XL Start of Print Priming (?) Issue/Question
Finally received and assemble my new 5-tool XL. For the lack of a better word I almost feel honored, to have such a piece of machinery. I can’t believe I have something like this in my house. My grandfather who was a master carpenter and would have lost his mind seeing something so beautiful and capable.
My first print was the grid pattern test because, why not. At the start of the print the XL did something I was not expecting. It grabbed each tool, brought it to the front of the machine and extruded a fairly significant amount of material. So much so that it drooped over the edge of the sheet and hung like spiderwebs. While odd, I thought maybe this was a first print thing/priming thing, and I missed the explanation in the manual. I took a few pictures because I thought it was funny and something I’d never see again.
My second print was the key chain. I was more surprised when the printer did it again. This time I took more detailed photos. This is a mess. Is this normal behavior? I thought that was the purpose of the priming tower?
Best Answer by ntdesign:
It checks if it can pick up/park and heat every used tool, which totally makes sense. You don't want to come across an issue 10 hours in, when a tool is used for the first time. Then, while it already has the tool engaged, it makes sure you have no cooked filament or other gunk in the nozzle by extruding fast, to build up pressure and flush everything out. I agree it looks excessive, but I know no better way of doing it. Has been done on the Prusa bedslingers for ages, the only difference is that there it spits the filament onto the build plate instead. I like the XL way better, it's way easier to remove and has less tendency to drag filament blobs across the bed. Also more economical than purge + skirt (you lose no build space and skirts can use up lots of filament as well). The MMU used to print a purge line for every color used (though I don't know if that's still the case..)! The function of the wipe tower is to prime each used tool tool before each layer, which is more about pressurizing the filament. You don't really need that if your filament is dialled in and you have brushes next to the docks.
Mini+MK3S+XL 5 Tool
RE:
Yeah, that's normal behavior. Feels a bit excessive, doesn't it.
RE: XL Start of Print Priming (?) Issue/Question
Thanks @fuchsr, I completely missed that in all the documentation and “forum talk.” Agreed it doesn’t make any sense. I could see where you wouldn’t want it to be a first layer on anything, but why not “make a skirt” or something like that around the priming tower? This is just a mess, and excessive. 😉
Mini+MK3S+XL 5 Tool
RE: XL Start of Print Priming (?) Issue/Question
It checks if it can pick up/park and heat every used tool, which totally makes sense. You don't want to come across an issue 10 hours in, when a tool is used for the first time. Then, while it already has the tool engaged, it makes sure you have no cooked filament or other gunk in the nozzle by extruding fast, to build up pressure and flush everything out. I agree it looks excessive, but I know no better way of doing it. Has been done on the Prusa bedslingers for ages, the only difference is that there it spits the filament onto the build plate instead. I like the XL way better, it's way easier to remove and has less tendency to drag filament blobs across the bed. Also more economical than purge + skirt (you lose no build space and skirts can use up lots of filament as well). The MMU used to print a purge line for every color used (though I don't know if that's still the case..)! The function of the wipe tower is to prime each used tool tool before each layer, which is more about pressurizing the filament. You don't really need that if your filament is dialled in and you have brushes next to the docks.
RE:
It actually shows it on the sliced preview in PS as well.
RE: XL Start of Print Priming (?) Issue/Question
Thanks @ntdesign. That’s a good explanation and something that makes more sense. I think what caught me off guard was “some of it” being printed in midair.
@brian-12 unfortunately I haven’t had the time to slice anything yet. The kid’s hockey schedule has limited my time with it and now that it’s built I’m on the road for work. 😣
Mini+MK3S+XL 5 Tool