retract settings in config vs slicer, who wins

Simon 4

when I set the retraction setting in the config.g i.e. 1mm
and the slicer has a setting with 2,5mm which will win ? (prusa slicer)
in which direction is the config limiting the value? never less than 1mm or never more than 1mm !

droftarts

@Simon-4 Firmware retraction is initiated by the Gcode commands G10 or M103. It's usually a slicer setting to either put these in (so no slicer retraction), or use slicer retraction. So neither 'wins', it's just depends on the slicer settings.

For example, in PrusaSlicer, 'use firmware retraction' is in Printer Settings > General > Advanced. If this is set, it used the retraction settings you set in config.g. If it is not set, it uses the retraction settings set in Printer Settings > Extruder # > Retraction (or these may be overridden by Filament Settings > Filament Overrides > Retraction)

Ian

Simon 4

@droftarts
thanks for advise , I thought because of the initial config.g settings in the wizzard these numbers are a kind of security limit.
So theoretically I am able to overwrite all config.g setting within the g-code generated by the slicer?

paralepsis

@Simon-4 I think there are three different things going on to mention, here:

As stated above, retraction settings are sort of a special case and relate only to firmware retraction. Slicers doing (non-firmware) retraction just reverse the extruder stepper a certain amount via gcode commands, without the firmware knowing that retraction is occurring.
For things like maximum movement, acceleration, jerk, yes those config.g settings can be thought of as upper limits for correct operation.
That said, the slicer can emit gcode that overrides those. In fact there's a default in PrusaSlicer under Printer Settings -> Machine Limits -> How to apply limits that will promptly overwrite the values for many of these settings (you probably want that parameter set to "Use for time estimate").

Hope this helps.

deckingman

@Simon-4 said in retract settings in config vs slicer, who wins:

@droftarts
thanks for advise , I thought because of the initial config.g settings in the wizzard these numbers are a kind of security limit.
So theoretically I am able to overwrite all config.g setting within the g-code generated by the slicer?

I think you are still a bit confused. If you want to use firmware retraction, you first have to set the parameters (distance, feed rate, optional additional length for unretract, and optional Z lift amount) using M207 in your config.g. Then you "tell" your slicer to use firmware retraction as @droftarts has explained. When you next slice an object, wherever a retraction occurs, the slicer will insert a "G10" command instead of an actual extruder move command and whenever an "unretract" occurs, the slicer will insert a "G11" command. So then when you print an object, whenever the duet firmware sees a G10 or G11 command in the gcode stream it will retract or "unretract" the filament in accordance with the settings you entered in your M207 command.

The obvious advantage of using firmware retraction is that you can change any of the values of M207 "on the fly" as the print progresses. You can also use different M207 settings for different filaments either by entering values in the slicer filaments code section of via macros on the Duet side of things.

Simon 4

@deckingman
@paralepsis

OK, I think I got it. But is there a config.g limit or not? paralepsis says yes deckingman says no
I will tell the specific case
I am using a Revo Roto.

The datasheet tells me these numbers
• Extruder current 600mA Peak (425mA RMS)
• Nominal steps per mm (x16): 2710
• Maximum extruder acceleration: 1000 mm/s2
• Maximum extruder jerk: 2 mm/s
• Retraction length: 1.25 mm
• Retraction speed: 30 mm/s
• Wipe while retracting:
• Lift Z: 0 mm

those numbers were put into the wizard

I don´t have any M207 code in the config.g and in the slicer, firmware retract is "not" set.

In the printing profile from a friend I found that retract was set to 2,5mm@40mm/s. both values are too high in regard to the data sheet.

my question will I have 2.5m retract or the config.g values with 1.25mm

deckingman

@Simon-4 As you are not using firmware retraction, then the retraction parameters will be whatever you set them to in the slicer. The firmware doesn't "know" anything about the speed and distance values on the data sheet, unless you configure them using M207.
For info, the published retraction distance of 1.25 mm will vary depending on things like nozzle diameter, filament type, temperature and few other factors.

Edit. I should probably add that the maximum speed, acceleration and jerk values that you define elsewhere in config.g (using M203, M201 and M566) will be respected regardless of whether you use slicer retraction or firmware retraction. However, these are maximum allowable values which largely depend on what the motor/machine/mechanics are capable of and therefore should only be used to cap the maximum allowable values, and not be used as a means of controlling retraction settings.