Getting Started #
You will need the following to install the kit:
- The TH3D EZOut V2 Kit
- If you have the Standard (SKR/MKS/Tornado/CR-10S)/Wanhao D6 a heat gun or hair dryer to install the heat shrink on the adapter PCB after making the connections
- Tools to open your control box
- PC To Flash the Firmware
- Unified 2 Firmware
- Some machines like the CR-10, Ender 3, and Wanhao i3 with 8 Bit Boards need their bootloader flashed. See here on how to flash: Bootloader Flashing Guide – 1284p Boards – TH3D Studio LLC
Warnings #
Our sensors are intended to be used with a compatible EZOut adapter PCB or with a board that is directly supported (like our EZBoard). Plugging the EZOut sensor to your board without the proper adapter PCB can result in damage to your printer board.
Always use the included cable that came with the EZOut sensor. Do NOT use cables from other sensors with our EZOut sensor, this is because connections can vary between manufacturers despite using the same cable ends.
If you choose to purchase just a sensor on its own, then you are expected to know how to correctly “pin” the cable to match your board pinout. Pinout information is listed below. You are welcome to use our sensors with any board, but support is not able to assist with non-supported printer boards or other 3rd party boards.
Octoprint Plugin Issues
If you are using the “Detailed Progress” plugin, this can spam the printer with M117 messages when the printer is paused. It will make resuming the print take forever because of the queued-up M117 commands. It is not recommended to use this plugin with any filament sensor-equipped printer.
How the EZOut Kit Works #
The EZOut kit works by adding a sensor on to your filament. This sensor is intended to just be placed on the filament itself and not mounted.
There are some community members made mounts for various printers on Thingiverse but we do not mount ours here at TH3D. Mounting the sensor can make loading filament difficult as you now must guide the filament through the sensor and the extruder. Leaving the sensor un-mounted allows you to slide it on the filament and then into the extruder as normal.
Kits with the 3 Pin Adapter Board and Short Cable #
Workflow with the EZOut Sensor #
Once the kit is installed the firmware will monitor the state of the sensor in the housing. When the filament runs out and triggers the sensor it tells the printer to pause the print. Then the firmware will park the printer head in a corner of the bed (this varies on firmware and printer version) and move the Z up slightly to get it away from your print. On some machines, the printer will back the filament out slightly when it parks the head for the change.
Inserting Filament – Make sure you insert the filament in the direction the arrow on the sensor is pointing. If you have a print where you do not want filament monitoring, then just insert a small piece of filament in the sensor and set it to the side.
Hotend not heated up? After a few minutes, if the filament is not changed, the printer will cool the hotend and wait for you to have it resume. The firmware will keep the bed heated so the print on it does not lose adhesion. There will be a message on the LCD of the printer letting you know that it is waiting for you to load more filament.
Loading Filament – When loading new filament you must pass it through the sensor and then into your printer extruder. Feed the filament in manually until it stops at the hotend. You can then press the LCD button and it will resume the reloading process. If the hotend has cooled because it has been a few minutes since it ran out, then you will have to press the LCD button and wait for it to heat back up. Once it is at temperature again, it will purge the filament out of the nozzle.
Resuming the Print – After the filament is purged, the printer will ask you to “Continue” or “Purge More”. If the filament is flowing out of the nozzle smoothly, then you can hit continue. If it is not flowing out smoothly, then select the “Purge More” option and then select “Continue”. Make sure to remove the purged filament and clean off your nozzle before hitting “Continue”.
At this point the printer will resume your print.
Printer not listed here? #
If a particular machine/board is not covered in here, then refer to the Unified firmware for your printer/board combination as there are directions in the firmware configuration file itself for connecting the EZOut kits to the boards. Most currently supported printers are not listed here, so refer to the EZOut section in our Unified firmware for your printer.
EZOut + EZBoard V1/V2 #
Follow the EZBoard installation guide for your board version for connecting the EZOut sensor to the EZBoard. Adapter boards of ANY kind should NEVER be used with our EZBoards as they natively support our sensors without any adapters.
CR-10/Ender 3/Ender 3 Pro/Ender 5 #
This applies to the 8 Bit (V1.1.X) and 32 Bit (V4.2.X) Boards.
CR-10 – Open your control box and remove the power supply. You do not need to disconnect the wires from the power supply, just move it out of the way so you can see your board. In the guide we have a CR-10/Ender3 Style Board outside of the control box so we can clearly show you where things plug in. Your board may be a different color/than the one shown here.
Ender 3/3 Pro/5 – Open your control area housing. There will be a fan connected to this. Make sure not to pull on it. Put the top cover aside while installing this kit and then reinstall in the same way you took it apart. Route the new filament sensor cable out the same direction as the hotend/extruder wires. In the guide we have a CR-10/Ender3 Style Board outside of the control box so we can clearly show you where things plug in. Your board may be a different color/than the one shown here.
