The biggest issue with BambuLab printers is that during multicolor printing ridiculous amounts of poop are generated, when switching colors. There is a significant amount of wasted filament when using an AMS (Assisted Material Splicer). Sticking with the default settings could result in as much waste as the actual printed material.
Table of Contents:[hide]
What is 3D Printer Poop?
In general, filament waste in 3D printing, including failed prints, brim removal, and support usage. We'd like to minimizing waste related to AMS, and recycling these filament poops into something useful.
There is a hidden feature in Bambu Slicer that can help you transform the "poop" into something useful. To understand why this issue occurs in Bambu printers, it's essential to recognize the common problem when changing colors in any 3D printer. Once the filament is melted in the hot end, it can only move forward, and you can't retract melted filament. Without adjusting settings, a significant amount of melted plastic ends up being extruded as waste.
How to Reducing Bambu 3D Printers Poop?
1. Adjust Flushing Volumes for Filament Change
The purge filament, which is the initial extrusion to clear the nozzle before printing, can be repurposed with a helpful feature in Bambu Slicer. This feature allows users to use the purge filament for a practical purpose rather than being discarded as waste.
The flushing volumes, indicating the amount of filament purged for a clean color change. Transitioning from light to dark requires less purging, while going from dark to light demands more. Changing the multiplier from 1 to 0.6 can save you a considerable amount of filament. Additionally, manually editing the settings may be necessary, and experimentation on a small sample print is suggested.
2. Flush into Objects Infill
Explore the flush options under the "Others" tab, specifically the "flush into objects infill." This setting allows you to utilize infill to absorb some of the color changes. This trick is well-known among Bambu AMS users.
3. Flush into Object
Discover an intriguing tip to minimize filament waste: the "flush into object" feature in Bambu Slicer. This hidden gem is accessible by right-clicking a model on the build plate, often overlooked due to its location. Activating this feature transforms the model into a purge tower, providing a unique solution to filament waste. However, it's essential to keep the regular purge tower enabled for proper functionality. The conventional purge tower can be reduced in size since it still serves the purpose of cleaning the nozzle.
4. Printing Multiple Copies At A Time
Another efficient and simple approach to minimize filament waste involves printing multiple copies of multicolored objects simultaneously. Regardless of the number of copies, the 3D printer tends to waste the same amount of filament during color switches. This demonstrates that the amount of waste per multicolor model decreases, making this method beneficial when a considerable number of multicolored copies are needed.
5. Print by Object
The next approach to discuss is the "print by object" method, particularly beneficial when designing models with multiple parts that require different colors. For instance, a scissor claw design has pegs and links, and to achieve different colors for these parts, printing by object proves advantageous.
To implement this, one must use the "print sequence" setting under "special mode" in Bambu Slicer. Printing one color pieces all before switching to another color ones optimizes efficiency. When applying this method, it's essential to consider spacing between objects to avoid collisions. The Auto Arrange feature aids in preventing overlaps.
Several tips accompany this approach: use Auto Arrange to automatically space objects, and consider assembly and unassembly of parts for efficient printing. Unassembling parts and then assembling them into a single object streamlines the process.
The primary advantage of the "print by object" method is substantial savings in both plastic and time. By minimizing filament changes, it eliminates waiting time between layers, making it efficient. However, the drawbacks include the need for careful planning during design or slicing, making the setup more time-consuming. Additionally, the print bed's capacity is reduced due to the required spacing between objects to prevent collisions.
6. Bambulab Profile for Up to 60% Purge Reduction
Here's an experimental method to further save on filament waste, although it involves tinkering with the printer's G-Code. Shared by Leon Fiser Skipper on PrusaPrinters, this profile claims a remarkable 60% reduction in flushed filament during color swaps through a strategic retraction move.
1 comment
Why can’t they get this as efficient as the Prusa solution? Prusa can somehow manage zero purge print, but Bambu can’t. That’s baffling to me!