PZ Probe™

TL;DR Introducing the PZ Probe™, E3D's compact bed-levelling system that turns your nozzle into a bed probe.

This lightweight, drop-in upgrade ensures accurate printing without compromising toolhead speed. Read on to learn about the technology behind it and how to effortlessly incorporate it into your setup.

Easy PZ Probing

Us 3D-printing enthusiasts know that getting a clean first layer is a prerequisite for good print quality. It sets up your print for good layer stacking and provides a solid anchor to prevent your 3D print from becoming detached from the print bed, which, if you're not closely monitoring, leads to every 3D printer user's worst nightmare: spaghetti!

Given the importance of a good first layer, we are thrilled to be releasing the PZ Probe in two formats – one as a standalone Piezo-washer with compatible PZ board, which allows users to mount to any hotend and a ‘Voron’ edition with the piezoelectric element factory-fitted directly into the Revo Voron Heatsink while maintaining the original form factor. E3D Revo Nozzles allow for rapid changing of nozzles; however, even with our precision manufacturing methods, it’s still possible for minor variances in total length to occur; with PZ Probe you only need to calibrate your z offset once to accommodate for flexibility in your motion system, after that simply screw in (with only your fingers) a new nozzle, and PZ does all the hard work for you…. Easy PZ!

Why Piezo?

The E3D development team looked into many different bed-levelling options using a sensor in or around the heatsink for an integrated solution. We were inspired by the piezos for use in this application by Precision Piezo who were pioneers in this on the RepRap forums back in 2016. We looked at using their amplifier but ultimately decided to implement our own digital processing solution, providing us more control and configurability.

So, what is Revo PZ Probe Voron?

Revo PZ Probe Voron is a complete bed levelling system specifically designed for use with the Voron Stealthburner. The PZ Probe (more on this later) is embedded directly into the HotEnd, utilising the piezoelectric effect, which converts mechanical strain into electrical charge.

The PZ Probe is triggered as the nozzle contacts the print bed during the initial z-homing routine. This enables your 3D printer to set the z-position at multiple points, creating a precise mesh. There’s no need for additional probes or brackets, as the Revo nozzle is the probe, and any height discrepancies after nozzle changes are automatically compensated for.

Integration

Implementing Revo PZ Probe Voron into your Steathburner is simple: the form factor is identical to the standard Revo Voron. The only additional aspect is the flexible wire with a 4-pin connector, which we refer to as a “Flat Flex” cable. It has a washer at one end, which is mounted into the Revo PZ Probe Voron, and the other end is connected to the PZ Probe Board.

Additionally, extension cables are provided to connect the PZ Probe Board to your printer’s mainboard. The flexibility of the flat flex cable makes it easy to integrate into the Voron Stealthburner tool head.

Revo PZ Probe Voron's lightweight design cuts down the total mass of the toolhead compared to solutions like Voron Tap and decreases the complexity of a solution such as clicky probe, all whilst adding mechanical rigidity to the overall Z homing process.

The PZ-Probe board can be easily mounted on a modified X-carriage:

PZ Probe Reliability

As with all new products we create a series of tests that relate to typical use cases as well as possible failure modes. This brings us to our testing results:

Firstly, the probe was tested 15,000 times to ensure the probe was durable and didn’t deteriorate over time. To evaluate the accuracy of the probe, 100 more probe points were completed which gave a standard deviation of just 0.1µm within a range of 6µm.

The PZ-Probe was also tested on a PEI sheet with a 0.25mm nozzle for 500 probing cycles. With the settings on the printer and controller fine-tuned, the PEI sheet wasn’t damaged.

Configuring the PZ Probe Board

PZ Probe Board offers 8 pre-configured presets. While 7 of these can be customized, the default preset, "0," cannot be changed. These presets include various settings such as probing sensitivity and noise frequency cancellation, which come in handy when motor vibrations or fan noise interfere with probing. For full details on presets and configuration, see our datasheet.

The PZ Pro Board can be customised in 5 different ways, allowing you to choose the communication device that best suits you. Various commands can be used to fine-tune the settings, which are then saved to the preset of your choice. Further details about the PZ Probe configuration and commands are available in our technical datasheet.

Compatibility

Revo PZ Probe Voron is fully compatible with the Voron Stealth burner, as a drop-in replacement for the Revo Voron heatsink. But you’re not limited to just use it with a Voron printer: its 4 vertical mounting holes mean many 3D printers can be upgraded to the Voron-style heatsink with a simple mount.

We're also introducing the standalone PZ Probe, which includes everything in the Revo PZ Probe Voron kit minus the Voron heatsink, allowing you to experiment further with PZ Probe by integrating contact probing into your existing setups beyond the Revo Ecosystem. Whether it’s for a 3D printing application or something entirely different – this kit gives you the flexibility with two different communication methods (I2C, UART) and allows for triggering on the compression or expansion of the piezoelectric element. Imagine using your PZ washer to probe with an integrated extruder, use it as an X, Y or Z probe or measure tool offsets with a tool changer!

In conclusion, the PZ Probe™ by E3D marks a significant advancement in bed levelling technology for 3D printing. Integrating seamlessly into the Revo Voron Heatsink, this compact, lightweight, and efficient sensor leverages piezoelectric technology to ensure precise and reliable z-homing without compromising toolhead speed. The thorough testing and flexible configuration options underline its robustness and adaptability, making it a valuable addition to any 3D printing setup. Whether you're using it within the Revo Ecosystem or exploring new applications, the PZ Probe promises to enhance your printing experience by simplifying the bed levelling process and ensuring consistently high-quality prints. Easy PZ indeed!

Frequently Asked Questions