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My-Cloner Rev A — Display & Filament Sensor

This page documents the local display and filament-detection hardware used by the My-Cloner Rev A.

The current hardware configuration includes:

  • MKS TS35 V2.0 display
  • MK3-style IR filament sensor
  • MKS Robin Nano V3 controller
  • Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W running Klipper and Mainsail

Primary User Interface

Mainsail is the primary user interface for the My-Cloner Rev A.

The MKS TS35 V2.0 is included in the hardware configuration, but its final integration with the Klipper-based system is still under validation.

Official References

The Robin Nano V3 connector and MCU mappings documented on this page are based on the official Makerbase and Klipper project files.

Display Architecture

The My-Cloner Rev A includes an:

MKS TS35 V2.0

The final operating mode of the display within the Klipper architecture is still being evaluated.

The overall system architecture is:

graph TD
    USER[User]

    USER -->|Browser| MAINSAIL[Mainsail]
    MAINSAIL --> PI[Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W]
    PI -->|USB| BOARD[MKS Robin Nano V3]

    USER -->|Local Interface| TS35[MKS TS35 V2.0]
    TS35 -->|Integration TBD| BOARD

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W remains responsible for:

  • Klipper host processing
  • Mainsail
  • Network access
  • High-level printer control

The Robin Nano V3 remains responsible for real-time printer hardware control.

MKS TS35 V2.0

The MKS TS35 V2.0 is part of the planned My-Cloner Rev A hardware configuration.

Item Specification
Display MKS TS35 V2.0
Controller MKS Robin Nano V3
Firmware environment Klipper
Primary interface Mainsail
Local-display integration Pending validation

Integration Not Yet Final

The presence of compatible physical connectors does not automatically confirm full TS35 operation under Klipper.

The final connection method, operating mode and software integration must be validated before the display configuration is published.

Robin Nano Display Interfaces

The MKS Robin Nano V3 provides EXP1 and EXP2 headers that expose display and auxiliary signals.

These connectors may be used by compatible display hardware.

EXP1

Pin MCU / Signal
EXP1_1 PC5
EXP1_2 PE13
EXP1_3 PD13
EXP1_4 PC6
EXP1_5 PE14
EXP1_6 PE15
EXP1_7 PD11
EXP1_8 PD10
EXP1_9 GND
EXP1_10 5 V

EXP2

Pin MCU / Signal
EXP2_1 PA6
EXP2_2 PA5
EXP2_3 PE8
EXP2_4 PE10
EXP2_5 PE11
EXP2_6 PA7
EXP2_7 PE12
EXP2_8 RESET
EXP2_9 GND
EXP2_10 3.3 V

These mappings are also exposed as board aliases in the official generic Klipper configuration for the Robin Nano V3.

Display Validation

The TS35 should be validated independently from the basic printer bring-up.

Recommended sequence:

  1. Bring up the Robin Nano V3 without relying on the display.
  2. Confirm Raspberry Pi communication with the controller.
  3. Confirm Klipper operation.
  4. Confirm Mainsail operation.
  5. Verify the TS35 power requirements.
  6. Verify the intended physical interface.
  7. Confirm connector orientation.
  8. Connect the display only after the interface has been verified.
  9. Test the intended operating mode.
  10. Document the final connection and software configuration.

Printer Must Not Depend on the Display

The basic My-Cloner Rev A should remain controllable through Mainsail even if the local display is disconnected or unavailable.

Filament Sensor

The My-Cloner Rev A uses a MK3-style IR filament sensor.

The mechanical sensing system uses:

  • An infrared sensor
  • A mechanical ball
  • Magnets
  • A moving mechanism activated by the filament

The purpose of the system is to determine whether filament is present in the extruder path.

Filament Detection Principle

The mechanical system converts filament movement or presence into a detectable state for the IR sensor.

Conceptually:

graph TD
    FILAMENT[Filament]
    MECH[Mechanical Sensing Mechanism]
    BALL[Ball]
    MAGNETS[Magnets]
    MOVING[Moving Element]
    SENSOR[IR Sensor]
    INPUT[Robin Nano V3 Input]
    KLIPPER[Klipper]

    FILAMENT --> MECH

    MECH --> BALL
    MECH --> MAGNETS
    MECH --> MOVING

    MOVING --> SENSOR
    SENSOR --> INPUT
    INPUT --> KLIPPER

The exact electrical input used by the Rev A still requires final wiring confirmation.

