Nozzle change mid-print??
I want my first couple layers printed with a 0.2 nozzle, and the remaining layers at 0.6. All one object. Can anyone think of an easy way to do a nozzle change mid-print?
(I should be able to manually hack two separate gcode files, combining them into one file. But since I will have to account for the change in layer size, that's considerable work that I would like to avoid.)
Is there a way to tell Prusa Slicer that I want to change nozzle size after a few layers, the way I change color?
RE: Nozzle change mid-print??
Not currently no. There is no way to tell the slicer to do that. Also if you only have a single extruder and actually intend to change the nozzle mid print then forget it. The chances of you fitting the new nozzle back into exactly the same spot and not causing in effect a layer shift in either X Y or Z is very very small.
Even with a proper multi extruder setup theres no easy built in way with PS to mix nozzle sizes. There's a discussion on how to do exactly that with the XL in the XL sub section but its a workaround at the moment. https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-xl-tool-changer-general-discussion-announcements-and-releases/guide-how-to-print-with-multiple-nozzle-sizes/
RE: Nozzle change mid-print??
Thanks for the reply, Neophyl.
I will look over the poonts you made, and examine the link witj great interest!
RE: Nozzle change mid-print??
If PrusaSlicer won't do it (yet), let's think outside the box.
Idea one: I could set up two identical machines with 0.25 and 0.6 mm nozzles. I print the same object on both with a pause at the same height. At that point I swap spring steel plates. I resume the 0.6 job, and abort the other.
I would need to make spatial and gcode adjustments to get the two parts to match. But this could work, theoretically. 🙂
In other words, a toolchanger in reverse. 😁
Ideas?
RE: Nozzle change mid-print??
I'd say swapping is bad idea because a lot of things just can go bad - especially z level and x/y position.
Why don't you split the model into two parts and glue them with dovetail or something?
Or some holes to screw it together with bolts and nuts...
See my GitHub and printables.com for some 3d stuff that you may like.
RE: Nozzle change mid-print??
Please try it with the swapping plates between 2 different machines. I suspect the results will not be what you are looking for.
The thickness of the plates will be different for a start, which is why you can store multiple live z values for different plates for example. Then the repeatability in getting them in the exact same spot each time, although that one is probably the easiest of the lot to account for. Then the homing on the 2 machines would also have to be perfectly aligned relative to the 2 plates too, which they wont be.
Even multi extruder machines have a lot of technical engineering attempting to get things aligned, and we see issues with those all the time with ruined prints. And those are designed to do the job.
Good luck. You will need it.
swapping nozzles mid-print
>I'd say swapping is bad idea because a lot of things just can go bad - especially z level and x/y position.
I get what you are saying about x, y, and z alignment. But those differences can be managed. If I print the same gcode on both printers, I could discover the x and y deltas. Then I could reposition my model to account for the x ad y deltas. The z delta could be adjusted by trial and error.
I have already done something similar a few years ago with good results:
The reason for my post is to learn whether PrusaSlicer could take some of the manual work out of the process.