Is it unavoidable to go through the pain of changing filaments manually?
Hello, for the i3MK3S, it is easy to manually change the filaments in the middle of the print job. However, last year some XL users mentioned that it was a pain to do that on the XL since the filament has to go though a very long tube from the filament spool to the extruder. Is the situation still the same?
RE: Is it unavoidable to go through the pain of changing filaments manually?
How else would you change the filament?
RE: Is it unavoidable to go through the pain of changing filaments manually?
A good way to reduce the need to change filament is to use the 2.5kg spools.
As for difficulty with the XL? It's actually a lot easier with the XL than the MK3. It's just a lot of waste. About a meter of filament goes into the dustbin. One way to avoid this is to "follow" the end of the filament with a new spool but that takes at least 15 minutes. So if you've got the time, you can save that meter of waste but 15 minutes is a lot of time. I do it a lot. I have time to waste.
How else would you change the filament?
RE: Is it unavoidable to go through the pain of changing filaments manually?
I wonder if there is a good mod to shorten the path.
How else would you change the filament?
RE: Is it unavoidable to go through the pain of changing filaments manually?
I really don't find any issue.just pulling to unload. Now loading cam ne finicky on rare occasions. The PTFE tube at times would get. dislodged while pushing new filament in. But still.no biggy.
RE:
Due to the longer path, unloading and loading would take longer. Would this lead to an overall longer print time? I suppose it might take longer to resume the print task as the nozzle temperature might drop more during the longer unloading and might take more time also to reach the print temperature after reload?
RE:
Why would you think it takes longer? Once the filament is ejected, a pull on the end removes it from the tube, all meter of it, and then just fit the new filament into the tube. Done. From what I've seen, the nozzle temperature and heat bed remain constant.
I had a lot more trouble on my MK3S+ changing filament.
Due to the longer path, unloading and loading would take longer. Would this lead to an overall longer time to resume the print task as the nozzle temperature might drop more during unloading and might take more time to reach the print temperature after reload?
RE: Is it unavoidable to go through the pain of changing filaments manually?
I think there's a confusion as to what the filament change is for. You are changing the filament because? To change color? It ran out?
RE:
You are right. Change color, not due to running out.
I think there's a confusion as to what the filament change is for. You are changing the filament because? To change color? It ran out?
RE: Is it unavoidable to go through the pain of changing filaments manually?
so are we talking of a single head then? because if its a 5 head, then unless you want a 6th color then you do a manual color change.
if its a single head, then yeah you'd have to assign a manual change. don't worry about the:
Due to the longer path, unloading and loading would take longer. Would this lead to an overall longer print time? I suppose it might take longer to resume the print task as the nozzle temperature might drop more during the longer unloading and might take more time also to reach the print temperature after reload?
i've had to load a new spool because the toolhead ran out of filament and was waiting for me to reload for 8 hours. print finished just fine. print time? this is 3d printing so things take time! what's a couple of minutes to change a filament.
RE:
Yes, single head. That is why I posted on this single-tool sub-forum. If I change color within a print often, it adds up so I need to worry about potential longer print time.
RE: Is it unavoidable to go through the pain of changing filaments manually?
To be honest, it sounds like what you really want are more print heads.
RE: Is it unavoidable to go through the pain of changing filaments manually?
If you have the right setup you can skip the whole Tube. Just disable the filament sensor and mount your filament at least 1.2 Meters above the printer. The last part is important so it doesn't get untangled.
Then just disconnect the Tube and connect a tube that is only 3cm long on the print head.
Tadaaa!
RE: Is it unavoidable to go through the pain of changing filaments manually?
Is the situation still the same?
Yes it is.
some XL users mentioned that it was a pain to do that on the XL since the filament has to go though a very long tube from the filament spool to the extruder
No it's not. It takes a second longer to pull the filament out than on the Mk3S, and you waste 10 cents worth of filament. Not what I call "a pain". Back when my XL still had one head only, I swapped filament frequently no problem.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...