Robin Nano Material-Detection Inputs

The MKS Robin Nano V3 provides two material-detection inputs.

Board Signal MCU Pin My-Cloner Rev A
MT_DET1 PA4 Candidate filament-sensor input
MT_DET2 PE6 Available / alternative input

The final Rev A connection has not yet been selected.

Final Input Pending

The I/O resources are known, but the final My-Cloner filament-sensor input must match the QElectroTech schematic and physical wiring.

Once selected, the authoritative assignment should also be updated in the I/O Map.

Filament Sensor Electrical Interface

Before connecting the IR sensor, the following must be confirmed:

  • Sensor supply voltage
  • Ground connection
  • Signal voltage
  • Signal polarity
  • Robin Nano input used
  • Logic state with filament present
  • Logic state with filament absent

Do not assume the sensor output polarity from another printer configuration.

Klipper Integration

The filament sensor can be represented in Klipper using a filament-sensor section once the electrical behaviour has been confirmed.

A possible configuration structure is:

[filament_switch_sensor filament_sensor]
switch_pin: <MCU_PIN>
pause_on_runout: True

The actual input pin and signal polarity are intentionally left undefined until physical validation.

Example Only

Do not copy the placeholder configuration into the final printer.cfg.

The correct input and signal inversion must be determined from the installed sensor.

Sensor State Validation

The filament sensor should be tested before enabling automatic runout actions.

Recommended procedure:

  1. Power the controller safely.
  2. Confirm the sensor supply voltage.
  3. Read the raw input state without filament.
  4. Insert filament.
  5. Confirm that the input state changes.
  6. Remove filament.
  7. Confirm that the original state returns.
  8. Repeat several times.
  9. Confirm reliable mechanical movement.
  10. Only then enable automatic runout behaviour.

The sensor should reliably distinguish between:

  • Filament present
  • Filament absent

Mechanical Validation

Because the filament sensor includes a mechanical sensing mechanism, electrical validation alone is not sufficient.

Check:

  • Free movement of the ball
  • Correct magnet orientation
  • Reliable mechanical return
  • No binding
  • Correct response to filament insertion
  • Correct response to filament removal
  • Repeatability

The mechanism should return to the same state after repeated filament insertion and removal.

Runout Behaviour

The final Klipper behaviour for filament runout will be defined after the sensor has been validated.

Possible behaviour includes:

  • Pause the print
  • Retract or park the toolhead
  • Notify the user
  • Allow filament replacement
  • Resume the print

The final behaviour will be defined in the My-Cloner firmware configuration and operating documentation.

Troubleshooting Considerations

Sensor Does Not Change State

Check:

  • Sensor supply voltage
  • Signal wiring
  • Ground
  • Mechanical movement
  • Ball position
  • Magnet orientation
  • Selected MCU pin

State Is Reversed

The sensor may be electrically active-low or active-high.

Klipper allows signal inversion using the ! prefix where appropriate.

The required polarity must be confirmed from the physical sensor.

Intermittent Detection

Check:

  • Connector quality
  • Cable movement
  • Mechanical friction
  • Sensor alignment
  • Loose components
  • Electrical noise

Do not compensate for a mechanical fault purely through firmware.

Validation Status

Item Status
MKS TS35 V2.0 hardware Defined
Mainsail primary interface Defined
Robin Nano EXP1 mapping Source confirmed
Robin Nano EXP2 mapping Source confirmed
TS35 physical interface Pending validation
TS35 Klipper integration Pending validation
IR filament sensor type Defined
MT_DET1 pin Source confirmed — PA4
MT_DET2 pin Source confirmed — PE6
Final filament-sensor input Pending validation
Sensor supply voltage Pending confirmation
Sensor signal polarity Pending validation
Filament-present state Pending validation
Filament-absent state Pending validation
Klipper runout behaviour Pending configuration
Mechanical repeatability Pending physical validation

For the complete electrical mapping:

I/O Map

For the controller interfaces:

Controller Board

For the complete electrical architecture:

System Overview

For the future Klipper configuration:

Firmware Configuration

For filament loading and unloading:

Loading and Unloading Filament