Load & Unload Filament

[Andrew McHaffie]

Hi all,

I am sure there is an obvious answer that I just can't find. The other 3D printers I have used (Makerbot, XYZPrinting, Ultimaker) have an option to "change Filament" or "Unload/Load Filament" that heats the extruder nozzle and then loads [or unloads] filament. In the loading process, the printer raises the z axis and keeps extruding until you click the right button. This also helps me to see that the extruder head is extruding a nice consistently fine stream of plastic. I can't find that on the Lorei Duo I have. Any thoughts? Ideas? Is there a Cura Command... or something on the LCD menu I am not seeing? 

Thank you

Andrew

[Patrick Beals]

I haven't found it.  The Lorei instructions tell you to load by just basically opening the extruder clamp and pushing the filament through the tube until it stops.  The only way I have found to unload is in the options on the LCD go to "Preheat PLA" (I think it's under Prepare, let the extruder get to temp and then basically pull the filament out by hand.

I know what you mean though- it'd be nice to have some kind of load/unload menu procedure like the more consumer models have.  I imagine that would require a custom firmware build...

[Sandro]

Yup, this would require a firmware mod to Marlin to add this functionality in.  The basic problem is that (un)loading is actually different for each model of printer, so the Marlin guys couldn't do something generic without lots of additional firmware configuration.

Other Marlin-based printers (like the Original Prusa) just code in their length of the filament feed and hot zone to allow (un)loading filament menu options.  Even then they don't do the heat-up phase, because the heating requires knowledge of the type of filament being (un)loaded.

It is possible to hack together a similar mod that would handle unload easily enough (since I know the length of the heat transition area and I can just overrun the bowden length to be pretty sure that I got it all out.  The problem is loading the filament is really dependent on the length of the bowden tube.  I don't know how consistent they are about trimming those tubes.  I know from my last trip over to XMachines, that my own tubing is shorter than expected.  

[Bob Kolbasowski]

I too have missed the filament load/unload option from sailfish.
I plan to mod an option very similar to that. Being a selection to load and a selection to unload. Once selection is made, the hotend will heat up - once up to desired temp, then start moving in either direction depending on unload/load selection.

Unfortunately I have a busy work schedule until mid Jan so it could be awhile.

[Andrew McHaffie]

Thanks all for confirmation that the option is not there. Bob - once you do have time, anything you can share would be much appreciated - I wouldn't even know where to begin.