Strain Gauge/Load Cell based Endstops

best I can do is this render on the Prusa XL blog post:


You can see the “barbell” shape cut into the aluminum frame below the gear? That’s a beam load cell element.

I’ve tried to model something myself last night and I’m not happy about the “Design for Manufacture” aspects of this solution:

Its in 2 parts to make accessing the screws in the hot end and the extruder possible. It requires machining from 3 sides of the load cell part which is expensive. The support bar on top has 2 threaded features. It’s width is controlled by the hot end, so I cant easily control the bending modulus that way. I’d like to see a single part solution with fewer machining steps/setups.

But maybe this is enough to get the creative juices flowing? OnShape Link

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