Force wipe tower with no sparse layers option for all types of color changes (both per layer and tool change color changes)
 
Notifications
Clear all

Force wipe tower with no sparse layers option for all types of color changes (both per layer and tool change color changes)  

  RSS
Real 3D Prints
(@real-3d-prints)
Active Member
Force wipe tower with no sparse layers option for all types of color changes (both per layer and tool change color changes)

This model pictured uses both types of color changes (added for the entire layer, and tool change with m600 added in custom gcode) and is printing fine now, but I want to force a wipe tower on all types of color changes so I avoid blobs on color change. Currently is only uses the wipe tower on the tool change color changes.

I do not have an MMU and am using a single extruder with all manual color changes. I am using Prusaslicer 2.3.3 and MK3S+.  The model I made has 3 STLS exported from Fusion 360, and has 3 'virtual' extruders, one assigned to each STL in the preview window on the right side.

I have under printer settings/general 3 extruders, and under printer settings/general have wipe tower enabled with 'no sparse layers' checked/enabled.  I don't want to print on the wipe tower when it prints the big white base part so I have this enabled. (It might solve my issue if I have sparse layer not enabled but I haven't tested it, but I really don't want to have to print those layers on the wipe tower, as that is 80% of the print time. )

Under printer settings/custom gcode, under BOTH color change gcode and tool change code I have M600, which is the command to do a manual color change.

The STLS are as follows:

STL1 is the white base and the pink text and pink lines

STL2 is the green text and green circles and lines

STL3 is all the black parts and also the pink ribbon around the black dog

All 3 STLS occupy the same coplanar layer but only for two layer heights, which translates to only 5 tool changes, so an MMU is not really needed as I can do that manually. Those layers are for the text layers for a total thickness of .5 mm (.25 layer height).

The model prints like this:

Extruder 1 - Prints the entire white base, and then I do a manual change to pink and print the first layer of pink. This color change was added as a manual per layer color change using add color in prusaslicer. It does not use a wipe tower on this change. 🙁

Extruder2 - Prints the first layer of green. This is a tool based color changed and uses the wipe tower.  🙂

Extruder 3 - prints the first layer of black, again a tool change that uses the wipe tower 🙂

Extruder 1 - second and final layer of pink text, again a tool change thtat uses the wipe tower 🙂

Extruder 2 - second and final layer of green and is a tool change that uses the wipe tower 🙂

Extruder 3 - the second layer and all the rest of the layers of black.  There is a tool change color change that uses the wipe tower 🙂 But later after the black is done a color change to pink that does not use the wipe tower. 🙁

So there are 7 manual color filament changes and 5 use the wipe tower and 2 do not.

So the question is how to force a wipe tower purge and prime on the two color changes above that do not use the wipe tower? The ones that are done as an entire layer color change using 'add color change'.  Is there some Gcode I need to add after the M600 under color change to use the wipe tower? Is there a command that I am not aware of that translates to 'after color change, use wipe tower for this layer before printing it'?

 

Posted : 06/12/2021 11:05 pm
mr-neutron
(@mr-neutron)
Active Member
RE: Force wipe tower with no sparse layers option for all types of color changes (both per layer and tool change color changes)

I'd also like to know how to force a wipe after a manual color change from the Prusa Slicer. (currently using 2.6.0 beta 3)
I made several prints with 1 manual color change in the slicer.  
The default g-code in the Prusa Slicer for a color change is:
M600 G1 E0.4 F1500 ; prime after color change

This g-code moves the print head off to the side of the print and walks the user thorugh a filament change.
Then, it extrudes the new filament color onto the print bed and askes if the color has changed properly.
If you answer yes, it does NOT wipe any blobs or strings off the extruder! 
It just moves it back to the print and deposits any blobs or strings of filament that are hanging off the extruder ONTO your print!  BAD!

Is there a way to force a wipe of the extruder before the head moves back to the printed part, so we don't get blobs and strings deposited onto our printed pieces?

Thanks.

Posted : 01/06/2023 9:51 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: Force wipe tower with no sparse layers option for all types of color changes (both per layer and tool change color changes)

I just resist tearing the waste pile off the extruder, and just hold it... then when the printer returns to the print, the extra squirt of filament stays attached to the wastepile. 

