Why even use a wipetower?
I've done probably 30-40 prints, each with three to five 100x75x30high objects with three to five colors, and hundreds of head changes. Some PLA, mostly Inland ASA and now some two color prints with home-brew PETG. The only time I think a purge tower would be helpful is if you have a layer with very small filament usage- and therefore a lot of movement/retraction. I had some text on a side of an object that was failing- but when I made the volume of the text filament larger by inclduding some internal filling, the feed issue went away.
I ran towers on about 5 of my first 10 prints, and I found they causes more issues than they were worth. Poor internal composition means they are too fragile. This isn't like the MMU where you need to purge/prime.
I'm running 2.7.1 Slicer and the latest firmware. Standard setting, except for no tower. The thing just prints and prints. Had two 6 item 3-color prints fail- I designed them wrong and had some missing layers. My fault.
In the bigger picture, my Two REVO mini's, the XL and the MK4 have just been pounding out prints. I'm actually running down my oversupply of filament. IS is still sometimes a miss on the Mini and especially the MK4 with crashes and infill issues. Gyriod or infill that isn't directly on top of each other seems to help.
Probably cursing myself, but the printers have been behaving themselves- lately and so far.
RE: Why even use a wipetower?
The only time I think a purge tower would be helpful is if you have a layer with very small filament usage
That's the only reason I've come across. 9 times out of 10 I don't use one.
XL-5T, MK3S MMU3 || GUIDE: How to print with multiple-nozzlesizes do read updated replies || PrusaSlicer Fork with multi-nozzlesize freedom || How Feasible is Printing PETG for PLA supports on XL very
RE: Why even use a wipetower?
I'm just starting out with the 5-head XL. Can I trust that (given that each color doesn't cover a tiny area) Prusa Slicer will start each color change inside the print such as in an infill area?
RE:
I can't verify how this works on an XL (BC don't have one) but on the MK4 I use a purge tower for this reason.
Without it, after the filament changes the print head will return it's last print location and touch down on the print before it moves to the next print location. When the last color was of lighter color, lets say white, and the new color is darker lets blue, any melted filament on the nozzle with be pressed into the lighter color filament leaving a discolored spot on the bottom of the print. Not a problem if the first layer is not visible in your final printed object but is very much otherwise. @joantabb refers to these as beauty marks.
I would interested if the slicer does it differently on the XL, but if so I wonder why the MK4 firmware does it a different way.
RE: Why even use a wipetower?
I'm just starting out with the 5-head XL. Can I trust that (given that each color doesn't cover a tiny area) Prusa Slicer will start each color change inside the print such as in an infill area?
I can't verify how this works on an XL (BC don't have one) but on the MK4 I use a purge tower for this reason.
Without it, after the filament changes the print head will return it's last print location and touch down on the print before it moves to the next print location. When the last color was of lighter color, lets say white, and the new color is darker lets blue, any melted filament on the nozzle with be pressed into the lighter color filament leaving a discolored spot on the bottom of the print. Not a problem if the first layer is not visible in your final printed object but is very much otherwise. @joantabb refers to these as beauty marks.
I would interested if the slicer does it differently on the XL, but if so I wonder why the MK4 firmware does it a different way.
I've only done it a couple times, once by accident, so maybe I'm misunderstanding something, but I assume what you're describing is just the side effect of having to use M600 to fake or extend the MMU/toolchanging/multi- aspect since it essentially pauses the print, thus requiring it to go back to the exact spot it stopped at. Best place to do this is at the tower where defects are less consequential, but if you don't use one then the model is the only other place to do so. Using M600 on the XL is the same where it would have to pick back up where it stopped (beauty marks), but you need extra commands to make sure you choose the correct tool, if you have multiple. If anything, it's worse on the XL because we don't currently have the ability to move axis, and other things, while paused.
Otherwise, if you have an actual MMU or XL-multi, every color/tool change ends and starts in its respective paths - no stopping and starting on the same spot for no reason.
XL-5T, MK3S MMU3 || GUIDE: How to print with multiple-nozzlesizes do read updated replies || PrusaSlicer Fork with multi-nozzlesize freedom || How Feasible is Printing PETG for PLA supports on XL very
RE:
i just tried printing PLA with PETG organic supports using SOLUBLE profile, and the print came out with "whiskers" coming out from the model with disabling the wipe tower. any stock setting i should try? or any setting i need to change?
i also just followed this guide here: https://help.prusa3d.com/article/combining-materials-xl_498103
Can I trust that (given that each color doesn't cover a tiny area) Prusa Slicer will start each color change inside the print such as in an infill area?
This is a setting.
Right click on an ojbect in the slicer > Add Settings > Wipe Options > Wipe into this object's infill
Cheerio,
RE: Why even use a wipetower?
Can I trust that (given that each color doesn't cover a tiny area) Prusa Slicer will start each color change inside the print such as in an infill area?
This is a setting.
Right click on an ojbect in the slicer > Add Settings > Wipe Options > Wipe into this object's infill
Cheerio,
Thanks for finding that. I was looking in the area under Multiple Extruders and Wipe Tower settings are. Never would have thought to find more wipe options under object settings.