carl_m1968 wrote:You should never have to change your multiplier. To me the multiplier is a fixed number. The issue is in your steps per mm not being calibrated correctly for your extruder.
Yes you need to calibrate or at the very least confirm steps per mm on each spool change. Each spool is different some are harder, some are softer. By being harder the teeth on your feed wheel don't slip as much and thus pushes more filament while softer filament allows the teeth to slip and feeds less filament. The other issue of course as we know is diameter and it has the same effect as hardness. A smaller diameter is gripped less and thus allows slipping and less fed filament. Like a thicker diameter will allow more grip and less slipping which equates to more filament fed. It seems you just got lucky till now and most of your spools have been similar in hardness and diameter.
Until someone creates a machine that can measure the hardness of each spool and calibrate the steps per mm based on this , calibrating the steps per mm for each spool will be a required step. The only way I could see getting around this would be if you could find a supplier that would guarantee as specific hardness and of course that would come at a premium price as well.
Sorry, but NO. Why would you do such a thing? Why make more work for yourself when it is not necessary?
Steps per mm are the "fixed" number once it is correctly calibrated.
changing the multiplier is the most efficient/correct way to compensate for minor differences in materials.
I currently have 59 different filament profiles set up in Slic3r (not counting the default) - I have calibrated the steps/mm exactly ONCE on each of my printers - everything else is done in the filament profile - and yes, I get excellent print results out of each and every profile, on any one of my 5 machines (all of which are also profiled in Slic3r).
those 59 filament profiles consist of:
39 ABS profiles - each a different manufacturer and color (yes, I have multiples of some colors, but each is a different manufacturer, thus a different profile)
12 PLA profiles
4 TPU profiles
2 Nylon profiles
1 ASA profile
1 PETG profile
(can you tell what I use the most?)
It is a simple matter of a few minutes to calibrate a new spool of filament & create a profile for it. Then it is simply a matter of selecting the correct profile for printing with it. I do not need to waste my time re-calibrating the steps/mm every time I want to change colors/materials.
I also have multiple print profiles set up in Slic3r.. different layer heights & various other settings - one of which is very specific to one customer's specific product that has repeat orders, often in different colors.
When he orders that item, I select that print profile, select the material/color I am printing it in, load the file, slice it and print it. No wasted time, no screwing around with steps/mm calibrations, the thing that takes the longest is waiting for the bed to heat up, which is not that long with the PrintIt Hale Heat-bed.
The only time one should need to re-calibrate the extruder steps/mm is if one is making physical changes to the extruder assembly itself. New hobbed gear, new nozzle size, etc..
SD4 #1 & #2 - Lawsy carriages, E3D v6, Rumba controller board, mirror bed plate, X motor fan, upgraded PSU & Mica bed heater
SD4 #3 - in the works ~ Folgertech FT-5, rev 1
Printit Industries Beta Tester - Horizon H1
