Slicer to allow different nozzle sizes in one print?
-
As the topic says, is there any slicer available that allows for different nozzle sizes on the same print?
I am currently using Cura and although I can run multiple different nozzle sizes in one print, there are many settings that are linked between the different extruders. Line width is one of these items - if I run a 0.2 mm nozzle and a 0.4 mm nozzle and set the line width for 0.2 mm for the 0.2 mm nozzle, the 0.4 mm nozzle will also use a line width of 0.2 mm. The same thing goes for layer height and many other settings.
It would be nice if one could provide fast printing with larger nozzles with the detail that is possible with a smaller nozzle. -
@jens55
I've used PrusaSlicer for exactly the same reason. IIRC, I had to set the extrusion width to "0" = automatic width set by slicer.
But there was still a bug either in the skirt or rim-width or wipe tower wasn't available... but that's a while ago and might be sorted out already.I could set infill every "x" layers and print infill only every 3rd layer (0.3mm nozzle for perimeters and 0.8mm for infill)
-
@jens55 As @o_lampe has suggested, you could certainly do it with Slic3R or one of it's variants. I haven't tried it but each tool (Slic3R calls them "extruders") can have a different nozzle diameter. One way to do it is to use different stl files for each part that will be printed with each nozzle, then you assign a different tool to each part. Another way would be to assign tools (extruders) to feature types. The old version of Prusa edition Slic3R that I use allows different extruders to Perimeter, Infill, Solid Infill, Support/raft/skirt and Support/Raft Skirt interface. Newer versions may have more options.
-
@jens55 I'm not sure what version of Cura you're on, but what you're saying isn't quite accurate. You may have a lot of settings hidden, or use a profile that does calculations for you in the background.
You can independently change line width on an extruder/tool basis (changing the line width on extruder/tool '1' does [should] not change the width for tool '2').
You can also set the infill and support layer thickness to be a different value from the main print layer thickness (e.g. print infill and support at .4mm height, with the walls at .2mm height). (I enabled 'all' settings to be visible, and then searched 'height' to filter down the settings).
The following items can be selected on a per extruder basis
- Outer wall extruder
- Inner wall extruder
- Top/bottom extruder
- Infill extruder
- Support infill extruder
- First layer support extruder
- Support roof extruder
- Support Floor extruder
- Build plate adhesion extruder
As an example, you can set the outer walls to be done with a finer nozzle (say .2mm line widths), with a global layer height of .1mm. You could then set the inner walls to be done with a larger nozzle (say .8mm line widths). Infill can also be done with the .8mm line widths, but also at .4mm layer heights. Support could be done with a .8mm nozzle width and .4mm layer height.
Cura however does not support different layer heights for the inner/outer walls.
-
A screenshot of the example I described above. Infill, inner walls, support in yellow, finer walls in green.
-
@sebkritikel, thanks for that. I am using Cura 4.2 Master edition. It was the latest release available from that repository at the time but I will see if a newer version is available. I double checked and it definitely does not support different line widths. I might have to go to the official version instead. In any case. thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
I will also have to check on layer height settings. The settings page you post shows the little 'linked' symbol to the left of the layer height suggesting that this can not be changed on a per extruder basis but your preview seems to show different layer heights. Anyway, something for me to explore!Also thanks to everybody else for pointing out that Prusa slicer supports this.
-
@jens55 said in Slicer to allow different nozzle sizes in one print?:
@sebkritikel, thanks for that. I am using Cura 4.2 Master edition. It was the latest release available from that repository at the time but I will see if a newer version is available. I double checked and it definitely does not support different line widths. I might have to go to the official version instead. In any case. thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
I will also have to check on layer height settings. The settings page you post shows the little 'linked' symbol to the left of the layer height suggesting that this can not be changed on a per extruder basis but your preview seems to show different layer heights. Anyway, something for me to explore!Also thanks to everybody else for pointing out that Prusa slicer supports this.
You're using a relatively recent version of Cura, so you should be fine. For whats its worth, my example is using the 20220310 Cura Master build... In my first image, what happens when you do change the line widths for one of the other?
To understand the 'link' icon, one needs to be aware of what extruder is being used for the operation. In this case the layer height is the same for both extruders for the infill, but since only extruder 2 is printing infill, in effect its only affecting extruder 2, and not extruder 1.
I've been using Cura to print with various combinations of line widths/layer thicknesses in the same print for going on 5 years now, not sure why it doesn't seem to be cooperating for you.
-
@sebkritikel, looks like I was mistaken as far as line widths are concerned. Cura definitively supports different line widths for different extruders. It does however not seem to support different layer heights as such?
You indicated/circled 'infill layer thickness', that was the pointer I needed. Although I did notice this setting sometime in the past, somehow I didn't connect the dots in my mind. This gives me a way of speeding things up even though layer thickness itself is linked to all extruders.Edit: I did take the opportunity to upgrade from 4.20.5 to 4.20.8
-
@jens55 Hmm I think I'm seeing whats going on with the layer height. On my above example I have the infill and support printing at .4mm heights, but the Cura and Craftware preview show it as .1mm layer heights. If I incrementally move the layers upwards/downwards, it properly reflects that one infill/support layer is printed for every four outer line layers (since the infill and support is printed at 4x the layer height).
Getting the layer thickness preview to properly represent different thicknesses per line type sounds like a good enhancement request.
