Some MMU2 info I got...  

Some MMU2 info I got...

So I sent some questions/thoughts off to the [email protected] address a few days ago regarding the MMU2. Just got a response back, so thought I'd share...

(My Question in bold, then their response to it):

1) will it be able to deal with materials at different temps? ie: Will it adjust the hot end temp when switching to a material that needs a different temp?

yes it can deal with different temperatures for printing, but for example ABS with PLA is not possible to print as there are big differences in temperatures.

2) When it retracts, what happens to the filament being pushed back up out the back of the MMU? Seems like it could become a bit of a tangled mess back there. - It's not like the spools will reverse and take up the 6" + of slack.

Between MMU unit and spool holders will be tubes which will prevent any tangling.

3) What happens to the cut ends when it has to use the cutter? Where the heck do they go? Really hope they aren't just going to fall down onto/into your print!

There is little space under selector where cut end fall and once you will finish print, you can remove them. but this will be happening only in special cases, when filament will not be unloaded correctly.

4) If the purge can be used for infill (and hopefully for support as well!) that would be good, BUT, I hope there will be a way to designate which filaments to do this with and which shouldn’t be used for it… For instance, if I have flexible in position 3 and water soluble in position 4, then I probably wouldn’t want either of those to be used for infill or supports during purge. Where as, I might want to do that when purging out normal filaments in positions 1,2 and 5… So hopefully that’s something that can be selected/specified per position.

This option is in line for customization for printing MM and it should be possible to choose these possibilities.

5) how tall is the unit? I know many of us are building or planning to build the LACK table enclosure, but I’d like to do it once and have it already have enough space to accommodate the MMU2 (vs having to redo it later). If I added like 15-20cm of additional height to the chamber, should that be enough to account for the MMU2 and be able to reach in and work it properly? Or should I plan to go quite a bit more?

Yes 15-20cm will be enough space for MMU unit. But for spool holders you will probably need more space to put them behind printer.

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So, based on this I'm thinking they'll be able to handle different materials as long as they're roughly the same print temp. Still don't see how just having some bowden tubes out the back is going to deal with slack after retraction. I guess (hard to tell from the response) that they're going to be able (or think it'll be possible to add into the code) a way to select which filament switches can be used for infill and which shouldn't. And I think based on their response that I'm going to build my enclosure about 30cm taller (that way I have room to get in there to work the various controls on the MMU, open it up, etc.) than the standard LACK enclosure.

Hope this helps some folks!