MultiMateria Upgrade Pros and Cons
I was very excited to receive my kit but have held off a bit with the install while I evaluate the pros and cons. Obviously the pro is multiple materials! But what are the other considerations (note I didn't specifically say 'cons' just things to consider)? Perhaps people can add to the list I've started? I'm not including issues directly related to MM printing like using more materials and reduction of viable print area due to wipe towers, etc.
Hardware:
Software:
Also, what considerations are there for 'de-installing' the kit? Would firmware need to be downgraded and if so, is that possible? I have become so accustomed to my MK2S printing reliably with whatever filament I throw at it I I can't help but be apprehensive about making changes.
Re: MultiMateria Upgrade Pros and Cons
I can see why you're apprehensive about fitting the MM upgrade. I'll be honest, after fitting my MM upgrade back in June I had a few problems that lead me to consider removing it and reflashing back to an MK2S. I persevered and now I reckon the MM is quite a reliable machine.
The larger footprint can be quite a negative. At home I have the printer on the spare room floor but when I take it to work (I'm a Mech Eng) I have to put the printer on a desk and the spools go on the floor.
Once I got used to loading the filaments correctly, I've had no problems with jamming and I've been buying fairly cheap filament. I've printed plenty of PLA and ABS and only really had bed adhesion related failures. This machine has been fairly constantly busy since I built it in mid-June. I've only printed about a dozen multicolour items though, most of my stuff is single colour.
The MM upgrade forced me to use Slic3r and I didn't like that at first, but I now prefer it to Simplify3D.
Just a couple of weeks ago I got myself a black MK2S to join the orange MK2SMM and now I have no regrets upgrading the first one. They'll be kept busy for the next month or so with some things I'm working on a home.
Re: MultiMateria Upgrade Pros and Cons
I've been fighting mine for quite some time. I had jams for as long as I've had the unit. The material would form a blob at the tip, and when retracting up into the steel tubes in the multiplexer - it would get stuck.
I almost gave up on it too, but just as carl.g did, I kept pushing forward.
Well, fast forward to yesterday - when I ended up getting a very nasty clog in the nozzle. Even with the normal cleaning steps, I couldn't get the thing to get unclogged. So, open up my spare parts bin to grab a .4 nozzle from one of my other hot ends - and blam... ALL of my jamming problems went away.
The blobs aren't forming anymore., which is absolutely amazing. I'm now on my 2nd multi color print without even a hint of jamming now. This is one area that the cheap manufacturers of nozzles can get a pass.
For your concerns on space, I completely agree however, and it required a bit of critical thinking to put it together where the printer isn't taking up all the real estate available. I ended up mounting a solution above the printer to hold the spools, then fed it into the motors via a couple of PTFE tubes. It's not the most beautiful or elegant solution, but it did solve the space issue by leaps and bounds. I'm not taking up much more space than the original printer did with the spool hanging off the top.
Pic attached. 5 Cool points if you ignore the mess. This is the first set of tests after drilling out the frame and I haven't run it through a paper towel / garbage bag job yet.
Re: MultiMateria Upgrade Pros and Cons
So, open up my spare parts bin to grab a .4 nozzle from one of my other hot ends - and blam... ALL of my jamming problems went away.
That is exactly my solution, except I ensure I have plenty of spare new nozzles. I tend to change them about every 2 to 4 weeks.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: MultiMateria Upgrade Pros and Cons
I really appreciate the insightful responses. I’m currently using an Olsson Ruby nozzle so I’m hoping that ends up a worthwhile investment. I guess it’s time for assembly!
Re: MultiMateria Upgrade Pros and Cons
BTW Jonathan, pretty hard core with the frame drilling but that is as compact as I think anyone will get. I am impressed the Bowden setup works with multiple, tighter bends. Also, you’ll need to elaborate on paper towel/garage bag job?
Re: MultiMateria Upgrade Pros and Cons
Can you post more information on your spool solution? I find the current MM setup to be pretty unusable.
I've been fighting mine for quite some time. I had jams for as long as I've had the unit. The material would form a blob at the tip, and when retracting up into the steel tubes in the multiplexer - it would get stuck.
I almost gave up on it too, but just as carl.g did, I kept pushing forward.
Well, fast forward to yesterday - when I ended up getting a very nasty clog in the nozzle. Even with the normal cleaning steps, I couldn't get the thing to get unclogged. So, open up my spare parts bin to grab a .4 nozzle from one of my other hot ends - and blam... ALL of my jamming problems went away.
The blobs aren't forming anymore., which is absolutely amazing. I'm now on my 2nd multi color print without even a hint of jamming now. This is one area that the cheap manufacturers of nozzles can get a pass.
For your concerns on space, I completely agree however, and it required a bit of critical thinking to put it together where the printer isn't taking up all the real estate available. I ended up mounting a solution above the printer to hold the spools, then fed it into the motors via a couple of PTFE tubes. It's not the most beautiful or elegant solution, but it did solve the space issue by leaps and bounds. I'm not taking up much more space than the original printer did with the spool hanging off the top.
Pic attached. 5 Cool points if you ignore the mess. This is the first set of tests after drilling out the frame and I haven't run it through a paper towel / garbage bag job yet.
Re: MultiMateria Upgrade Pros and Cons
Take my build with a grain of salt. There are a few things that I'd probably change if I have to do it over.
1. The filament spools are very close to the top of the printer frame. If I run full calibration, I need to remove the two front ones, otherwise they interfere with the bowden tubes when you have to take the carriage to max. It wouldn't hurt to raise them even further to prevent them getting in the way of the tubes.
2. Dean.B4 is right, and I'm worried about the bends in the bowden tubes I added. So far it's not posing a problem, but I'm just waiting for the day that I get one of those filament roles that seem to break very easily because it's brittle.
Here are some more pics.
- I used a bowden coupler on the extruder motors (had to drill out a tiny bit to make the hole bigger in order to accept the threaded side of the coupler)
- The spool holder is just some PVC pipe and clamps I picked up from the hardware store, approx $8 total.
- It's all mounted to the frame using a bunch of L brackets and a couple of brace bars, probably about $6 to $8 also.
- I didn't snap a pic of it, but the motors are mounted via a screw instead of the original zip tie idea that was bound to disappoint.
Total is about $15 - $20 or so. Probably could have been cheaper, but I was trying to figure out what to do at the same time. *Oh and the comment about not having done a paper towel and garbage bag job yet - was me just not cleaning up yet... I needed to clean up all the metal shavings and get rid of em'. It's exactly NOT awesome finding those shavings when you're not expecting to put your arm down on them. 😮
Re: MultiMateria Upgrade Pros and Cons
With the angle of the motors being changed post-beta, this is the nicest spool arrangement I have seen.
On the beta test printers, the feed angle of the motors was not as steep and the filament does not interfere with the cable bundles or the part; the feeder tubes were long enough to go from the spool holders to the motors.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…