3DPrinting

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Seeking advice choosing a multi-color printer (self.3dprinting)

submitted 5 months ago by capably8341 to c/[email protected]

17 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hello,

I am trying to figure out which printer with multi-color capabilities to buy, and I'd like to hear some other people's opinions.

Note: I can't buy Bambu Labs products, so please do not recommend one.

Current options:

Prusa Mk4 and MMU3.
Voron 2.4-style (either Formbot kit or Sovol SV08) and ERCF, and eventually DAKSH toolchanger.
Ratrig V4 and the upgrades when they come out.
Creality K2 Plus (when it comes out).
Qidi Q1 Pro and the rumored multi-color unit.

My current thoughts:

I am happy wait a bit if that's the best option.
I like the fact that the MMU3 mechinism doesn't waste as much filament as some other mechanisms. It's easier for me to pay more up front for the mechanism than constantly keeping tons extra filament in stock.
The potential for a Voron to be upgraded to a toolchanger with DAKSH is intising.
High print quality is important to me, although I can't imagine any of these would result in bad quality.
Prusa XL is outside my budget :(

Please let me know your opinions, and thank you to anybody who read this far.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (2 children)

I have an MK4+MMU that I bought partially with the intent of building PLA-supported PETG and TPU parts. I haven't dug in too far yet but in the few prints I've done the PLA has severely degraded interlayer adhesion. Presumably this can be addressed by purging (much) more on changes from PLA, but if I had known this before I bought, I would have seriously considered a multi-head printer.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

My understanding is that PLA and PETG will not adhere together, so I guess if there's any residual PLA when printing the PETG it will cause it to not adhere fully. Makes sense and is a perfect example of where a tool changer would be incredibly useful.

I'm assuming you're using PLA to support the PETG parts because of their inability to adhere to each other? Don't know if you've seen it, but if you have relatively large, flat overhangs that need support, you can color in the top layer of the supports with a permanent marker. This will cause the same inability to adhere and you can snap the part off easy. Not really practical for multiple areas of support or if you need something like tree supports, but if you've got angular parts or similar could save a lot of time

[–] capably8341 1 points 5 months ago

I'm curious to hear if you find a solution to this as you play with it more. I think some people are able to make it work with some setups, so I'm curious if something makes the Prusa different. If there isn't a way to make it work, I think this has to be crossed off my list of options.