3Drag / K8200 - Optical end stop for X, Y and Z axis

The end stops for the X, Y and Z axis in the 3Drag / Velleman K8200 printer are simple switches that may introduce noise to the controller board that may result in an unwanted shift between the plastic layers printed.

Here I present a simple set of components that can be used to replace the all switches by optical end stops. The pieces are designed to be used with the Optical Endstop Light Control Limit Optical Switch for 3D Printers RAMPS 1.4 that can be bought in aliexpress.

X axis

Print the files end_stop_X_Y_axis_1of2.stl and end_stop_X_Y_axis_2of2.stl. The first component is used to mount the optical end stop circuit to the X-axis stepper motor. The second element is mounted on the moving platform in the position where was located the screw that activates the switch. This component is used to block the light in the sensor (see picture).

Y axis

Print (again) the files end_stop_X_Y_axis_1of2.stl and end_stop_X_Y_axis_2of2.stl. The first component is used to mount the optical end stop circuit to the plastic component where the switch for the Y-axis is located (see picture). The second component is mounted also on the moving platform in the position where was located the screw used to activate the switch.

Z axis

In this case, the sensor is attached directly to the Z-axis stepper motor. The plastic component end_stop_Z_axis.stl is used to set the position of a screw that blocks the light on the sensor (see picture).

** Important **
Don't forget that in order to be able to use optical end stops, a bridge between 5v and GND has to be soldered, as shown in the circuit figure. Please pay attention to the correspondence between the board pins and the optical end stop pins (in the figure are shown only for illustrative purposes).