You will want to update your firmware before installing the kit. The firmware installs the same way as our others, and you can find the complete flashing guide for the firmware and bootloader in this help center. Look for the “EZOUT” lines in the firmware and uncomment for your machine.
If you installed the firmware correctly the speaker will emit a continuous beep. You may now unplug the printer from USB and all power then proceed with the installation steps below.
Unplug your LCD Cable from the CR-10/Ender3 Board and note the tab on the one side of the LCD cable.
Insert the EZOut module as shown. Make sure the EZOut plug covers ALL the LCD header pins. If you do not it will not work.
Connect your LCD Cable to the EZOut board. Pay attention to the tab on the LCD Cable. This tab should face the white filament sensor connector on the EZOut board. Make sure you line up the pins on the plug with the pins on the EZOut board as well. See the pictures below.
Connect the filament sensor cable to the EZOut Module. It will only insert one way.
At this point you can route the other end of the cable out of your control box and connect the end that is outside the control box to the filament sensor.
You can now power up your printer. The LCD should come on and if you insert filament into the sensor the LED in the sensor will turn on.
The last thing to do is update your slicer starting code by adding the M75 command to the starting script. All you need to add is M75 at the top of the starting script (our example has a note after it so we remember what it is for)
Wanhao i3 #
Open your control box and remove the power supply. You do not need to disconnect the wires from the power supply, just move it out of the way so you can see your board. In the guide we have the board outside of the control box so we can clearly show you where things plug in.
You will want to update your firmware before installing the kit. The firmware installs the same way as our others, and you can find the complete flashing guide for the firmware and bootloader in this help center. Look for the “EZOUT” lines in the firmware and uncomment for your machine.
If you installed the firmware correctly the speaker will emit a continuous beep. You may now unplug the printer from USB and all power then proceed with the installation steps below.
Unplug your LCD Cable from the Wanhao i3 Board and note the tab on the one side of the LCD cable.
Insert the EZOut module as shown. Make sure the EZOut plug covers ALL the LCD header pins. If you do not it will not work.
Connect your LCD Cable to the EZOut board. Pay attention to the tab on the LCD Cable. This tab should face the white filament sensor connector on the EZOut board. Make sure you line up the pins on the plug with the pins on the EZOut board as well. See the pictures below.
Connect the filament sensor cable to the EZOut Module. It will only insert one way.
At this point you can route the other end of the cable out of your control box and connect the end that is outside the control box to the filament sensor.
You can now power up your printer. The LCD should come on and if you insert filament into the sensor the LED in the sensor will turn on.
The last thing to do is update your slicer starting code by adding the M75 command to the starting script. All you need to add is M75 at the top of the starting script (our example has a note after it so we remember what it is for).
Ender 2 #
Open your control box (where the LCD is). You do not need to disconnect the wires, just move them out of the way so you can see your board.
You will want to update your firmware before installing the kit. The firmware installs the same way as our others, and you can find the complete flashing guide for the firmware and bootloader in this help center. Look for the “EZOUT” lines in the firmware and uncomment for your machine.
Unplug your LCD Cable from the Ender 2 Board and note the tab on the one side of the LCD cable.
Insert the EZOut module as shown. Make sure the EZOut plug covers ALL the LCD header pins. Connect the 2 pin red/black cable to the “CHECK” header next to the LCD Socket. If you do not it will not work.
Connect your LCD Cable to the EZOut board. Pay attention to the tab on the LCD Cable. This tab should face the white filament sensor connector on the EZOut board. Make sure you line up the pins on the plug with the pins on the EZOut board as well. See the pictures below.
Connect the 3 pin filament sensor cable to the EZOut Module. It will only insert one way.
At this point you can route the other end of the cable out of your control box and connect the end that is outside the control box to the filament sensor.
You can now power up your printer. The LCD should come on and if you insert filament into the sensor the LED in the sensor will turn on.
The last thing to do is update your slicer starting code by adding the M75 command to the starting script. All you need to add is M75 at the top of the starting script (our example has a note after it so we remember what it is for).
Firmware Information #
Our sensors are supported in our Unified 2 Firmware for quick setup.
If a particular version is not covered in the installation guide, then the directions for use and connection are included in the firmware for your printer/board.
Marlin Sensor Settings #
- Marlin 1.1.X uses FIL_RUNOUT_INVERTING false
- Marlin 2.0.6+ uses FIL_RUNOUT_STATE LOW
EZOut Sensor Wiring Information/Specs #
The EZOut connects to an IO Pin (signal), Ground, and VCC (3.3 or 5V DC). If you are using our EZOut kit (with the adapter boards) then this information is not needed as the kits are plug and play with no wiring changes needed.
- Red = VCC (3.3-5V DC)
- Black = Ground
- White = Signal
