First layer calibration with .6 nozzle on MK3S
I'm new to all of this so bear with me! I got the MK3S and was able to dial in the default .4 nozzle pretty well doing the First Layer Calibration from the LCD. However since I swapped it out with a .6 I have never been able to get it right. It seems like not enough filament is flowing through. I tried rewashing the spring plate with warm soapy water, slowing down the speed, and all the other tricks I did for the .4mm nozzle, but it still not sticking properly. And once I lower the z adjustment low enough that I feel like it should stick, it is then too low and starts to curl and bunch up.
Does this calibration work with. 6 nozzle? Is there a setting I need to adjust so it knows to let extra filament through? Any tips are appreciated! Thanks!
RE: First layer calibration with .6 nozzle on MK3S
I believe an upcoming firmware release will allow different nozzle sizes for the on board Live-Z adjustment. Definitely will allow different filaments.
In the meantime, you can borrow the idea of Jeff Jordan's "Life Adjust" procedure and print a 75x75mm square one layer high and adjust Live-Z as it prints. I like to use a shape with straight edges to get the infill-perimeter gaps right.
I've got some notes on the process here with some andsample shapes, and Jeff Jordan's post that started it all is here.
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RE: First layer calibration with .6 nozzle on MK3S
I use a different Live Z for each nozzle size. Suggested procedure:
* Establish a Live Z for standard nozzle: note this setting.
* After your first nozzle change to 0.6 (or whatever size you change to) establish a Live Z for the 0.6 nozzle (or whatever size you change to): note this setting.
* When you change a nozzle to a different size change the Live Z to your last recorded Live Z for that nozzle size.
I use 0.25, 0.4, and 0.6 nozzles and change between them a few times a week depending on the task or finish. After each nozzle change I change the Live Z to my last recorded setting for the nozzle that I changed to. I find that sometimes I need to slightly change the Live Z depending on filament, who knows what, so many variables. I keep a written note by the printer with my Live Z settings for each nozzle size.
I guess that the relationship between the Live Z settings for nozzle sizes will be close enough to get anyone started. My settings - not seriously fine tuned but working ok are:
* 0.25: 0.740
* 0.4: 0.680
* 0.6: 0.650
So we see that that nozzle 0.25 is Live Z .060 greater than for nozzle 0.4 and nozzle 0.6 is Live Z 0.03 less than for nozzle 0.4. I do not suggest that you use my settings because these can be different for every printer. You may find the relative differences between the Live Z settings useful.
In fact after my Mk3 to Mk3S MMU2 upgrade I just established a good Live Z for the 0.4 nozzle and used my existing noted relative Live Z differences between my nozzle sizes to get going quickly and without problems: so far:-)
Cheers
Neil
TANSTAAFL
RE: First layer calibration with .6 nozzle on MK3S
Ok good to know I'm not too crazy. I'll give it the ol college try. Thanks guys!
RE: First layer calibration with .6 nozzle on MK3S
I am also new to the hobby, but don't you have to also change the setting on prusaslicer for each nozzle size other than what the software comes programmed with?
RE: First layer calibration with .6 nozzle on MK3S
[...] don't you have to also change the setting on prusaslicer for each nozzle size other than what the software comes programmed with?
You need to specify the nozzle size, correct. I just save a custom printer profile for each nozzle size.
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RE: First layer calibration with .6 nozzle on MK3S
@bobstro
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I have been researching for an hour, and I can't find a guide to changing slicer settings from 0.4 mm to 0.2 mm (or 0.6mm).
Can someone point me to a resource?
THANKS!
RE: First layer calibration with .6 nozzle on MK3S
Actually, there are settings for 0.25, 0.6, and 0.8 nozzles built right into the Prusa Slicer. These two links were very helpful to me.
Prusa Knowledge Base | Creating profiles for different nozzles (prusa3d.com)
Everything about nozzles with a different diameter - Prusa Printers
RE: First layer calibration with .6 nozzle on MK3S
Unless you also want to make print quality changes, there's not a lot that needs to be adjusted to accommodate different nozzle sizes. The only settings I change for the smaller nozzle are:
- max_layer_height ; Stay below 80% of nozzle size as a safe default. This is the upper end for variable layer heights.
- min_layer_height ; I go with 25% of nozzle size, but you can go lower. This is the lower end for variable layer heights.
- nozzle_diameter ; Just set to physical nozzle size.
- retract_length ; Retraction can vary between nozzles. I find 0.3mm works if I've calibrated my filament settings.
- retract_lift ; Lift can also vary between nozzles. I find 0.4mm works for most situations.
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He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: First layer calibration with .6 nozzle on MK3S
FWIW I changed to a Revo 6 and started doing 1st layer calibration from the firmware menu and ended up with horrible results and massive under extrusion on a 0.8mm nozzle.
I thought everything was broken and desperately tried a 0.8 sliced cal model and live adjusted. I was stunned to find this worked, so went into the firmware source code.
AFAICT the menu is hard coded to 0.4mm and ignores the HW Setup -> Nozzle. I then went back to the internet and was utterly incapable of finding anyone mention this gotya.
I now have a cal folder on SD ready to do this instead. My guess is that the firmware nozzle setting is only used for filament loading and warning on gcode file mismatch, which is ironic given how the menu 1st layer cal fails.
RE: First layer calibration with .6 nozzle on MK3S
I now have a cal folder on SD ready to do this instead. My guess is that the firmware nozzle setting is only used for filament loading and warning on gcode file mismatch, which is ironic given how the menu 1st layer cal fails.
Bingo! Good on you for making your own calibration prints for different nozzle sizes.
I normally print via Octoprint but I keep an SD card with various calibration files in the printer so I can quickly make changes when needed.
Cheers