How Do I Change Filament Mid Print
I have a project printing right now, and thought that I would make it through the print without changing filament, but was wrong. How do I stop print temporarily to change filament, and then continue printing project? Don't want to wait for sensor to tell me it's out. Need answer pretty soon.
I have a MK3s
Been there, done that.
You didn't say which printer you have. I believe all of them have a "Change filament" routine built into the firmware, but I find it easier to just shove the start of a new reel into the extruder hole as the last of the old reel is disappearing into it (clip off any kink that is present), keeping pressure on it until grabbed by the bondic gears. Slightly taper the new end. For the MK3 series you have to follow the movement of the gantry, which can be challenging if it is making rapid movements, but the gears should grab the new filament within a minute or so. For the Mini you have to keep the pressure on until the new end reaches the extruder gears, which may take several minutes, depending on the feed rate, but at least no gantry following is necessary. You can periodically pull back very slightly on the filament to see if it has been grabbed yet. Once it has been, you're home free.
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RE: Sorry.....
.... didn't see you specified a MK3. The rest of my post is apropos.
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Easy - cut it.
You can just cut the filament near the extruder body and it will initiate a filament change shortly.
Another option..
You can also pause the print, unload filament, load the other filament, and then click on resume print. This is how I do it but the other ways will work too.
Last option
If you use octoprint, you can pause it there too.
You can also pause the print, unload filament, load the other filament, and then click on resume print. This is how I do it but the other ways will work too.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
Octoprint pause - ruins the print
I do not recommend using Octoprint pause - it just stops the head right where it is at at the moment, right on the print in most cases, and burns a hole.
RE:
@reddawg says and I agree, feeding it in with the existing print in operation makes for a far more consistent introduction of the new filament as you don't lose the heat, don't get stringing as it moves away during the normal change filament process and all that stuff. As I type this, I have a 21hour print going on and was worrying about having enough on the spool...so I just cut the existing filament near the print head, and feed in the new stuff as @reddawg mentions. It's easy