Real Kickstarters: the Filament Roller, an All-in-one Spool Holder with IR Sensor & Alarm

Now on Kickstarter, the Filament Roller is able detect filament stoppages, automatically pause prints when a filament stoppage occurs and alert you with a switchable 100 dB buzzer.

Its high-resolution IR sensor does not wear out. The ultra low-friction roller uses high-quality ball-bearings and is compatible with Marlin/RepRap (1.1.x) printers and OctoPrint’s filament sensor plugin.

The Filament Roller can detect filament stoppages such as: jammed extruder, griding extruder gear, clogged nozzle, stalling extruder motor, and empty filament spool. The Filament Roller can automatically pause your 3D printer when a filament stoppage occurs.

It can be used as an end-stop filament runout sensor with Marlin 1.1.x firmware and a RepRap board. The Filament Roller can also be used as a filament sensor for OctoPrint or OctoPi with a Raspberry Pi board. As shown above it can be printed and assembled as a DIY kit. Printer files are freely available on Thingiverse.com so customers can modify the mechanical designs to suit their own needs.

The key component of the Filament Roller is the control board. The hardware relies on an IR detection method. Power can be spliced directly from the 3D printer or connected to a separate supply. The user can adjust the alarm delay and wheel direction using the control knob. Sensor output is also accessible by the user.

Developed by independent inventor Chris Robertson, the Filament Roller is the first all-in-one IR filament sensor that can detect any filament stoppage and pause your printer using a simple switch signal. Designed to be used as a drop-in replacement for a filament runout sensor, the Filament Roller will allow makers to run any type of filament, any length of print, and no longer have to concern themselves with failed prints.

Tested through 2 prototype cycles, the Filament Roller is compatible with popular printing tools Marlin firmware (1.1.x and later), RepRap, OctoPrint, and Raspberry Pi. By using an infrared sensor, the Filament Roller never wears out, boasts the highest resolution on the market, never skips a step, and doesn’t drag on your extruder.

About Chris Robertson
Designer & developer he is the solo designer and developer of this product. Most recently, I developed products in the automotive and consumer electronics fields for LG Innotek, South Korea. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Santa Barabara. This is his first product and he is available to answer your questions. Contact  Chris Robertson by email: chris.i.robertson@gmail.com or telephone: +82) 10-7770-2572 (South Korea).