Temperature Sensors
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Temperature Sensors are used to measure the current temperature of a printers heated parts, such as Hotends, Heated Beds, and Enclosures. This sensor is typically a Thermistor, however, RTDs are also used.
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A thermistors electrical resistance varies depending on the temperatures it is currently being exposed to. The mainboard measures this resistance and uses the information to calculate the current temperature.
An RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) is similar to a thermistor except that it is made out of a metal rather than a ceramic or polymer resistive material. They offer a wider range and higher working temperature (often above 400C) than thermistors. The resistance varies with temperature by about half an ohm per degree vs hundreds of ohms per degree with a thermistor. Consequentially dedicated amplifier boards are generally required to use an RTD on a 3D printer. The most commonly used RTDs are the PT100 and PT1000
A thermocouple outputs a temperature dependent voltage which can then be measured and used to calculate its current temperature. This means thermocouples are not drop in replacements for thermistors - additional electronics are required to use thermocouples with a board designed to function with a thermistor.
