Colour change on cold print

[BrokenBiker]

I'm printing some bits that need a colour change a few layers before the end of the print. At the moment I am always near by and checking on the layer count so I'm always there when the pause hits to change filament, purge and resume while everything is still hot.

If I set a print going that will pause while I'm away, is there any issues letting the print go cold before then changing colour and resuming? Is the heat if the next layer enough for a good bond to cold plastic?

I'm printing in petg at the moment, may also end up printing in pla with the same sort of scenario

 

[Dr.Al]

It'll be fine as long as the bed stays warm. I've done this with PETG loads of times with the Prusa Mk3s+: insert a colour change at some layer transition & try (but not always succeed) to be around when the pause happens.

On the Prusa it'll eventually cool the nozzle (but not the bed) down (to save energy) if you don't change the filament immediately, but a single button press makes it heat up again ready for the filament change.

I've never tried with PLA but I'd imagine it's similar.

 

[BrokenBiker]

It'll be fine as long as the bed stays warm. I've done this with PETG loads of times with the Prusa Mk3s+: insert a colour change at some layer transition & try (but not always succeed) to be around when the pause happens.

On the Prusa it'll eventually cool the nozzle (but not the bed) down (to save energy) if you don't change the filament immediately, but a single button press makes it heat up again ready for the filament change.

I've never tried with PLA but I'd imagine it's similar.

Ok thanks. I will have to test print something to see if the bed stays warm. I know when my pause happens the nozzle starts cooking immediately although there may be a setting involved.

I've got 3 more of my fuel pump wedges printing now but I'm only 10 foot from the shed and know roughly when the pause will happen, plus I've got the app on my phone to show what layer it's on currently so today isn't an issue but when I'm back in work I may want to set stuff going in the morning then not be able to colour change til the evening unless I train the Mrs

 

[Dr.Al]

Ok thanks. I will have to test print something to see if the bed stays warm. I know when my pause happens the nozzle starts cooking immediately although there may be a setting involved.

I've got 3 more of my fuel pump wedges printing now but I'm only 10 foot from the shed and know roughly when the pause will happen, plus I've got the app on my phone to show what layer it's on currently so today isn't an issue but when I'm back in work I may want to set stuff going in the morning then not be able to colour change til the evening unless I train the Mrs

That's one thing I miss from moving to the Bambu printer from the Octoprint+Prusa. In Octoprint you could schedule prints to start at a particular time. Prusaslicer was very accurate in its time prediction so I could set up a print to reach it's pause just as I got up for work or got back from work.

I haven't found a way to schedule a start on the Bambu (& the slicer's time predictions are nowhere near as accurate).

 

[BrokenBiker]

That's one thing I miss from moving to the Bambu printer from the Octoprint+Prusa. In Octoprint you could schedule prints to start at a particular time. Prusaslicer was very accurate in its time prediction so I could set up a print to reach it's pause just as I got up for work or got back from work.

I haven't found a way to schedule a start on the Bambu (& the slicer's time predictions are nowhere near as accurate).

I've found with orca slicer that even just setting a pause can be hit or miss as to whether it actually pauses on the correct layer...sometimes it pauses at the start of the layer, sometimes at the end of the layer but you can never tell which so getting it right can be tricky