUERY_BUFFER command reports the current state of the buffer and, if applicable, the rotation distance of the AFC stepper motor.

Example usage: QUERY_BUFFER BUFFER=Turtleneck

Example outputs: Turtleneck: Trailing buffer is moving from the Advance trigger to the Trailing Turtleneck: Advancing buffer is moving from the Trailing trigger to the Advance

SET_ROTATION_FACTOR

for TurtleNeck Style Buffers

This command allows the adjustment of rotation distance of the current AFC stepper motor by applying a factor. Factors greater than 1 will increase the rate filament is fed to the primary extruder, factors less than 1 but greater than 0 will decrease the rate filament to the primary extruder.

Example Usage: SET_ROTATION_FACTOR FACTOR=1.1

SET_BUFFER_MULTIPLIER

for TurtleNeck Style Buffers

SET_BUFFER_MULTIPLIER used to live adjust the high and low multipliers for the buffer

  • To change multiplier_high: SET_BUFFER_MULTIPLIER MULTIPLIER=HIGH FACTOR=1.2
  • To change multiplier_low: SET_BUFFER_MULTIPLIER MULTIPLIER=HIGH FACTOR=0.8

Buffer config section must be updated for values to be saved