How to start printing on top of the existing one?
Hello 3D-professionales.
I asking your suggestion how to solve my problem with the PRUSA i3 that sets hard limit to use it in my business. I still need to use Velleman instead of PRUSA for certain part of my business konsept and I have to carry Velleman with me, because I haven't had any good solution to use PRUSA i3 for it.
I used one 3D-printer - Velleman - to print lots of parts for into storege. I currently try to use Original PRUSA as much as possible. Anyhow I needed to customize any 3D-printted part before delivery. I set the part on Vellemans hotbed and printed necessary customizated picture on it.
Unfortunately this is not possible with PRUSA so far. I'm trying to solve this problem with PRUSA wich do not allow start printing without the hotbed calibration run. It's mandatory in the beginning of every print. This in turn prevents me to set a jig on hotbed where printable unit waits for the extruder to print the customization on it.
I have couple of solutions in mind but I would like to hear how PRUSA designers would to solve this. This will come still more challenging now when I will install the MMU kit on my PRUSA. So far I'v been able to use Velleman to replace "Original PRUSA i3 MK2" in case where PRUSA can't do the job. Now everything will cange. I'm facing to new challenge with MMU installed and utilized. The problem will be worse and BIGER than it is currently!
Certain kind of commercial use of this PRUSA I3 MK2 is already restricted compared to Velleman. You can print nice toys and decoration parts but what if you need it in your business..... No possible so far! I need my Velleman as long as I have solved this PRUSA-problem and what is worse - I have to carry two 3D-printers with me and just for one task.
The best for me was if Slic3r PRUSA version supports following:
# 1. Start calibration can be omitted as soon as it has been completed once after switching printer "On". It could ask for testprint as it (if it works as descripted in the instructions) will make test extrude after calibration, every time you start printing. It's not a problem if you must to do this only once after getting extruder heated up. This way I also can be sure thet all extruders work as expected.
# 2. Slic3r PRUSA edition offers the option to omit start calibration since "hotbed calibrated" bit was set "TRUE". This will solve the single filament printing problem in all cases where you do not use MMU. I can always edit gcode manually or as descripted in following paracraph # 3.
# 3. Slic3r PRUSA edition for MMU offers the option (after the step 1.) to omit any selected colors (I mean extruder number) and start printing from the next selected one. It is enough if only one extruder e.g. #1 could be set to skip all other commands but the very latest locating command. Then the print head is set by command [ G1 Z??? F 1000" ] - to jump up where ever the extruder is located at the moment, usually X=0 Y=0. If extruder #4 is the only option there can be some restrictions because I understood that extruder #4 has some speciall tasks when support material is being used.
Well! I ask only anyone of you to help me how to solve this problem.
The problems are:
1) I do not want to carry my Velleman all over where ever I make these special printouts!
2) I do not need to answer the question: "Why do you need to bring two different type of 3D-printters NOW? You used to use one only before this new PRUSA one?".
Thanks for your support.
Re: How to start printing on top of the existing one?
Unfortunately this is not possible with PRUSA so far. I'm trying to solve this problem with PRUSA wich do not allow start printing without the hotbed calibration run. It's mandatory in the beginning of every print. This in turn prevents me to set a jig on hotbed where printable unit waits for the extruder to print the customization on it.
Maybe i am wrong, had some trouble to understand what you are looking for, but if you want the printer NOT to run the meshbed leveling before a print you only need to remove/un-comment the some 'Start g-code':
G80 ; mesh bed leveling
G1 Y-3.0 F1000.0 ; go outside pritn area
G1 X60.0 E9.0 F1000.0 ; intro line
G1 X100.0 E12.5 F1000.0 ; intro line
Re: How to start printing on top of the existing one?
Unfortunately this is not possible with PRUSA so far. I'm trying to solve this problem with PRUSA wich do not allow start printing without the hotbed calibration run. It's mandatory in the beginning of every print. This in turn prevents me to set a jig on hotbed where printable unit waits for the extruder to print the customization on it.
