Firmware request: Faster tool changes with less oozing

J1/J1s IDEX
1

It would be great if tool changes could be made faster and with less oozing. Right now my support interface (petg) toolhead is oozing all over the part. It seems that the parking speed and retractions settings are not optimal.

Before parking a toolhead a retraction could be executed. After it has parked, an unretraction could be executed.
When unparking a toolhead a retraction could be executed before the toolhead moves to the start point. After it has moved to the start point, the toolhead could unretract before starting to print.

Maybe it’s already implemented like this, but retraction distance is too short?

2

I do this tool change and retractions in my slicer software.

Do you use Luban for this? - Not sure how the tool change scripts in Luban.

2.0 User here, please apologies)
If you use s3d, I could share my 2.0 tool change settings and scripts as starting point.

3

Hi @xchrisd. Hmm yes I suppose that might be the way to go. I’m using the standard J1 tool change gcode in Cura scripted by snapmaker atm. I believe its the same in Luban. (M2000 S200 V250 A6000).

Thanks. I think it might be a little too confusing for me though, considering you have a different printer. I’ll just grab the parking coordinates from M114 and write my own…

I no longer have S3D. Desided to uninstall and ask for a refund. The dealbreaker for me was that there is no setting for controlling number of walls in top/bottom surfaces. I think this setting and a few others that are also missing should be included when paying 200$ for a slicer… :thinking:

5

It seems to me that the parking speed can be controlled with the V parameter. The unparking speed and retraction settiongs can be controlled with the travel speed settings and nozzle switch settings in the slicer.
However there also seems to be a speedlimit on the travel/unparking speed because my impression was that the first speed increase of the “travel speed” resulted in faster unparking but when I tried increasing the travel speed even more, there was no change in the unparkingspeed. Perhaps somebody knows how to control the unparkingspeed?? I think it’s way too slow… :unamused:

6

i use orcaslicer and i orient my parts in a way that limit oozing on the finished part, for example if the supports are mostly on one side, ill point that side towards the support nozzle. Additionally you can place a small prime tower or ooze shield around your part. apart from that, additional retraction is your friend

7

I modified my tool change code. 10mm retraction and 8mm de-retract.
Had blobs/strings on the primetower.

;***** Update: 20230730
{if current_extruder != next_extruder}
; Change T[current_extruder] -> T[next_extruder] (layer [layer_num] [toolchange_count]/[total_toolchanges])
; layer [layer_num] at [layer_z]mm

G91
G1 E-10 F1200
G90
G92 E0
M83

T[next_extruder]

M107 P[current_extruder] ;fan off T[current_extruder]
M104 T[current_extruder] S{temperature_vitrification[current_extruder]} ;standby T[current_extruder]

{if layer_num == 1 &&
 ((filament_type[current_extruder] == "PLA" || filament_type[current_extruder] == "TPU")
  || (filament_type[next_extruder] == "PLA" || filament_type[next_extruder] == "TPU"))
}
; set bed temp: {filament_type[current_extruder]}({bed_temperature[current_extruder]}) -> {filament_type[next_extruder]}({bed_temperature[next_extruder]})
M140 S{min(bed_temperature[current_extruder], bed_temperature[next_extruder])}
{endif}

M2000 S200 V[travel_speed] A[travel_acceleration] ;quick switch extruders, S:200 mode/V:speed/A:acceleration
M109 T[next_extruder] S{if layer_num < 1}[nozzle_temperature_initial_layer]{else}[nozzle_temperature]{endif} C3 W1 ;wait T[next_extruder]
{if layer_z > first_layer_height && layer_num >= close_fan_the_first_x_layers[next_extruder]}
  M106 P[next_extruder] S{fan_min_speed[next_extruder] * 255.0 / 100.0} ;restore fan speed for T[next_extruder]

G91
G1 E8 F1200
G90
G92 E0
M83

{endif}
{endif}
8

Thanks! I don’t think i can do 10 mm retract reliably atm. At least not for PLA… If i remember correctly, i tried setting the tool change retract to about 10 and it wasnt reliable. Perhaps it could work if i go buy some cooling paste for the heatbreak…
I would like to be able to print without prime tower or ooze shield but the unparking speed is way too slow. I did try raising the max feedrate for x and y and it seemed to have an effect but still pretty slow =( Maybe I need to raise max acceleration too :thinking: But these settings should be optimized in the firmware imo. I dont really consider this type of fiddeling very fun. I just want to print my parts…
Perhaps the V-core 4 IDEX will be a better fit for me. Can’t wait til it comes out…