However if you want to play with the purge tower, try turning it on in 'Print Settings> Multiple Extruders>Enable Wipetower'
(Advanced settings mode)
regards Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 02/06/2023 8:38 am
mr-neutron
(@mr-neutron)
Active Member
RE: Force wipe tower with no sparse layers option for all types of color changes (both per layer and tool change color changes)

I should point out that I have the same situation as the orinal post:
"I do not have an MMU and am using a single extruder with all manual color changes."

My desire is to clean/purge the extruder after the filament color change.
I'd like to drop the extruder to the base layer and squirt a line of filament (off to the side of the print) and then go back to the print.
I suspect that adding a few lines of custom G-code to add to the Printer Settings > Custom G-code > Color Change G-code box that would perform those moves/extrudes would do the trick.  I'm not sure what G-code to add, however.


I just looked into 'Print Settings> Multiple Extruders>Enable Wipetower' and by default, the box is checked by default, but there is no wipetower being created on any of my prints.
Is there a how-to posted somewhere listing all the steps and needed checkboxes to acutally make a wipe tower (without an MMU)?

 

Posted : 02/06/2023 2:50 pm
mr-neutron
(@mr-neutron)
Active Member
RE: Force wipe tower with no sparse layers option for all types of color changes (both per layer and tool change color changes)

@joantabb I found a forum thread where you wrote a list of steps, and creating a 2nd extruder is part of the process.
Is this valid for what I'm trying to do with a color change at a specific layer?
https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/prusaslicer/manual-multicolor/

Make sure that you are in Advanced Mode, or Expert mode:
1, go to the 'Printer settings>General' tab, and increase the number of extruders to '2'

2, go to the 'Printer settings>Custom Gcode' tab, and  open the Tool Change Gcode box... and type in M600

3, go to the 'Print settings>Multiple Extruders' tab and in the Wipe Tower section, deselect wipe tower enable

4, in plater view, Either...

    4a, Add both the 'Numbers' and the 'Holder' STL's at the same time, you will be asked if this is a multi material model, select Yes, or

    4b, Add the Holder Stl, then right click on the holder image and select Add Part > Load, and select the numbers STL and load that.both options will import the two STL's in the correct relationship

5, on the right hand window select indicative colours to represent your preferred colourscheme then make sure that extruder 1 is allocated for one STL ( I have used it for Blue, for the main holder section) and extruder 2 is allocated to the numbers STLthen slice the model 

Posted : 02/06/2023 7:00 pm
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: Force wipe tower with no sparse layers option for all types of color changes (both per layer and tool change color changes)

Hi Mr-Neutron. 

I don't generally enable a wipe tower when I use Manual MMU

the actions above will work, if you create a model that takes advantage of the two virtual extruders.

 

regards Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 03/06/2023 12:12 am
mr-neutron
(@mr-neutron)
Active Member
RE: Force wipe tower with no sparse layers option for all types of color changes (both per layer and tool change color changes)

I agree.  A whole wipe tower seems excessive for 1 or 2 color changes.

Ideally, I'd prefer to just do 1 wipe, down on the build plate, to get the blobs off the tip of the extruder, then continue with the print.

Can anyone help with that?

Posted : 03/06/2023 12:47 am
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: Force wipe tower with no sparse layers option for all types of color changes (both per layer and tool change color changes)

If you do a layer height colour change with a raised feature, and you select the layer where the feature starts, as the colour change point, the printer finishes the previous layer then actions the colour change sequence. you change the filament, and resist removing the waste filament waiting for the nozzle to pull away from the waste filament that you are still holding, then JUST TO ANNOY YOU, the printer goes back to the last point on the last layer, where it finished printing, and dabs a tiny bit of filament on the previous colour. before continuing with the new feature...

IF you make the filament change one layer higher, the first layer of the new feature will be printed in the old colour, then the filament change will occur, and the printer will still go back to the last point on the previous layer where it stopped printing, BUT, because you are a layer higher, that point will be within the  area where the new filament is going to print anyway, and you don't get a blemish on the old colour!

will that help you?

 

Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK

Posted : 03/06/2023 7:52 am
Share: