Why are there two locations for retraction settings?
There are retraction setttings under filament setting/filament overrides and they are also located under Printer settings/Extruder 1. Do they override each other? Do they double up if you have both of them set? I can see if the need for both, for example if you are dialing in a specific filament then you would adjust under the filament settings but then why have them under printer settings? Also, if you have already set retraction up under printer settings and then adjust under filament settings for a specific fialment does it use the filement settings, or add both?
RE: Why are there two locations for retraction settings?
The printer (extruder) settings are the defaults. You can optionally specify overrides for each filament but it is entirely optional. If find the defaults work in most cases, but that some filament (e.g. flexibles) have unique requirements.
RE: Why are there two locations for retraction settings?
Just to be clear, the filament setting always overrides the extruder setting?
RE: Why are there two locations for retraction settings?
Just to be clear, the filament setting always overrides the extruder setting?
As I understand it, yes. The filament overrides supersede settings specified elsewhere. I haven't done an intensive test, but it seems to work as described.
retraction settings for flexible filaments
How can we be sure if the filament overrides the same settings from the printer settings menu? Would be better for a flexible filament to have the same settings for retraction in both menus (filament and printer settings menus)? Thank you!
Do what works best for you
How can we be sure if the filament overrides the same settings from the printer settings menu?
If you're not comfortable with what you're being told, test it for yourself. That's what I do.
Would be better for a flexible filament to have the same settings for retraction in both menus (filament and printer settings menus)?
What's important is that it is printed with the correct settings. What menu those settings are entered in is not important. If you only plan to ever print with flexible, by all means, set your printer settings for flexible. If you plan on working with a variety of materials, it's probably more convenient to make the changes in filament settings. Do what works for you and your workflow. There is no one right or wrong.
same settings in different menus
How can we be sure if the filament overrides the same settings from the printer settings menu?
If you're not comfortable with what you're being told, test it for yourself. That's what I do.
Would be better for a flexible filament to have the same settings for retraction in both menus (filament and printer settings menus)?
.... What menu those settings are entered in is not important. ....
Thank you for your reply! For me, it is confusing to have the same settings options for a parameter ( retraction for example) in 2 different menus and not to know which ones will be considered first! It is the same as in the case of max volumetric speed which is in 2 menus! I don't understand the logic behind this!
Stick to Simple mode if you feel overwhelmed
[...] For me, it is confusing to have the same settings options for a parameter ( retraction for example) in 2 different menus and not to know which ones will be considered first!
That's exactly why the default setting for PrusaSlicer is Simple mode. If you stick to simple mode, you'll get perfectly adequate prints without having to be exposed by the myriad options. If and only when you need additional control do you need to deal with advanced or expert mode. It's the best of both worlds.
Same options
Even in Simple mode you have the choice of choosing in both places.
Funny thing is that the OP posted the same question I did just three posts above my post. 😀
Is there an actual question?
Even in Simple mode you have the choice of choosing in both places.
The options are much more limited in Simple mode. Do you have an actual question or is this just musing? If you're not certain what you're doing, don't go changing things. The Prusa knowledgebase has a lot of answers, as do the tool-tip help boxes that pop up when you hover over settings.
Funny thing is that the OP posted the same question I did just three posts above my post. 😀
I do wonder why the answers don't seem to be sufficient.
Google search!
Funny thing is that the OP posted the same question I did just three posts above my post. 😀
Google search showed me this thread first...
RE: Why are there two locations for retraction settings?
Reaching out to Prusa here, can someone that actually knows something answer this question? Four different people chimed in (I'm #5) wanting to know the same thing, why Prusaslicer confusingly has the same settings in different places, and exactly one person responded who admitted he didn't know the answer, but kept talking anyway and eventually got snarky about the whole thing?! This is super important, as Prusa printers are not designed to work very well with soft FLEX materials, it's an endless process of fussing around to stay in the groove of printability (don't get me wrong, it works fabulously when in that narrow groove), and the precise functioning of flow and retraction settings is crucial. The question everyone keeps asking is very simple: "What is the defined logic in Prusaslicer software for how these "Filament Overrides" redundant settings are implemented?".
RE: Why are there two locations for retraction settings?
@scott-bierly
@bobstro explained it clearly.
@bobstro wrote:
The printer (extruder) settings are the defaults. You can optionally specify overrides for each filament but it is entirely optional. If find the defaults work in most cases, but that some filament (e.g. flexibles) have unique requirements.
after his clear explanation,
Just to be clear, the filament setting always overrides the extruder setting?
