Where do we add "feature requests" - Would like to see avalible 2 tools (Hot knife / wire and Drag knife)
Hi, not sure where to add this, would like to see a few tools avalible for the XL.
- Drag Knife (no power required), this would be for vinyl cutting, we have a Cricut for this, the XL would also work VERY well
- Hot wire / pole cutter (requires power) for cutting foam
I have 2 other tools for this, the XL would work VERY well for the above.
Many Thanks
RE: Where do we add "feature requests" - Would like to see avalible 2 tools (Hot knife / wire and Drag knife)
Hi @griffcomm i'm not sure exactly but probably somwhere there: https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware-Buddy/issues it's a github project for prusa firmware, but could be that it's the better project there, there is a few projects prusa have there. And here you have slicer issues: https://github.com/prusa3d/PrusaSlicer/issues in both of them you can create a new card with issue, and mark it as a feature request.
Cheers
RE: Where do we add "feature requests" - Would like to see avalible 2 tools (Hot knife / wire and Drag knife)
Contacted support, they suggested i send it to info@ as the XL is not in Git Hub (yet?)
Many Thanks
There have been several threads on here suggesting alteranative tools - usually cutters lasers or even sprayers, pick and place, and point soldering - in almost all cases the originator of the idea had not considered what to do with the resulting dust/debris or other residues; cleanliness is fundamental to successful 3D printing so most of these would have seriously impacted the machine's basic function.
Your suggestions are not as dirty as many but you are applying new stresses to the structure so you do need to consider how it might degrade the machine as a printer - if you can find a workaround then you may have something viable. Otherwise it may be better to design a new machine from scratch and use the XL to print the parts.
Cheerio,
RE: Where do we add "feature requests" - Would like to see avalible 2 tools (Hot knife / wire and Drag knife)
I am aware of some of the designs, bands / motors on any of these are 20 times stronger than the Cricut i have, the hotknife could be an issue, however if you have used any hot wire cutting, theres just about no resistance at all once its up to heat, as we anything they come with warnings, but i would prefer to buy a Prusa and use it with the hot knife knowing i need to check calibration than have to maintain 1-3 Cricut hardware using there own ecosystem, when i could be using a Prusa Slicer and the same software with the same machine..... stocking drive bands isnt an issue due to stretch from use.
Many Thanks
RE:
Drag knife is almost too simple, e.g.:
https://www.printables.com/model/35895-anycubic-i3-mega-drag-knife-mount
If you can stick this on the hotend of a regular printer you sacrifice nothing, just take off the knife when not needed. However on the XL it seems like a waste to sacrifice a whole toolchanger slot just for that. If there were a little space on the left side or back of the toolheads you could just stick it there, but I don't think that's possible. It would be complicated anyway, because you'll need at least the board containing the stuff for toolchange. Maybe sticking it on the XY carriage is viable, and would work the same on the single head.
But if you absolutely wanna go that route it would make more sense to get a large dedicated cheap printer for that purpose (though you'll still lose the capability for infinite length that many cutters have). In my opinion, the only tools that really make sense are those that can be meaningfully combined with 3D printing (e.g. quality checking camera, cleaning/drilling out holes in completed prints, stamp on labels, place nuts, stickers or magnets etc.).
On the single XL it makes no sense to me at all. Whoever gets that wants a machine that just prints 24/7. If you can afford such a machine and need vinyl cutting occasionally on such a small area, you can just as well get a 300USD entry level vinyl cutter and stuff it in a cupboard when not used (source: what I do).
Honestly I don't think these special tools idea will take off, it's just such a niche market. Possibly with the exception of a camera, especially if it can be integrated into a regular hotend. But that requires a lot of development because it's only really interesting if it can detect failing prints automatically.