Too much yet too little  

Re: Too much yet too little

This leads me to the subject. You have too much on a roll to discard it yet too little for an extended print. Is it possible with the MM kit to set these partial rolls to be used one at a time? Set them to be used in series? If it is possible what would it take? Four filament sensors and g code?

Hope I only sound ignorant here and not stupid.

Hi Neal,

you need to open a request for that feature, best here https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware/issues

Four filament runout sensors and a modified firmware would be the solution. Only issue is the lack of available pins for these things and then there is the question: How the firmware should handle it.

An Option could be: Pre-define via LCD menu/or gcode one extruder as backup for another, so that the printer continues the print as soon the 1st extruder run out of filament. Downside is that color prints should then be limited to 3 or even 2 colors if you choose to use two backup extruder.

Check also the forum for filament runout and/or FR_SENS.

Re: Too much yet too little

Thanks for your answer. I knew it would limit your options for color prints but so many do post process anyway I thought the advantage of not having to be around for filament changes would appeal to some. And I know what its like to be in the "Too Much Too Little" zone. One can end up with a lot of stuff on the shelves going bad.

Re: Too much yet too little

I think that is a great idea and you should ask for a feature request, as said best on github.
And it is as Multi Material and not only a Multi Color upgrade, so we should use it like we want it.
I connected my filament runout sensor to the unused y-max endstop but that is just for one runout sensor. To read the status of all four independent you need some more.

Re: Too much yet too little

I keep around some small models that people like as giveaways to use up much of the end pieces of filament, things like this:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1668263 (Shrunk down)
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1657791
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1904654
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2002744

or if I have a project, some small clips, brackets, etc. Not all my prints are big.

--

Another solution, which I have NOT implemented but am considering, is to make a filament splicer and join all of those short pieces together to make a longer piece. Search google and Thingiverse for "Filament Splice" and you will find a dozen or so versions including people who just use a hair straightener to very nice temperature controlled jigs. People seem to like to make rainbow filament out of it.

Examples:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:9850
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1052283
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:297380
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:16258

Re: Too much yet too little

I keep around some small models that people like as giveaways to use up much of the end pieces of filament, things like this:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1668263 (Shrunk down)
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1657791
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1904654
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2002744

or if I have a project, some small clips, brackets, etc. Not all my prints are big.

--

Another solution, which I have NOT implemented but am considering, is to make a filament splicer and join all of those short pieces together to make a longer piece. Search google and Thingiverse for "Filament Splice" and you will find a dozen or so versions including people who just use a hair straightener to very nice temperature controlled jigs. People seem to like to make rainbow filament out of it.

Examples:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:9850
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1052283
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:297380
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:16258

Hi Aaron,
also a nice way to use 'leftovers' 🙂
I still like the idea of having a 'backup' extruder(s). It makes it easier to print large objects even with low meter/ high density spools or expensive filaments like PVA. You get around 330m of PLA (~1.3g/cm^3) on a 1kg spool and maybe 250m or even less on a bronze (3.9g/cm^3) 750g spool.