Print by Layer(S - plural) - Dev suggestion, Idea (waste reduction, printtime decrease)
Hi.
I've a small project where I'm desinging and printing some bladeprotectors for ice skates in TPU. Might not fit my Mini+
The protector is a U shape all along the length of the blade, so I'd print it laying sideways. With this, I need to print support(PLA for instance) inside to keep the TPU structured.
My idea/suggestion here was, isn't there anyone that have thought of printing several layers in sequence, switch filament, print more than 2 layers, switch filament?
Here's a quick sketch showing what my thinking was, red is the profile, yellow is the support. I've angled the support for the nozzle to not collide in the model.
This way, you could print from 3 to x-amount(depending on clearance on the printer/toolhead) of layers before the nozzle or shroud would crash with the model.
Even with just a few layers extra between every filament-switches, you'd drastically reduce the amount of filamentswitching in a print, reduce waste, increase printtime.
On this model, I'm pretty sure I can print 10+ layers on the model, before switching over to the support, then print a few layers, and switching back, and print 10 more.
I'll try to make up some custom gcode, and report back my findings, unleass someone has done this work already.
Does this even sound doable to you? :p
RE: Print by Layer(S - plural) - Dev suggestion, Idea (waste reduction, printtime decrease)
I may be missing something, but why don't you print it rotated 90 degrees and eliminate any need for supports?
RE: Print by Layer(S - plural) - Dev suggestion, Idea (waste reduction, printtime decrease)
This is a user to user forum. Dev's don't hang out here so suggestions go no further.
The 'proper' place is the PS github. However suggestions there can take years and years if ever to be picked up. This same basic idea has been posted several times already. For example https://github.com/prusa3d/PrusaSlicer/issues/8415
RE:
For your design, I'd probably split this up into two print jobs instead of manually swapping types of filament every two layers.
First, print your PLA support as a solid object (well, solid top and bottom, your choice if solid perimeters or let the infill show). Then setup your TPU print with a pause right before the overhang of the U-shaped recess. During that pause, insert your PLA support (maybe with some weak double-sided tape to help hold the PLA in place so it doesn't shift during the print) and then resume printing the TPU.
I have not done a print like this myself, but I've seen this as a suggestion other places. If you can remove the PLA support without damaging it, you should be able to reused it for repeat prints.
See my (limited) designs on:
Printables - https://www.printables.com/@Sembazuru
Thingiverse - https://www.thingiverse.com/Sembazuru/designs