PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
First off, I love the new PrusaSlicer. I have a standard MK3S without the multimedia attachment so color changes happens at a layer boundary.
Something I noticed is that if I add a color change with the newest firmware and PrusaSlicer. If I'm printing a cube in 1 color and then on top of that cube I print a cylinder (who's diameter is 1/2 the width of the cube below). I add the color change right at the layer boundary between those 2 shapes. The cube finishes printing, finishes the layer, lets say for argument sake, at a corner of the cube.
The head moves over I change colors.
Now loaded with the new color, the head moves exactly back to where it left off, right where it ended the previous layer and deposits a small amount of the new color. Then it picks up and moves to where it should start printing the new color.
Ideally the print head with the new color would not move automatically where the old layer left off but to where the new layer with the new color should be printed.
I'm probably describing this poorly. But when you see it, you think "why would it do this?" I'm thinking it's a bug somewhere. Not sure if it's slicer or printer.
Anyone else notice this?
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
you could always start the new colour one layer higher! and there would be no issue!
nobody would notice one layer difference
are you clearing the little spurt of filament immediately after a colour change?
Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
Yes I suppose I could. But I remember doing a lot of color changes previously. And I seem to remember it NOT doing this. After finishing a layer, the head moves to the front right, you change colors. And yes, I take the little spurt off. And I would expect that the head should move to where the next layer starts. An X/Y coordinate in this new layer, but it doesn't.
If the layer after the color change is the same size/shape as the layer before the color change it's all moot. Wouldn't matter.
I would think/expect that after a color change, now on a new layer, the head should move to an X/Y location where this new layer would be printed. But it does not. First it returns to where it left off from the previous layer, touches the layer (possibly depositing a slight small bit of new color, there is sometimes just a bit of filament on the nozzle), then hops to where the new layer starts. It just seems wrong. And has deposited a small bit of filament on the previous layer when I did this.
And I don't remember this behavior before. Wasn't sure if anyone else noticed this.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
My Mk3 and PS don't exhibit your behavior.
My color change goes to where the next layer starts.
Mk3 - 1X
Mk3S - 2X
2021 Hyundai Palisade
Wife - 1X
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
Same firmware? I'm on 3.7.1? I have a MK3 that was upgraded to a 3S if that makes any difference.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
Are you setting the M600 code yourself or using the plus mark on the slider in PrusaSlicer?
Bill
Tagaytay City, Philippines
Founder member of Philippines Prusa Printer Owners FB Group
Sponsor Pillars of God Academy in Bacoor
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
Are you setting the M600 code yourself or using the plus mark on the slider in PrusaSlicer?
Using the plus mark on the slider in PrusaSlicer.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
It is best to open an issue https://github.com/prusa3d/slic3r/issues
and provide as much information as possible: Your project file, screenshots etc.
It may be a slicer issue, it may be a firmware issue, it may not be an issue at all. If you provide enough data, we may print the project ourselves.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
Thank you. I will. I have been printing some nameplates with color changes and noticed it. I'll pay special attention to the next one and even film it and upload a file.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
There is a bug in Prusa Slicer 2.0, where the preview of the color change may be delayed couple of layers. This issue will be fixed in 2.1.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
Thanks for the reply. But that's not the bug I was talking about. I recorded what it was doing, but I need to post the video (I guess my description is not good enough for people to understand what I'm seeing) and post the Gcode.
When the nozzle moves to the front to change colors (while printing) after changing colors, the nozzle moves back to the print and instead of moving to where the new color starts (in the X/Y location) it returns where the old color stops. Comes down and deposits a bit of the new color where the old color stopped. Then retracts and moves to where the new color starts.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
The extra extrusion of filament is there to correct for possible extruder leakage before reaching the print. I personally am fine with the behavior and I am just watching the extruder moving to the print and removing the excess with tweezers.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
Really? That's expected behavior? Yes, I have been removing with tweezers as well. I guess I expected that if (and again trying to describe the behavior) you were to print 2 cubes, a small one sitting on top of the large one. And the large cube was one color and the small cube on top was a different color.
After printing the large cube, the print head ends on an edge of the large cube. Then color change. Then print head returns to the print. Why would it go back to the large cube, in an area that doesn't get the new color, deposit a bit of the new color in an area where it's not supposed to be, then retract and jump to where the new color starts and start printing.
When returning to the print, return to the print where the new color starts. Not where the old color left off. Just seemed like an oversight or bug to me. I never noticed this behavior prior to the new slicer 2.0 and latest firmware. Maybe it was there all the time and I just didn't notice.
If the 2 cubes I describe are the same size, one on top of the other, you don't notice this. You would only notice if the new color layer is smaller than the old color layer.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
If you don't like this behavior, then the best place to discuss the issue is here:
https://github.com/prusa3d/prusa-firmware
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
I don't mean to beat this to death, but just to make it as clear as possible.
This is what I want to print.
All pretty
But when the first color finishes it finishes at a corner of the print, lets assume where I draw the arrow.
I do the color change. And the print head moves back to the print, but instead of going where the new color begins it goes back to where the old color left off. So it deposits some new color here, and then moves to where the new color starts.
So the print comes out like this. I can remove that little dot with tweezers. It's not that big of a problem.
Just seemed like an oversight. Or a bug. Why would it go right to the previous end point, deposit color, then move to where the new color is supposed to start.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
If you don't like this behavior, then the best place to discuss the issue is here:
https://github.com/prusa3d/prusa-firmware
Ok. I will.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
So there are two issues going on. The first is the firmware issue / feature, where the firmware pressurizes the nozzle by extruding a little. The other issue is that the extruder head moves to the original point, not to the next point where the print continues to extrude.
I suppose we can do something about the 2nd issue, for example to place the M600 code after the Z-hop is applied and then to extend the M600 code to not do the Z hop. Or we can extend the M600 code with the target printing position after color change, so that the firmware would not return to the initial position, but to a new position. There is a long list of feature requests for both the firmware and slicer though.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
So there are two issues going on. The first is the firmware issue / feature, where the firmware pressurizes the nozzle by extruding a little. The other issue is that the extruder head moves to the original point, not to the next point where the print continues to extrude.
I suppose we can do something about the 2nd issue, for example to place the M600 code after the Z-hop is applied and then to extend the M600 code to not do the Z hop. Or we can extend the M600 code with the target printing position after color change, so that the firmware would not return to the initial position, but to a new position. There is a long list of feature requests for both the firmware and slicer though.
It's all good. Thanks for the info. I used to do lots of color changes with Prusa Control and never noticed this. I just updated to my Mk3S and the latest Prusa Slicer 2.0 and noticed it and didn't know if it was a new bug or maybe it's always been there and the new models I had just happened to show this behavior.
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
Posted it over here: https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware/issues/2033#issuecomment-514267043 and was told it belongd in the slicer area, so now its here: https://github.com/prusa3d/PrusaSlicer/issues/2672
If anyone is still following my nonsense. 🙂
RE: PrusaSlicer Color Change returns to poor location, maybe it's printer firmware?
i am having the same issue, 1 printer bought in december, 1 in january (mk3s+ and mk4 respectively.) it's ruining my prints entirely. any chance you know of a fix, i saw one in git but dont fully follow going to try it out