Probe Top Picks
Is there so many options you have developed choice paralysis? Here are our top picks.
I Am Speed: Cartographer
Section titled “I Am Speed: Cartographer”Cartographer is blazing fast at taking a mesh of the bed. By scanning the bed eith its Eddy current sensor it can used a fixed Z postion and only move in the X and Y. While this this is true of all Eddy currenr sensors, Cartographer stands out for its ongoing development, solid toolhead and community support, all at a reasonable price.
Accuracy Above All: TAP
Section titled “Accuracy Above All: TAP”TAP, developed by the Voron team, trades toolhead ridgity and weight for simplicty and accuracy. Tap operates by using a beefy linear rail and rare earth magnets to hold the toolhead in place but slide in the Z when the nozzle touched the bed. While not the lightest or fastest probe, it ensures reliable and accurate probing beyond all other solutions and the z offset can be reused after nozzles changes or toolhead swaps. With its full build guide, Voron team support, and a number of CNC aluminum and carbon fiber mods, its a solid and reliable probe.
El Cheapo: Klicky
Section titled “El Cheapo: Klicky”Klicky stands out from the pack for its hardware simplicty and toolhead weight savings. Simply attach the dock to your frame, mount to the toolhead, and watch with amazement as your homebuilt robot picks up and drops off the probe on your command. It can be thrown together with a cheap mouse switch, some solder wick, screws, and some printed parts making it 1/4 or less the price of other probe solutions. While there are several similar docking probes, Klicky’s standout feature is the klipper macro support. The developers have spent many hours crafting macros that ensure reliable docking and undocking in every scenario. Bonus points if your dock has a servo, because who doesnt love a good ol’ servo action?
