Flexible material printing
I've never printed with flexible materials before amd I'm trying to build the OpenRC F1 build which of course means printing some soft tires. I'm using this filament: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TI3JUTM
However, when I try to print, the printer keeps returning to the far right on the axis and wants to eject the filament, and I can then insert it or something else. I've got no clue why that is - there's no message on the printer, it's not clogged and "for fun" I inserted PLA after the 5th time of being asked to eject the filament and THEN it continued to print like nothing was wrong. Same gcode etc. so it isn't the gcode.
I sliced using Slic3r (the Prusa version) and picked "SemiFlex or Flexfill 98A".
1) What's causing the printer to demand I yank out the filament?
2) What's the proper procedure to print/slice with flexible filaments like this?
Re: Flexible material printing
Have you tried to disable the filament sensor? It has problems with some filaments.
I am currently also printing the fourth tire of the OpenRC F1 car with NinjaFlex and it works fine. I have set infill to 10%, three outer layers and the tires come out perfect. I print it really slow though. Also remember to loosen the grip a bit on the filament on extruder. And disable retraction completly. And use gluestick on the build plate before printing.
Re: Flexible material printing
Have you tried to disable the filament sensor? It has problems with some filaments.
I am currently also printing the fourth tire of the OpenRC F1 car with NinjaFlex and it works fine. I have set infill to 10%, three outer layers and the tires come out perfect. I print it really slow though. Also remember to loosen the grip a bit on the filament on extruder. And disable retraction completly. And use gluestick on the build plate before printing.
I have a 2kg spool of TPU. LINK
It's not cheap.
I can NOT PRINT WITH IT.
Nope.
Not gonna happen.
Makes me cry a little bit on the inside, every time I open my dry box. (That one spool, is worth almost as much as everything else combined... and I can't use it)
LUCKILY I believe I am holding the solution in my hand... 😉
Hi, I'm Sean. I used to work on CNC machines.
I try to not make mistakes, but the decision is YOURS.
Please feel free to donate to my filament/maintance fund.
Re: Flexible material printing
You might wanna take a look into that thread:
it could answer all your questions and give you a huge load of information and experiences in printing flexibles.
Re: Flexible material printing
Have you tried to disable the filament sensor? It has problems with some filaments.
I am currently also printing the fourth tire of the OpenRC F1 car with NinjaFlex and it works fine. I have set infill to 10%, three outer layers and the tires come out perfect. I print it really slow though. Also remember to loosen the grip a bit on the filament on extruder. And disable retraction completly. And use gluestick on the build plate before printing.
Thanks Jorgen,
I disabled the filament sensor and reduced the speed to 50% - eventually I even changed the extruder temperature to 220. Other than a bit stringy it seems to work - I'll know in an hour or so, when the tire finally completes printing. But it looks very promising right now on the bed.