Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware  

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

I for one am glad it doesn't, that would irritate me to no end. when I know I'm going to be printing ASA I preheat for ASA, I know that I can remove my PLA at anytime from 180c on, and I know that my bed is heating for ASA also, so I don't have to go thought that process as well, the less I have to click and spin to get where I need to go, the better.

sorry, I disagree with you on this.

Dan

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

Hello Dan,

so it is possible to unload the filament even before the display says to press the button? How do you do that? Simply press the button?

Thanks for your tip, Ralle

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

I for one am with @swiss_cheese. I guess most people print one type of material most of the time so being promoted would be a nuisance. Could you make this an option in the firmware, sure. The way I deal with it is, I unload at the lower temperature, then use Preheat to the higher temperature before loading the new filament. 

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

@fuchsr

That's how I do it too. When using a filament that requires higher temperatures, I first unload the old filament, select the preset for higher temperatures and then load the new filament.

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

Swapping from a higher temp to a lower I too will preheat for the higher, unload and then load the lower temp filament still at the higher temp.  I will then load about 4-5 times when it asks if the filament colour is correct.  All at the higher temp.  This will generally purge out the higher temp filament nicely and then I can just dial the temp down to whatever is suitable for the lower temp filament I have in now.  Saves having to do cold pulls trying to get the higher temp filament out fully.

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

@neophyl

Yes, I do that as well. I still do cold pulls every now and then, especially if I've been swapping out flexibles a bunch with PETG's and such.

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

Can’t even remember the last time I did a cold pull... I always run a few extra load cycles just like @neophyl described and that seems to do the job. And I no longer leave filament in the nozzle overnight — had a couple of issues with that. 

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

I've found that there is a lot of tolerance in the filaments when it comes to melting for the load/unload functions.  I readily swap PCA/PETg/ABS and I'm in the habit of heating to whatever filament I am unloading.

The only issue I've had is when I let PC Blend sit in the machine overnight.  I unloaded it at ASA temperature from a cold start in the morning (hottest preset in the firmware I have installed) and tried to load PLA.  It did not thoroughly melt and I got the dreaded clicking and the PLA would not load.  I set the nozzle manually to 265 (IIRC) and let it sit for a while and it then 'flushed out' with the loading.

One related thing I've noticed is that one cycle of priming and worm generation may not be enough to flush out all of the unloaded filament when changing from one 'species' of filament to another.  I had an issue with sticking when I had previously used some silver ABS, and upon inspection it was obvious that there was some contamination as the new filament had an obvious silver sheen to it.  It took a few cycles to flush that completely out.

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

I definitely don't want any more "smarts" introduced, at least not if they can't be disabled. When switching from higher-temp filaments to lower, I do:

1. Set nozzle temp to higher temp setting.
2. Remove higher temp filament at print temp.
3. Set nozzle temp to 265C.
4. Run cleaning filament through until it runs clear.
5. Remove cleaning filament at temp or (depending on time pressure) zero temp and do a cold pull.
6. Set nozzle temp to lower print temp.
7. Load lower temp filament.

All well and good that others do things differently, but I sure don't want "features" making me change my workflow!

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

@bobstro

what brand of cleaning filament do you recommend?

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

@islander2013

I simply interfere for a short time:

My choice for cleaning the nozzle is transparent nylon (PA12). It is heated to 275 degrees C., extruded about 5-10cm, depending on the contamination and then a coldpull at about 100 degrees C.
There is a special cleaning filament (esun and other), but I have never used it before.

https://www.voxelfactory.com/products/hotend-cleaning-filament-by-e3d

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

I use esun, it's been working very well for me, no complaints.

I have also use nylon.

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

Posted by: @islander2013

[...] what brand of cleaning filament do you recommend?

I'm currently using eSun. I loved rigid.ink but they stopped production.

I prefer the cleaning filaments because they melt over a wide range of temperatures. If any is left behind while doing a cold pull, it will easily melt out next time I print PLA at 200C. The rigid.ink cleaning filament would absorb moisture, resulting in a very effective foaming action as the stuff is extruded.

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

perfect, thanks guys. esun it is!

RE: Loading filament: Inconsistency in the firmware

@islander2013

rigid.ink guided me here: https://shop.3dfilaprint.com/esun-3d-printer-cleaning-filament-21457-p.asp