Do you measure your Prusa filament?  

RE: Do you measure your Prusa filament?

I have to say that I'm lazy and don't measure my filament diameter. But, I do run an extrusion multiplier calibration for each Make/Model (but not color) of each filament. I'm hoping the extrusion multiplier calibration accounts for out of spec filament diameter...

RE: Do you measure your Prusa filament?

Posted by: @sembazuru

I have to say that I'm lazy and don't measure my filament diameter. But, I do run an extrusion multiplier calibration for each Make/Model (but not color) of each filament. I'm hoping the extrusion multiplier calibration accounts for out of spec filament diameter...

I do something very similar. A lot of the filament width artifacts I fight with fine detail are due to rapid changes in filament width. You'd need some sort of LUT to account for it. So measuring filament width is not buying me anything. I just try to avoid using Fillamentum, eSun or other +-0.05mm filaments if I am trying to create super-tiny details like miniatures. 

I'm curious what you define as a "make/model"? Say, would Galaxy Black/Purple be in the same group as Jet Black/Azure Blue?

RE: Do you measure your Prusa filament?

In general I'm not trying to achieve best looking print results where 0.02mm variance is playing a role. You can spend so much time to dial in for one filament/printer/object. But you will need to do the same thing again for even a different object with the same printer/filament. Not worth wasting my time.

That's why I check the filament only if it's causing any trouble. Most of the brands I'm using are printing pretty reliable.

RE: Do you measure your Prusa filament?

When I am printing with a 0.25mm nozzle, I will print a calibration cube for every roll I put on as I am obviously doing fine detail.  If I'm printing with a 0.4mm nozzle and just doing normal printing, I generally calibrate when I start a new manufacturer/type of filament, or when there are print artifacts (under/over extrusion) that make me think the filament may be a bit big or small.  And I generally try and order +/-0.03mm or better filaments unless I'm in a real bind.

RE: Do you measure your Prusa filament?

I have often wondered how much it really matters if it’s +/-0.02mm or if it’s +/-0.05mm. 
Lately I have exclusively used filaments that claims +/-0.025mm but in all honesty I can’t say I noticed any difference (I’m not saying there isn’t). So my question is; is there a good way to illustrate the difference? I can read the numbers but how much is it really?

I do realize this may sound like a really dumb question...

Is the percentage the same for the difference in diameters as you would need to adjust your flow settings?

RE: Do you measure your Prusa filament?

Posted by: @kaiede

Posted by: @sembazuru

I have to say that I'm lazy and don't measure my filament diameter. But, I do run an extrusion multiplier calibration for each Make/Model (but not color) of each filament. I'm hoping the extrusion multiplier calibration accounts for out of spec filament diameter...

I do something very similar. A lot of the filament width artifacts I fight with fine detail are due to rapid changes in filament width. You'd need some sort of LUT to account for it. So measuring filament width is not buying me anything. I just try to avoid using Fillamentum, eSun or other +-0.05mm filaments if I am trying to create super-tiny details like miniatures. 

I'm curious what you define as a "make/model"? Say, would Galaxy Black/Purple be in the same group as Jet Black/Azure Blue?

 

By make and model I mean make = manufacturer, model = plastic type.

RE: Do you measure your Prusa filament?

@sw3de

Extrusion is a volume and a change in diameter is squared when computing the volume.  So will 0.02mm is a 1.14% change in width of the filament, its a 2.30% change in extruded volume.  0.05mm is a 5.80% change in volume.  So a +/- 0.02mm filament can vary in extruded volume by 4.6%.  A +/- 0.05mm filament can vary by 11.60%.  If you calibrate so you have no under extrusion, the you can end up over extruding by more than 10%.  Likewise, if you calibrate for no over extrusion, you can under  extrude by 10%.  That's a noticeable amount -- especially over extrusion on the top layer.

One other thing to consider.  The PTFE tube is 1.85mm +/-0.02mm.  If you get a PTFE tube on the small end, 1.83mm and a +/-0.05mm filament on the large end, 1.80mm, your clearance is going to be tight, to say the least.  And that's assuming that the filament is truly less that +0.05mm.  

RE: Do you measure your Prusa filament?

@william-m51

I guess you attended your math classes 😀

Thank you for a spot on answer!