Filament Counter for FLSUN Q5 (metric)

Glue needed.

Only works with the Extruder that came with the machine and got the big black plastic gear at its right side. It makes Use of one Mounting hole from the Filament holder ontop of the machine and one in the back of it. 

How to Print: Important!!

Open the .3mf with a slicer of your choice. I recommend using orca slicer as i have split the parts into 3 print plates with the name of the plate instructing you what to do

I also added all parts as single .stl files if you prefer it over 3mf files

If you open it with any other slicer, print these parts

• With 0.2 nozzle
  • reduction_gear2.stl
  • reduction_gear1.stl
  • transfer_gear_with_screw_connector.stl
  • Start_cap_glue_with_Drive_Gear_Hole_and_threads_for_axle2.stl
  • counter_drive_gear_with_threads.stl
  • axle_screw_for_reduction_gear2_counter_clockwise.stl
  • axle_screw_for_reduction_gear1.stl
• With 0.4 nozzle
  • gearbox_chassis.stl
  • end_cap_glue.stl
• For the digits print this set with 0.4 nozzle multiple times till you got your amount of digits you want to display (those are the only original files from the original counter)
  • Number_Ring.stl
  • Core_Glue.stl
  • Index_Gear.stl

Assembly of the Mechanical Counter: Use glue or 3d gloop

1. remove any elefant foot or stringing from all parts
2. sand the outside circle of the “Core_Glue.stl” and make shure it rotates nicely inside the “Number_Gear.stl” (core inserted into the number ring from the left with the connection sticks pointing left)
3. make sure the “index_gear.stl” is rotating nice on the longer connector of the core. If not, use a drill with 4.5mm diameter and drill up the hole
4. Place the “Start_glue_with_Drive_Gear_Hole_and_threads_for_axle2.stl” flat on the Table with the connectors pointing up. Place the “counter_drive_gear_with_threads.stl” with the gear part pointing up into the hole and make shure it rotates nice. Leave it there and continue.
5. Take the first Number ring and place it on the start cap with the inside gears down. The numbers now should lay on their right side. This first Digit counts in 10 centimeter steps. One full rotation = 1 meter. When placing the 0 digit should line up with the cut out line of the start cap.
6. Take the “Core_Glue.stl”, apply a little bit of glue, not much, into the small holes on the back of it, carefully place it inside the Number ring. Make sure that the opening of the core ring with the long connector where the “Index_Gear.stl” goes is in the front. The front is, where the cut out line on the Start cap is. The line is indicating where to read the number line. After placing the core, rotate the number ring to avoid it getting glued too if you spell some or if glue came out.
7. Place the “Index_Ring.stl” onto the cores long connector making sure the log teeth of the gears reach down and the short teeth of the gears resting on the small ledge of the number ring. Now when you turn the Number ring one full rotation or more, the index gear should only be rotated once every full rotation. 
8. Take the next Number ring and place it onto the core with the 0 digit aligning with the other rings. This one Displays 1 Meter per digit. 1 full rotation = 10 meters of filament
9. Now Repeat from step 6. Each Digit you add will add one Digit to the Display.
   1. Number Ring = 10 centimeter per Digit
   2. Number Rings = 1 Meter per Digit
   3. Number Rings = 10 Meters per Digit
   4. Number Rings = 100 Meters per Digit
   5. Number Rings = 1000 Meters per Digit
   6. and so on
10. Finally, for the last digit you dont need the index gear and just glue on the “end_cap_glue.stl” with the cut out line lining up with the one of the start cap.

The Counter is now fully assembled. Test it if it works by rotating the 10cm digit ring. if you rotate ir backwards when all digits are 00000000 it should turn all rings showing 9999999.

Assembly of the Gearbox:

1. Place the medium sized “reduction_gear1.stl” inside the gearbox with the big gear left and small gear right. It must align with the long standoff that goes out to the left. Screw in the shorter axle “axle_screw_for_reduction_gear1.stl” from the right side of the gearbox. Clockwise turning, not too tight. Make sure it rotates with the least amount of friction. No bearings needed, it wont wear out.
2. place the small “transfer_gear_with_screw_connector.stl” with the screw part sticking into the left side of the gearbox. It will screw into the drive gear of the counter at the last step. 
3. place the biggest gear “reduction_gear2.stl” between the other 2 gears. Make sure the big gear engages with the small gear of the first reduction gear. The transfer gear should engage with the similar sized gear of the reduction gear 2. Take the longer axle "axle_screw_for_reduction_gear2_counter_clockwise.stl" into the gear and gearbox from the right with the screw part sticking out to the left.

Your Gearbox is now complete. Lets connect the counter and the gearbox.

Last Assembly step:

1. place the counter and the gearbox according to the preview pictures and rotate the 10cm digit counting down, so it can screw onto the transfer gear. When you feel that the start cap is touching the gearbox, stop rotating or it will destroy the transfer gear. 
2. screw the long axle counter clockwise into the start cap screw hole until its in, not to much, else you pinch the gears inside the gearbox and create unwanted friction. 

Thats it, your Filament counter is ready to go onto your printer.

Assembly at the printer.

• Screw out the right screw of the filament holder position and remove any existing filament holders that are currently on there. 
• Screw out the back right screw at the top of the printer.
• Place the counter with the gears engaging with the extruder and the screw holes lining up
• Screw the 2 screws you unscrewed back in.

Now you just need to extrude 10cm of filament and watch the counter rotate 1 digit. 

If you got it assembled right, leave a comment and like. If i misspelled anything or if some assembly steps seem confusing dont be shy to comment and let me know.