nozzle wipe

mwolter

Simplified the conditional script a little with the use of mod (thanks @dc42) and added comments. Might help those interested in learning conditional gcode.

Overview: The code below moves the nozzle to the right and left of the nozzle wiper blade. Each move also moves the nozzle forward 2mm. Mod is short for modulus and returns the remainder. For instance, mod(10,4) returns 5. 10 / 4 = 2.5 or .5

G1 X-12 Y332 F24000                                     ; rapid to inital point outside the wipe strip
while true                                              ; continually run everything within this while loop
	if mod(iterations,2) = 0                        ; if iterations is an even number
		G1 X-4 Y{332 - iterations * 2} F1200    ; move to right side of wiper and forward 2 * iterations 
	else                                            ; if the if condition above is not met
		G1 X-12 Y{332 - iterations * 2}         ; move to left side of wiper and forward 2 * iterations 
	if iterations = 6                               ; if this is the seventh time running the while loop (0 is always the first iteration)
		break                                   ; exit the while loop

deckingman

For completeness, here is my non-conditional gcode nozzle wipe macro........

G90; set to absolute coordinates
G1 X50 Y363 F12000; move quickly to rear left
G1 X80 Y352 F900; slowly right 30, forward 11
G1 X110 Y363; slowly right another 30 and back 11
G1 X140 Y352; slowly right another 30 and forward 11
G1 X170 Y363; back and right

arhi

Looking at the video how efficient @deckingman cleanup is I think we'r moving nozzle over the silicone this many times just 'cause it's easy in the loop and not 'cause it's needed :D. It's fun for sure.

arhi

@deckingman question, does these look like your stripe?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10000000975575.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32953108608.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32947574656.html

They are silicone stripe in different dimensions but "high temperature resistant silicone rubber foam sealing strips". The "foam" part is weird never seen silicone foam. Will this maybe be too soft? Looking at your video, your stripe seem to be rather hard

deckingman

@arhi That stuff looks a bit spongy. Definitely not like the stuff I used.

EdIt ....but it might work - dunno.

deckingman

@arhi I can't be sure but the stuff I used was more like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOLID-SILICONE-RUBBER-STRIPS-3MMTHK-X-5MTRS-LONG-WHITE-60-SHORE-FDA-GRADE/331230136018?hash=item4d1edac6d2mM0icdmB-aIKG93gQRG6wvw. The listing is for 3mm thick (which is what I think I used), but the picture looks like 1mm thick. But it's definitely "solid".

deckingman

This is what I have. The picture is a bit out of focus but it's solid and about 3mm x 10mm.

arhi

@deckingman thanks, I was afraid of that "sponge" part too .. both looks spongy and title say sponge .. from what I see it is insulation strip so it's expected to be pressed between something I think...

deckingman

@arhi It might still work. Or to put it another way, I do know the solid stuff works, the spongy stuff might work but I don't know for sure if it will.

mwolter

Here's what I've been using with success. Tested the silicone blade and 250c nozzle temps didn't affect it. Also tried a soldering iron at 350c and it couldn't touch it. Should be safe with the temperatures I plan to use for ABS, PC and Nylon.

Screen Shot 2020-04-30 at 7.30.30 AM.jpg
Link to Product
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BQU0CQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The blade itself is about 2.2mm wide, has a flat edge on one side and a round key on the other. Total height is about 20mm and it's 200mm long. Enough to do several printers.

Screen Shot 2020-04-30 at 7.28.08 AM.jpg
The blade is easily mounted and prevented from sliding out by a wall on the opposite side. Macro starts on the side closest to the camera and zig-zags away.

arhi

I tried one blade and it didn't hold up on 200C
I ordered some of that spongy things + I found solid one too so ordered that too we'll see when/if arrives... found something super cool now amongst baby things need to test for temp might be a win ... another kitchen utencil, found between baby things ... temp. resistent

zapta

@arhi said in nozzle wipe:

I tried one blade and it didn't hold up on 200C

This one should sustain high temperature. It is used to hold hot solder iron tips.

https://www.tequipment.net/Metcal/AC-CP2/Soldering-Accessories/?Source=googleshopping

The one I have is 2.3mm in thickness and the square portion is 75mm x 75. It's a rubbery thing.

arhi

@zapta ha, I have exactly the same thing that I got with my PACE ages ago, you are supposed to use it to grab your hot tip to replace with another one but it's very soft, it's like the stuff I already have in the wiper right now. This "cup" will work great till I get the long strips, it is much stiffer, and when long strips arrive cup will be cool to hold the bits of plastic

Nuramori

One thing I did was collect all the old and torn silicone socks I had lying around and made a wipe.

I just sliced off the sides and kept the face, then alternated them with washers. Used RTV on the bottom to bind them.

zapta

Stumbled upon this one while searching for a silicon work mat.

E.g. the 50x50x20mm.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000765138240.html

zapta

The last 3D Printing Today (episode #349) discussed some magic 'inexpensive silicon foam' that works great to wipe the nozzle.

It starts at the 17 minutes mark. (Clicon on the POD icon to start playing, or find them on your favorite podcast player).

https://threedprintingtoday.libsyn.com/3d-printing-today-349

I think they were referring to something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-T-Shirt-Machine-Transfer-Cushion/dp/B07HNSWXDQ