BTT SFS V2.0 Smart Filament Runout Sensor

There are very few things more rewarding in 3D printing than when you finally finish a massive print that took not just hours, but days to complete. However, in a similar fashion, there are few worse experiences in 3D printing than coming back to your machine after an overnight print to find that the filament has snapped and the machine was just extruding nothing for layers upon layers – resulting in a completely failed print that simply can’t be saved in any way. This is why we love handy sensors like the BTT SFS V2.0 Smart Filament Runout Sensor, as this is specially designed to fit between the filament spool and the extruder and detect if 3D filaments break or run out during a print, stopping the print and saving the important information that you can then finish off.

Compared to most filament runout sensors, this sensor utilises a clever encoder wheel sensing method, almost acting as a dual drive extruder but without any actual driving capabilities. This way, when the filament runs through the sensor, the tiny wheels inside turn, and the sensor then sends a pulse for every 2.88mm of filament that runs through it. This makes it not only capable of detecting breaks and runouts, but also clogs and jams too, as it simply needs to check whether the filament is moving through the sensor or not. This is far superior to almost all other filament break and runout sensors on the market, and that’s what has gotten us so excited for this unit. It can technically be installed anywhere along the filament path, either before the extruder or after the extruder, while offering almost the exact same functionality regardless of where or how it’s integrated into the filament feeding path.

In terms of compatibility, this sensor is a little more complicated than most, as this sensor is not specifically designed for any particular 3D printer, but is rather is built for versatility. Featuring three standard mounting points on back and including a short piece of PTFE tubing  on each side, the BTT SFS V2.0 can be mounted anywhere and smoothly accept filament through it in either direction. This means that it’s compatible with quite a wide range of 3D printers, of which you can see more information about this in the video below. However, it’s important to just do a bit of research to be extra sure that this will work with your machine before making the investment. This good level of compatibility with a range of different machines, coupled with a relatively small size and a clever way of “Mounting” the sensor, makes it one of the most versatile break detection sensors on the market, and we love the simplicity and sleek style that these sensors offer.

Additional Resources:

• If you want more insights and information on the BTT SFS V2.0, a good place to start is to check out the BigTreeTech SFS V2.0 GitHub page, where you can find the user manual for getting started and getting the most from this handy sensor.

Finally, we recommend taking a look through this awesome YouTube video, in which DadWillMake explains precisely what makes this sensor great and how it compares to its previous version. He also gives a great detailed tutorial for setting up your new BTT SFS V2.0 Sensor:

As one of the rising stars in the world of 3D Printer Component Research and Development, BigTreeTech have certainly hit the ground running, entering the market in 2015 and spending their early stages primarily learning, researching, testing and developing, before producing some truly impressive results. From simple but effective upgrades to standard parts, all the way through to completely custom parts that no other brand offered at the time, BigTreeTech now have an incredibly diverse range, with almost no area of 3D Printing being left out.

Some of BigTreeTech’s most notable additions to the world of 3D Printing include the SKR Motherboard Range for numerous different 3D Printer models, the awesome TFT Touch Display Range with fancy features like dual-mode operation, as well as their very impressive Stepper Driver Range that cater to all tastes and preferences under the sun. And of course, to top it all off, BigTreeTech also have a sister company named BIQU, and we must admit that they have been producing some pretty impressive (and low price) 3D Printers, with the BIQU B1 possibly becoming a new rival to the Ender 3.

Of course, it’s easy to see that BigTreeTech are modern masters of 3D Printing R&D, and while we do still have a lot of different parts that we want to test out from them, so far we’ve been extremely happy with what they’re capable of producing – all while fitting into same kind of hobbyist budget that they used to operate on as Makers and Tinkerers themselves.