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Changing Filament type midprint  

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kevinstonehouse
(@kevinstonehouse)
Eminent Member
Changing Filament type midprint

I've recently  been trying to print a PLA layer (0.2 mm thick) then printing Flex-Fill directly on top of this. While I can use the Slicer App to setup the color change transition point. The temperature difference between the PLA and Flex is causing problems due to the 15 C difference. Is there any way to "add" a function into the Slicer firmware to support material type changes in the same way colors changes are handled?

 

Note: The idea is to print a drone frame using the Oreo method. Thus having stiffer material on the outside and flexible material inside.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Kevin

This topic was modified 4 years ago by kevinstonehouse
Posted : 19/08/2020 2:22 pm
Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: Changing Filament type midprint

Instead of adding a colour change, right click on the little orange plus icon which will bring up the add custom gcode option instead. You can then add the same code as colour change to do the pause but also add in the desired temp change too. If you add in the temp change before the pause it should heat up while you are swapping filament. 

Posted : 19/08/2020 2:45 pm
kevinstonehouse
(@kevinstonehouse)
Eminent Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Changing Filament type midprint

@Neophyl,

Can you please list the codes that are needed to do this as I am unfamiliar with the gcode syntax.

Posted : 19/08/2020 3:25 pm
kevinstonehouse
(@kevinstonehouse)
Eminent Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Changing Filament type midprint

Did a quick Google search and came up with this...

From PLA to Flex (Temp and filament change):

M104 T1 S230
M600

 

From Flex to (Temp and filament change):

M104 T1 S215
M600

This post was modified 4 years ago by kevinstonehouse
Posted : 19/08/2020 3:32 pm
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Neophyl
(@neophyl)
Illustrious Member
RE: Changing Filament type midprint

With the mini being a single tool printer you can omit the T1 and just use the M104 Sxxx.

Although I think you might have other issues crop up as flex filaments usually use much lower volumetric rates/speeds than normal filaments.

Normally those values are worked out at slice time by the slicer so it adjusts everything during the gcode generation. You **might** be able to just slow things right down similar to what you can do from the printer by also using M220 Sxxx where xxx is the percentage speed when you switch to the tpu and back to s100 when going back to the normal filament. 

Posted : 19/08/2020 4:33 pm
kevinstonehouse
(@kevinstonehouse)
Eminent Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Changing Filament type midprint

Thank you Neophyl.

Posted : 19/08/2020 4:38 pm
Texy
 Texy
(@texy)
Reputable Member
RE: Changing Filament type midprint
Posted by: @kevinstonehouse

Thank you Neophyl.

So did this work for you, out of interest ?

Texy

Posted : 08/09/2020 11:24 am
kevinstonehouse
(@kevinstonehouse)
Eminent Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Changing Filament type midprint

Sort of...

I was able to get the first layer PLA adhesion with the 2nd Flexfill. Looked really good too until i discovered that one part of the project separated from the Flexfill. Going to give it another go today as I'm back from holiday and home all day.

Posted : 14/09/2020 7:37 am
kevinstonehouse
(@kevinstonehouse)
Eminent Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Changing Filament type midprint

There's the item that I am printing but an older version just so you'd have a better idea https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4542870

Posted : 14/09/2020 11:29 am
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