Maybe i am wrong, had some trouble to understand what you are looking for, but if you want the printer NOT to run the meshbed leveling before a print you only need to remove/un-comment some 'Start g-code':
G80 ; mesh bed leveling
G1 Y-3.0 F1000.0 ; go outside pritn area
G1 X60.0 E9.0 F1000.0 ; intro line
G1 X100.0 E12.5 F1000.0 ; intro line
Re: How to start printing on top of the existing one?
Thank you waldemar.g for your answer:
I think you got my point. Your answer is in line what I need, if it helps.
Before I have even tested this I trust on you 😉
The solution can really be just so easy as you descripted.
My mistake has been I trusted the PRUSA Online instructions: "Nothing can be done to prevent mesh levelling before printing." I even did not try to overcome the problem by my own tests because Prusa's komment was what it was. I got info this functionality is build in FW and that's why it can not be skipped.
I'm wery greatful for your information and you can be sure I will thank you so much if this is the final solution.
You hear me soon ..... if this is the solution. I start testing now!
Brgds Pepe
Re: How to start printing on top of the existing one?
Thank you waldemar.g.
You gave mee the tool to start if I can overcome Prusa's statement "It is not able to prevent mesh levelling, it is in the FW!".
Tested..... tested and confirmed .... and I got an interesting results!
I started testing command by command the start section of the gcode and gues what I found?
If this gcode command [G28 ; home all axes] is removed or remarked by semicolon the mesh levelling do not start!
This is just what I wanted!!! 🙂
Thank you waldemar.g. again!
This set of gcode do not start mesh levelling and can run to problemn - but because my printer has been already set for "home all axes" and I did not turn printer "power off" the home position is saved.
==================
M107
M190 S50 ; set bed temperature
M104 S215 ; set temperature
G28 ; home all axes [Runs mesh leveling]
; G28 ; home all axes [Do not runs mesh leveling]
G1 Z5 F5000 ; lift nozzle
M109 S215 ; wait for temperature to be reached
=================
So there is a new set of my own instructions how to operate PRUSA i3 MK2.
1. First what I told PRUSA since I reading lots of stories about damaging the hotbed. My own simple instruction protects the hotbed and gives 99,9 % correct first layer height. I do not know if PRUSA has utilized this set of instructions, but it is availible on them anyware. Sent by email.
2. This is the second interesting instruction:
If you mess up the printout thoroughly and you want to continue on it from the certain layer, just make the code line [ G28 ; home all axes ] as a note line [ ; G28 ; home all axes ] and you can feed any subsequent commands to printer. You can freely select the first layer height even if it was 110 mm from the hotbed.
My best regards and thanks for helpping me!
Pepe
Re: How to start printing on top of the existing one?
G28 ; home all axes [Runs mesh leveling]
; G28 ; home all axes [Do not runs mesh leveling]
Hi again,
Using G28 W will home the printer without mesh leveling.
That is what i use in my start g-code
Re: How to start printing on top of the existing one?
Hello
This what you tell is the great wonder 😯 👿 🙄 :geek: 😀 of the 3D-printing!
I've never seen this "G80 ; mesh bed leveling" text in my gcode.
Maybe we are having a different version of the firmware installed.
Mine is the latest PRUSA delivery for PRUSA i3 MK2S.
Anyway .... the most important thing is that you helped me to find the solution.
Thanks waldemar.g
BRGDS
Pepe
Re: How to start printing on top of the existing one?
Hi Pepe,
maybe you should check your Sli3cr PE Settings, here the newest one:
https://github.com/prusa3d/Slic3r-settings/tree/master/Slic3r%20settings%20MK2/printer
Or download the newest Driver http://www.prusa3d.com/drivers/ this should also update everything.
More than glad to help and you. Finally you can print like you want to.
Waldemar
Re: How to start printing on top of the existing one?
Hello - lessons learned!
According to your instructions Waldemar, I checked versions on my WIN workstation and they were the latest releses. Then I generated some gcode and YES there was this G28 to move extruder home and G80 for mesh levelling.
When I'm on the move I use very seldom WIN workstation for 3D-printing controling, I use my Linux laptop. Now it seems that Linux versions are not the latest versions.
Well anyway I know what to do and one day I can update also my Linux Slic3r.
Thanks and bye for now.
Pepe