Description:
Currently, filament settings (especially cooling/Aux-fan) are static regardless of the object’s size. For PLA, the default 70% Aux-fan speed is beneficial for small parts printed at high speed to ensure rapid solidification. However, for large-scale prints or objects with a large footprint (e.g., a 3x4 grid of contact points), this asymmetric cooling leads to massive warping and internal thermal tension.
Proposed Feature:
Add an option to scale or toggle filament cooling settings (specifically the Auxiliary Part Cooling Fan) based on the XY-dimensions or the total footprint area of the objects on the build plate.
Key Parameters to include:
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Threshold for Footprint: Ability to define a “Large Print” threshold (e.g., in mm² or as a % of the build plate).
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Conditional Aux-Fan Speed: Automatically reduce or disable Aux-fan if the print exceeds the defined dimensions.
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Z-Height Trigger: Option to change cooling behavior once multiple separate objects merge into a single large surface (to mitigate bridge-related shrinkage).
Why this is needed:
Large PLA prints in enclosed chambers (e.g., at 35°C) suffer from the “Bimetal-effect” when cooled from only one side by the Aux-fan. Manual adjustment for every single large project is prone to error. A logic-based cooling profile would significantly increase the success rate for technical, large-scale components.