Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
Hi, I could use some help. I'm trying to print a rocket and having a problem printing the Nosecone. I'm printing in vase mode and since modifiers do no work I hack the gcode(first time). I started with 0.15mm Quality PETG and then added in the following changes 5mm from the top.
M104 S225 ; temperature 240->225
M106 S255 ;Fan Speed 50%->100%
M221 S90 ; flow rate 95->90
G1 F600 ;Feedrate F900->F600 Starting at 5 mm from the top and changing all above.
I tried lots of combination and this is about the best I have been able to get. Better but nothing to write home about. Any help would be appreciated. 
Best Answer by Tinkerwest:
Thank you for all the help. What finally worked for me is below. Temperature flow rate changes were not needed . When I step down below 450 I started to get small rings at the start of the change in speed, could just be my machine or filament.
M106 S255 ;Fan Speed 50%->100%
G1 F600 ;Feedrate F900->F600 Starting at 5 mm from the top and changing all above.
G1 F600 ;Feedrate F900->F450 Starting at 3 mm from the top and changing all above.
Also cut the top ~0.3mm off the top of the model. And then post process with an X-Acto knife one or two quick cuts .
Stepping it down in small incremental steps probably would’ve giving me better results but I don’t have the patience . As they say at some point you have to stop engineering and start production. Once again thanks and I’m calling this one answered .
Tim your results tended to be a bit better than mine, I’m curious what printer you have I have an MK3 I did not upgrade to an MK3S… as I didn’t think it was worth the effort, I may need to reconsider that. Also I’m using HATCH Box which I tended to believe it’s halfway decent filament it is two years old but maybe that contributes to it too not sure.
Below is a picture for those that are curious. As I said there was more of the print below. Also for those that’s saw my earlier question on vase mode where I added more bottom layers you can see that it plugs into the base and vase mode wasn’t strong enough so I added 5 mm of bottom layers and it worked out rather nicely.
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
Save the project that you are slicing in Prusa Slicer --- File : Save as ... this saves the part, and profiles you are using. It lets us see your settings and exactly what it is you are trying to slice.
Once you have the .3mf project file, copy it into a Zip file. Then post the zip here.
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
They are similar to my squid spinners which I print in Vase mode in PETG. Hint - brim and nose down. Vase mode doesn't like printing tops.
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
Not sure how to create a .3fm from modified gcode but I did attached the gcode. Also attached screen shots from Prusa G-code viewer. Note this is just the top of a much larger design that prints great in vase mode, quick and no seam. Not sure on speed whether to go any lower as Prusa Slicer limits to 10mm/s don't want to break something. Or if I should try adjusting some other parameter. Got a Error when attaching the gcode?
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
ZIP gcode file attached
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
Upper left corner in Prusaslicer, click on "File", then "Save project as..", choose folder and filename. Zip the 3mf-file and upload it 👍
Just as you did with the gcodefile
Prusa i3 MK3S+ FW 3.11.0 (kit dec -20), PrusaSlicer 2.6.1+win64, Fusion 360, Windows 10
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
Yeah - the cone should be an easy print:
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
@tim-2
So just printed it with a different brand of PETG I'm using Hatchbox, Can't tell from your photo if it is still melted a little on one side. Also I have a MK3 not a MK3s maybe you have a little better cooling.
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
@tinkerwest
The cone I printed is symmetrical and looks fine. When the plastic isn't laying down - like your melting underlayers - it is 100% about not letting the printer do it's work properly - weird changes to default settings is generally the problem. Until I get the project file, not much else I can help you with.
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
See attached 3MF it was used to print the one on the left in the picture and the one on the right was printer with the gcode.
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
@tinkerwest
Soooo - yeah - I got out my worst behaving PETG - Prusa stuff - four years old, kept in a plastic bag, and never dried.
As expected, it printed like crap. So a few tests and finally settled on full fan, 5 mm/s print speed. A manual tweak of the gcode to set speed down to 2.5mm/s on the last 4 mm I think helped ever so slightly.
Extreme tips aren't perfect, but not bad.
The right is the F150 print, left F300. Images taken of parts rotated 90.
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
Doesn't seem so worst to me. Nice nose cones. Does the sharp point help or hurt?
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
@dan-rogers
Layer adhesion sucks with that stuff. First print fell apart in my fingers trying to lift it from the bed. Made a good slinky though. The sharp point only hurts when I jab a finger with it. If it were my part, I'd probably round the tip of the cone a bit. Or just plan on sanding it off.
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
Just saying. Round it off, turn it upside down and print it in vase mode easy.
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
@dan-rogers
Try it - show us how it's done.
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
@tinkerwest
My cones
@dan-rogers approach, rounded top, tip down.
From left to right 1st, 2d, and 3d try.
I inserted manual speed adjustment g-code in slicer, no g-code hacking, "M220 S50" at height 0,2 and "M220 S75" at 3,0 and "M220 S100" at 4,5
I am pretty proud of myself, though it is all thanks to @dan-rogers 👍
However the speed adjustment is "mine" 😉
Will try with the original tomorrow
Prusa i3 MK3S+ FW 3.11.0 (kit dec -20), PrusaSlicer 2.6.1+win64, Fusion 360, Windows 10
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
@tim-2
Here you go. I've done this lots of times.
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
@dan-rogers
As a shiv - a sharp point helps. For aerodynamics, it might help. Easy to print, debatable.
--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
What are the cones for?
--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Need help printing a Nosecone in Vase Mode
@cwbullet
Was thinking nosecone. Air flow, sharp points... I guess intended speed will matter in the choice.