GUIDE: How to print with multiple nozzle sizes  

RE: GUIDE: How to print with multiple nozzle sizes

Have any of you found out how to separate layer heights per part? I am trying to print a piece that I have divided into to separate parts that are stacked on top of another so that I can print one with the 0.6 nozzle and the other with the 0.25 nozzle. I want a specified layer height for each part; I would have thought one of the advantages of multiple nozzle prints would be that some sections can be printed with thick layers while others are with thin. Appreciate any help given.

RE: GUIDE: How to print with multiple nozzle sizes

Posted by: @avinash

Have any of you found out how to separate layer heights per part? I am trying to print a piece that I have divided into to separate parts that are stacked on top of another so that I can print one with the 0.6 nozzle and the other with the 0.25 nozzle. I want a specified layer height for each part; I would have thought one of the advantages of multiple nozzle prints would be that some sections can be printed with thick layers while others are with thin. Appreciate any help given.

If you're deadset on having to only use separate parts (technical term) then no, not possible afaik.

But you can do this using separate objects (technical term) and floating object jank. You'll also run into another limitation where the slicer won't let you set layer heights larger than your smallest diameter nozzle (eg. can't do .3 height on your .6 nozzle if you have a .25 nozzle in your Printer setup because .25 is smaller than .3 ...¯\_(ツ)_/¯). But you can workaround that limitation by lying about nozzle sizes in the slicer and then manually setting layer height and extrusion widths with modifiers to each object instead of using the automatic setting.

Proof of concept example: jankyJank.3mf

Suppose I have a .6 nozzle installed T1 and a .25 nozzle installed T2. I setup the slicer 'lying' about having all .6 nozzles. Set all the extrusion widths in Print Settings to zero with the automatic unticked, but then manually add Extrusion Width and Layer Height modifiers to the different objects according to actual nozzle sizes. Then use some floating object jank to float some parts. The slicer also won't let you use a wipe tower because of the different layer heights between objects, so there's another thing to think about. But it slices so it'll print; cant say how well it'll go. Don't actually try to print the example I uploaded without at least fixing that janky overlap.

So depending on how complex your full model is and the range of layer heights you want to print at might be in for a lot of tedium. If you really want it, it is possible to setup this kind of print. But it's not as easy as painting and assigning extruders.

I'm not a programmer, so I cant say why/how the slicer lets us do this with objects but not parts, nor why/how objects can't be simply floated. Also something something slicer isn't really made for multi-tool but kinda works anyway. They're aware of things and working on it.

RE: GUIDE: How to print with multiple nozzle sizes

Thanks for your help. Just to make sure I understand, are you saying that in order for objects to be floating, I need to have a solid piece touching the bed? This solid piece is to be removed post-print? Thanks again for your help 

RE: GUIDE: How to print with multiple nozzle sizes

Posted by: @avinash

Thanks for your help. Just to make sure I understand, are you saying that in order for objects to be floating, I need to have a solid piece touching the bed? This solid piece is to be removed post-print? Thanks again for your help 

Exactly. And the part that touches the bed can be small/insignificant/a literal dot; it simply has to be there touching the plate, not floating.

And to your original point, another big downside I forgot to mention is automatic supports don't really so well with overlapping objects jank because the auto-supports will also overlap. So you'll have to manually CAD in supports if your model needs them which may be prohibitively difficult depending on your model and CAD skills.