Sequence by filament instead of by object or by layer

[rgov]

Suppose I want to print several objects with filament A and a few with filament B.

If I choose the “by layer” print sequence, then it will have to change filament over and over.

If I choose “by object”, it fixes the filament changing issue, but now it requires a large gap between each object so that the extruder has space to move between objects.

If there were a “by filament” sequence, where it would cluster the objects of filament A in one corner of the print bed and those of filament B in another corner, and then print those clusters layer by layer, it would be much more efficient.

Does this exist, or can I compel Bambu Studio to run the print this way?

[jhermann]

Use an assembly per color, then it’s one object, i.e. merge them.

[rgov]

Aha, that’s how to do it.

This does seem to break the auto arrange feature. “All the selected objects are on the locked plate.” The plate isn’t locked

[jhermann]

Don’t know what you did…

Note there is just two areas indicated around the two groups. And the left plate is auto-arranged and conflict-free.

[rgov]

Could you please try to reproduce this in Bambu Studio?

1. Under the “Prepare” tab, set up two filaments.

2. Add three cube primitives to the plate.

3. Select two of the cubes and right-click and merge them into an assembly.

4. In the sidebar, set your standalone cube to one filament and your assembly to the other filament.

5. Change “Print sequence” to “By object.”

   You should receive the warning “Assembly is too close to others, and collisions may be caused.”

6. Click “Arrange all objects” in the toolbar.

   You should receive the warning “All the selected objects are on the locked plate, We can not do auto-arrange on these objects.”

The plate was never locked and appears with an unlocked icon next to it, so I don’t know where this error comes from.

[R3d-Five]

When you merged the two items how close where they?
If you give enough space between your parts before you merge them you can then print by object. You have to have the space before the merge.

[rgov]

I see, but the point of this thread was the idea that if I have a group of parts that use the same filament, it’s a more efficient use of bed space to allow them to be very close together.

And indeed when dragging an assembly when “by object” is selected, Studio does compute a single keep out boundary contour for the assembly:

The auto-arrange algorithm as-is could easily solve how to position the black and orange objects far enough apart, but it instead complains about being locked which isn’t true.

[R3d-Five]

So if I understand.
I just created 2 objects black, one object red. Joined the 2 black objects and selected print by object, right clicked on bed and choose arrange, which it did. What am I missing?

[rgov]

(Rerecorded animation so you can see menus and popup windows.)

[R3d-Five]

Why not right click on the bed. I understand what you’re saying and I’m saying it’s not an issue if you right click on the bed.

Unless you like being aggravated, report the bug and move on.

[user_3684611569]

It would be useful to have an additional or hybrid print-order mode.

In scenarios where multiple objects with identical geometry are printed, but each object uses different multi-color painting, the optimal print order can change over the Z-height.

An intelligent or configurable mode that allows switching between by-layer and by-object at a certain layer height could reduce unnecessary tool changes and significantly save filament.

I have encountered cases where starting the print in by-layer mode and then switching to by-object later in the print would have been the most efficient approach.