Can I change nozzle sizes during a print?
Howdy from MT. I would like to print an iPhone case with a different colored text on the back of the case. I "think" I want to use a .4 mm nozzle for the case and change to a .25 mm nozzle for the text portion. Is that possible or should I be patient and print everything with the .25 mm nozzle? Will be printing on I3 MKS3+ using TPU filament. I'm relatively new to 3D printing and want to keep things simple, so simple that even a cowboy wannabe in Montana can do it. Thanks in advance for the help.
RE:
Changing nozzles mid print is nearly impossible as the nozzle height would have to match EXACTLY and thats not likely. Also changing nozzles you are likely to bump the print/plater at some point. You would also have to rehome the printer, making sure that the movement doesnt intersect with the previously printed parts. Basically its very high risk and I don't know of anyone who has successfully done so.
This is why people buy multi extruder printers. Edit - also Prusa Slicer doesnt support different nozzle sizes during 1 print (yet) so you would have to manually splice gcode together to even get valid code.
Also printing tpu out of a 0.25 nozzle is also highly problematic. It difficult enough to get it all tuned up with a 0.4 so good luck with your 0.25.
RE: Can I change nozzle sizes during a print?
Did you try to slice your project with the current RC of PrusaSlicer 2.5 ( https://github.com/prusa3d/PrusaSlicer/releases ) with the Arachne perimeter engine? It is much better in printing fine details. It's basically like changing to a one size smaller nozzle without actually changing it. Give it a try with your .4 nozzle...
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
RE: Can I change nozzle sizes during a print?
Thanks for the tip. Will try with .4 nozzle.
RE: Can I change nozzle sizes during a print?
Skydiving is not for me. In the 70s a friend and I bought an old Cessna 150 and flew to Montgomery Airport outside of DC. My friend was flying and he lost the airport. Neither of us were licensed and wound up over the Washington Monument area. Turned off the transponder and got the heck out of the area before fighters were scrambled. Thank God they were not shooting down accidental civilians then. I will try the .4 in the new slicer per your suggestion. Thanks a million.
RE: Can I change nozzle sizes during a print?
The Arachne engine really makes a difference, I printed this iPhone 5 case with a .4 nozzle a few days ago using PS 2.5 beta:
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
RE: Can I change nozzle sizes during a print?
As usual, YMMV. Depends on the model. I coincidentally just tried this yesterday. I sell a model I used to slice with a 0.25 mm nozzle. Yesterday I tried to print it with a 0.4 mm nozzle and Arachne, to see if I can save time. Most of it came out okay but some areas of detail just didn't work. I've trier s few changes to Arachne parameters and extrusion width but it didn't cut it.