rotodingo
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2018 5:51 am

Change noozle size inside a same print?

Hello,

I got a Prusa I3 MK3. I was wondering if their is a way to use 2 different noozle sizes during a print on a printer with only one extruder? Imagine a large one, i would start with a 0.6mm noozle for the base wich is a simple shape, then the printer reach end of process 1, is put to pause, i change the noozle for a 0.4mm one and the print resume on process 2 wich is made for the 0.4mm noozle. I know about the M600 command for color change but it's inside a same process as far as i understand. Any way to do what i want? All we need is a way to pause the printer at the end of process 1, move the printhead up and resume on process 2 after noozle change.

You could also imagine a print with very small detail on top, by example a text that needs the 0.25mm noozle when the rest of the part is good with a 0.4. I would need to print the most of the part with 0.4mm noozle then switch to the 0.25mm one for the small text on top. How to do it, if possible?

Thanks
airscapes
Posts: 403
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2018 10:35 am
Location: Philadelphia PA Area

Re: Change noozle size inside a same print?

Not really feasible The better option is to split the part into 2 separate part so they can be printed and then glued together. The only reason to go with a larger nozzle is so you can use larger layer height to get faster prints. the difference in extrusion width will not make much difference in print time if you do not increase layer height. If you were to print the bottom at .45mm using the .6 nozzle and the rest at .2 using the .4 nozzle you would see the change and it would look funny..
rotodingo
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2018 5:51 am

Re: Change noozle size inside a same print?

OK, Thanks. :(

Whatever the results is looking their is no way then?
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dkightley
Posts: 2405
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 4:09 pm

Re: Change noozle size inside a same print?

Think about the mechanics of changing nozzles! Think!

Nozzles body lengths vary....the position where the nozzle is "locked" can vary. How can you set the nozzle to bed distance with a part-completed print stuck on your bed?

Buy a two extruder printer.....or upgrade your printer to two extruders.
Doug Kightley
Volunteer at the National Tramway Museum http://www.tramway.co.uk
Railway modeller and webmaster at http://www.talkingtgauge.net
archester
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2020 8:44 am

Re: Change noozle size inside a same print?

Airscapes is right. The only solution is to split the model in two part, print in two different sessions and then glue the part together. It's not a common process, but you can have a try.

Doing a dual-extrusion print using two different nozzle sizes is quick and easy instead and you can manage it directly in Simplify3D. It is commonly used to print the outlines and the infill at different sizes. In that case, you should set up the primary extruder to one diameter and the infill extruder to the other one.

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