FCS - PLA/PCTG - PROOF It Works!!!!

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

I finally succeeded last night - with a proper Test print - of Full Contact Support - Model is PCTG - Supports are PLA - and even MORE Importantly - Supports DO NOT TOUCH THE Build Plate - so NOT Locked down - and they print purely on a layer of the model!

But - Proof is in the pudding:

That was the pic of completed print - to show you scale (it's a Small test) - and a NICE Small Purge tower (with Help by Luke for the Settings). 

So - close-up pic as it's printing - Sadly - pic quality sucks - so you can't see the actual top layer of the supports - it's Mid print - so, you would see an "infill" pattern:

Close up with top layer of supports completed. Again - pic sucks :

The final print:

Closeup of Purge Tower (yeah - I know - it's kinda messy):

Lastly - For those with the U1 - Project file is attached!

-K

[Kurt]

I did a 2nd test - this one had White PLA as the supports. I broke it apart so I can see the insides of the supported regions of the yellow part (ignore the 2nd yellow piece under the main yellow piece - I used that the prop up the part for a better pic). As you will see - the surfaces where the supports touched or were supporting - are obviously quite smooth:

And - before leaving my place this morning - I started up a BIG version - as a More extensive Test - with much greater surface area of contact - and it had finished the main model bottom level and was laying down the supports - without a problem. 

-K

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[david merten]

Oh boy now you made me really want a tool changer or at least an ams unit!

Is there any improvements in the carbon 2 over the carbon 1, besides the obvious ams unit?

     David

[Kurt]

From a couple things I've heard from folks on Reddit - some are complaining that the ECC2 is NOT as good as the ECC1.

Also - keep in mind - putting PCTG & PLA thru the Same nozzle on the Same print job (ala AMS style) - is problematic in general. That being said - I think if you ONLY do Supports Interface layers as PCTG (rest of Model is PLA) - and, yeah - limited use case - Top of Supports are FLAT - and thus really only like 2-3  layers of Filament Swapping (thus  4 - 6 filament swaps) - and you did EXTRA Long Nozzles Purges - one MIGHT be able to do this trick of Full Contact Support on an AMS. But, I can NOT safely say it's Viable (without proper testing) - and it would be Limited use case if we consider only 2-3 layers of filament swapping - as that ASSuMes a completely Flat Top Support surface!

Just sayin'...

But, yeah - this is why I decided to go ALL IN on a Toolchanger!!! Especially considering my initial experimentations w/FCS & PLA/PCTG at Essentium!

-K

[Kurt A 3d]

Kurt-1

What I would like you to try is

1) Mark your PCTG as soluble (in the fillamet setting)

2) Go for PLA for model and supports

3) Set #INTERFACE layers to 5

4) Set Support Interface to PCTG

5) Consider slowing the PCTG way down (set its “Max Volumetric Speed” in the fillament settings. to like 3 instead of 12 or 9 or whatever

I have found that mixing PETG and PLA works better at the 0.2mm layer height on the XL.  When you go to 0.1mm there isnt enough of the disimilar material layed down in on top of the support material. 

Kurt-A

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Dude - My Slicer is NOT Your Slicer! 

I have NOT seen a Soluble option.

I HAVE THINGS working!!!! Will show More postings SOON....

-K

[Kurt A 3d]

I am reasonably sure that it’s in the FILLAMENT PROFILE.  I dont have my laptop here right now so I cant load up orcaslicer.  But when I read the documention for it it says that a wipe tower extruder of 0 will use any available fillmanet for the stripper of the wipe tower NON SOLUBLE PREFERED.  This is the same as prusaslicer.   This is in the fillaments options not the print options.  

Kurt-A

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Dude - I have been printing a BUNCH Already - no problem. So - as such - I'm not sure what problem you are trying to solve. Just sayin'...

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

OK - I just saw what Specific message of mine you were referring to. FYI - IN That reply - I am referring to folks who have an AMS unit - which I DO Not Yet have (my Canvas will be coming soon). 

On Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 3:44:56 PM UTC-4 Kurt A 3d wrote: