Even if the H2C is an interesting innovation for color changing and poop purge redution we need to take in account the already reduced print area size due to Vortek system will be additionally reduced by mandatory prime tower. Mandatory if you want a quality printed multicolor (>1 color) output.
What are your tought/comments?
Its not mandatory, you can turn it off. Yes quality might suffer, but if you have a larger print, its an option. Ive done a few prints without it and they were fine. You can move the seam to the back so any imperfections are not visible.
I have though a few times that having the prime tower on a separate mini build plate on its own Z axis would have a few advantages - such as not needing to add extra layers to it just to keep it the same height as the model being printed.
Your post made me think about the fact that the Vortek tool rack is effectively an extra Z axis, that the print head can reach.
Wouldn’t work for prime towers that need to be really tall - but for short ones actually putting the prime tower onto the Vortek tool rack might actually have some merit.
@Ukdavewood Exactly same toughts as yours. I believe the prime tower have to be printed in a dedicated area outside the main build plate. It is clear this will need to warmup a different area and also need to be cleaned up too after each printing. The main advantage will be for printing models with multiple colors which requires all build plate area.
Ok, and if its outside of the main build plate area, where do you expect it to be printed?
Because if its in an area where it can be printed then its on the build plate because it literally can’t exist anywhere else because it has to be the exact same height as the model, and that would mean you could print in that area normally
@Cypherous if you consider a build plate with a dedicated angle-space like additional mini-plate connected at same level of the main build plate which can also use same heating components then you can have a prime tower zone in same area as you mention). I mean… as the Vortek system use a portion of the build area why not use also for a se.modelarate zone related to prime tower?
The question is if is it really necessary to remove the prime tower from main build plate or not. Do you need to print a two colors model which require al build plate area? Today you cannot if all surface is used by the model and without the tower the result will be not an high quality model.
Any system including tool changers need a prime function for at least 2 reasons:
If you can get away with that by priming in your infill for example, you can skip the tower.
Nice thought.
It could also be something without a tower, but a standard location at the back, where the pressure could be normalized.
I wouldn’t mind purging the cooked filament to be wasted as poop.
It would still save even more filament than when I need to build a huge prime tower for that incidental filament switch.
Stratasys machines have been doing that for years, the plate is not square shaped and the intention is to have the prime tower in the tab that sticks out allowing the full size bed to be used. Obviously doesn’t apply to bambu printers but its a good idea.
Has anyone done any real life testing of a multicoloured/material print on the H2C with no prime tower? and care to share any pics?
Stratasys plate:
@dann2707 exactly what I tought. Thank you for share the picture.
Sure this is a patented solution so Bambu will need to find a different smart solution (if they will will work an that).
What could be patented on this?
That you have a bigger build plate for a prime tower?
The shape?
It has disadvantages also in this case.
You can’t use both sides anymore, unless you center it or mirror the extra space.
The last requires extra space in the printer again.
It’s a chicken and egg situation, you have to extend the distance the hot end can go to reach that corner which is technically the full square X and Y co-ordinates… so you could technically make the full bed that size. You do that then you lose the dedicated prime tower area…
Partially true. The printer can usually already travel further in Y, to be able to get to the sensors, cleaning pad, and the purge location.
So reserving that space on the plate can definitely help.
However, depending on the size of the prime tower that is required, you might have to move to the build plate area anyway. Even in the case of the Stratasys solution.
Very good point! The stratasys I have used was 2 nozzle like the HD so the tower was always the same size but have no idea on other ones.
And that would still count as printable space so you would still be able to print to it normally, they aren’t going to have a small plate on its own to the side as you would also have to swap that out depending on models and you’re adding more complexity to the production line for no real benefit
If you’re printing a multicolour model that occupies the entire of the bed on a H2 series machine then what you need is a bigger printer
Interesting video from @MadeWithLayers - talking about the CoreOneINDX not having prime towers - but doing some sort of off bed priming.
It might be some kind or prime-conveyor.
I hope this doesn’t mean off bed pellets - like BL flush/prime spirals - as I think that would be a marketing fail - as they look a lot bigger on photos than a tiny dense prime / purge tower.
For me the ideal solution to priming is:
a) prime-into objects, a bit like flush-info objects.
B) no sparse layer in prime towers or prime-into objects
C) separate objects/towers for different material types
D) off bed priming, ideally into prime-into objects on their own mini bed - so that they don’t take up build volumes, plus could potentially span multiple print jobs, and can be kept at the ideal height without needing extra “engineering” waste.
E) Parallel priming - being able to prime the next print head in parallel to the current one printing - so that there is no delay between colour swaps
Whatever they do I suspect it will be in PrusaSlicer 3.0 - so hopefully will ripple in BambuStudio at some point.
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