The answer to this is "yes" the settings in filament settings/ Filament Overrides always overrides the extruder setting.
Once you learn how to use the software and become more proficient with the machine, you'll have a better understanding. For now I'll explain the reason for this, you can have multiple extruders and multiple material profiles, even multiple printers sharing these profiles. so it becomes very handy to have this setup, I expect as you advance you will come across, other areas in slicer with what seem to be identical selections also, for now just be aware that they are needed and as you advance you will start to understand the need for this. Keep this in mind especially as you start to use modifiers, should you ever find the need.
To respond to your comment:
@scott-bierly wrote:
This is super important, as Prusa printers are not designed to work very well with soft FLEX materials
I have to disagree, I print many many KG's of flexible materials on my unmodified Prusa MK3 sires machines without fuss.
Good Luck, don't give up you'll get it.
Swiss_Cheese
The Filament Whisperer
RE: Why are there two locations for retraction settings?
[...] The question everyone keeps asking is very simple: "What is the defined logic in Prusaslicer software for how these "Filament Overrides" redundant settings are implemented?".
The Filament Overrides under Filament Settings are overrides.
- If you specify any of those settings, that setting will override the defaults as set under Printer Settings so long as you use that filament preset.
- If you don't change a setting under the Filament Overrides under Filament Settings, the defaults as set under Printer Settings are used.
They are not redundant. The filament overrides let you override the setting if and when needed for a specific filament. If you specify a setting under the Filament Overrides under Filament Settings, that setting only applies to slicing done using that filament preset. Slicing done using any other filament preset will use the defaults.
In your example, you could set your defaults under Printer Settings for everyday printing needs or just use the tuned Prusa-supplied printer preset, then create filament presets for flexibles with overrides to suit your needs when actually printing flexibles. You can check this yourself easily. Select a PLA preset and you'll see the overrides are set to N/A. Nothing is changed and the default retraction settings as set under Printer Settings are used. Select the Generic Flex profile and retraction length is checked and set to 0, thus overriding the defaults. You can pull up the generated gcode and observe what happens with different settings. With a PLA profile selected, I see this:
;LAYER_CHANGE ;Z:0.25 ;HEIGHT:0.25 G1 E-1.2 F3000 ; retract G1 Z.4 F6000 ; lift Z G92 E0
Switch over to the Generic Flex preset and I see this:
;LAYER_CHANGE ;Z:0.25 ;HEIGHT:0.25 G1 Z.25 F6000 ; move to next layer (0) G92 E0
Notice the absence of the retraction moves.
RE: Why are there two locations for retraction settings?
Many thanks for the clear explanation @bobstro, this is what we have been searching for. I totally get (and did get) that there was design intent behind the multiple settings, the word "redundant" was being used because, lacking functional explanation, they are in fact redundant settings. As to the idea of "just try it", sure that's better than nothing (to those that have the time and understanding to read gcode), but anecdotal evidence is not the same as an underlying explanation, otherwise you are just guessing the intention of the software. If the override logic is documented somewhere, it's certainly hard to find, Google only leads to this thread! Now we finally have something clear written down that is presumably what the software actually does, and it makes perfect sense, thanks.
RE: Why are there two locations for retraction settings?
Filament overrides are provided for two reasons. 1. For printing a multicolor project where a universal setting will not work for all filaments involved. 2. Instead of trying to remember all the specifics for that filament each time you load it in a different tool-head, save the information in the filament overrides area. It took me 6 or 7 calibration cubes to finally work out a wood PLA filament for a project on my XL 5. I had to methodically print tests until I achieved real life calibrations equal or very close to what the computer calculated. My final filament template for this particular filament ended up being .75 for the extrusion multiplier instead of 1. That is what gave me an actual .65mm single wall width to match the Default extrusion width that my slicer was planning on. I ended up arriving at the perfect print temperature of 175 instead of 190. This specific filament needed to have a retraction value of 8mm, (not 3) and I needed to up the retraction speed to 50mm/s. The black Duramic PLA+ I'm knitting together with the wood PLA would not print at those settings. Duramic PLA+ happens to be on the rest of my tool heads: white, orange, electric blue and black. I leave the Print settings where all those spools of filament are happy, but for the odd ball filament, I need to use Filament overrides. If you only have a one tool-head machine, or you are only printing in one color, you don't need to think about filament overrides, just set up the printer to work with the one filament you are using. But if you are doing a project that requires 2 filaments that won't print at the same temperatures, extrusion, or retraction settings, then you need to override the standards for that one filament.