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v2.0

Minor Versionm

by Adalyn Ordono

Introduction

Why Calibrate and How it Works

Palette (2, 2 Pro, 2S Pro) automatically calibrates during your first print. Palette needs to produce the exact required length for each filament so that splices reach your nozzle at the correct time. However, 3D printers aren't perfectly accurate. Your print file may contain 10 m of filament extrusion instructions, but your printer might only use 9.7 m of filament. These small errors add up over a print, slowly throwing off the alignment of splices.

Calibration gives Palette a baseline for the amount of error in your printer's filament consumption so that filament production is adjusted accordingly. This is especially crucial at the start of a print, before Palette's live feedback systems kick in.

Before attaching Palette to a printer, we suggest running an extruder calibration as this will ensure that your printer is extruding at a constant and predictable rate, helping to keep a consistent overall calibration. If this is the first time that Palette is used with your printer, the first print will act as a calibration print, and the following steps should be taken before initiating the calibration process.

  1. Please make sure your extruder is calibrated your bed is levelled before adding Palette. Please also make sure the filament you are working with isn’t too brittle, as this can lead to breakages within Palette during your print.
  2. Test your slicer settings by printing a single colour model without Palette. If you have a Bowden setup, you can use this opportunity to print a Palette tube clip. If you'd like to use CANVAS for your test print,  please check out the video tutorial. It's important to find the right settings for high print quality before adding Palette to your setup.
    • Test your slicer settings by printing a single colour model without Palette. If you have a Bowden setup, you can use this opportunity to print a Palette tube clip. If you'd like to use CANVAS for your test print, please check out the video tutorial. It's important to find the right settings for high print quality before adding Palette to your setup.

    Hi Chris, if your slicer settings are working fine, then please proceed to the next step.

    Jonny Yeu - Reply

    What does this even mean? Test slicer settings for what? My printer works perfectly with out the palette s2! Why do I need to run a calibration test on my slicer settings? Am I mean to print a set file? Am I meant to print using the Pallett but just as a normal single print? If so why the !&&* isnt this in the setup guide? It says to connect every thing and print!

    Chris Wilke - Reply

  3. Always ensure that you're using the most recent version of our firmware to ensure that you're using the most up-to-date features and improvements. 
    • Always ensure that you're using the most recent version of our firmware to ensure that you're using the most up-to-date features and improvements. 

    Hey Dan, please follow the steps in this support article: mm3d.co/fwupdate-issue

    Jonny Yeu - Reply

    i can not get my conneted to the computer…

    Dan Robin Bredesen - Reply

    Is it not possible to build the firmware update function into the device? Even my sound system can download and install firmware updates, so this feels very low tech. At least it seems like a reasonable enhancement for a future version.

    Jonathan Zimmers - Reply

    Hi Chris, we recommend flashing to the latest firmware in order to have the latest features and updates available.

    Jonny Yeu - Reply

    Ahould all products be flashed to the newest firmware? I just got mine! Do I have to do this anyway?

    Chris Wilke - Reply

  4. When you turn on Palette for the first time it will guide you through the initial setup. Make sure that the following have been completed:

    Hi Chris, yes, this is called the Loading Offset and is measured when you complete the calibration keychain print. Also, it is not recommended to use Palette without the outgoing tube as it constrains the filament, so if the provided extruder clip does not work for your particular extruder, I would recommend trying one from this collection: https://www.thingiverse.com/MosaicResour...

    Jonny Yeu - Reply

    What if your direct drive does not have a connection for the tube and you measure out a length of pla to use and set that length? Shouldn’t the palette then make sure that length is always there between it and the printer?

    Chris Wilke - Reply

  5. To prolong Splice Tube life, it would be best to turn on Endurance Mode on Palette's screen.
    • To prolong Splice Tube life, it would be best to turn on Endurance Mode on Palette's screen.

    • If you're working with PLA, most likely the default settings of (0,0,0 - Heat, Compression, Cooling) will be sufficient for a good splice. However, materials can differ significantly between brands, so we suggest running a splice tuning test just in case, even for PLA.

    Hi Chris, Endurance mode would only be available on version 9.0.9 of firmware or later. This is mentioned in the linked article. While (0,0,0) works for the majority of PLA that we tested, it’s still recommended that you run Splice Tuning to find the optimal settings for your filament.

    Jonny Yeu - Reply

    Cant find this mode and theres no way these setting work..closer to 4.3.1

    Chris Wilke - Reply

  6. Once you have optimal splice settings for your filament, proceed with the calibration keychain print.
    • Once you have optimal splice settings for your filament, proceed with the calibration keychain print.

    • If you are in accessory mode (no Hub), please follow these instructions.

    • If you are in connected mode (with Hub), please follow these instructions.

  7. The calibration print has been designed to provide information about the calibration process and if any adjustments are needed. 
    • The calibration print has been designed to provide information about the calibration process and if any adjustments are needed. 

  8. If you don't need to redo the calibration print, then it's time to train your Palette! Try printing coasters (or any simple print that is at least 15 metres long) to get your Palette good ping data to learn from. Palette uses machine learning to get better with every print, so the more you print, the more it learns about your printer. 

    Hey Daniel, thanks for your question - you don’t need to manually save your prints on Palette. For every finished print other than the calibration keychain, Palette will prompt you to save the ping data. If the print visually looks good and the pings are consistent, please select “yes” and save the data. You can read more about saving ping data here: mm3d.co/save-ignore-print

    Alina - Reply

    Where do you save your prints on the palette? I cannot figure out how that works.

    Daniel Anner - Reply

Conclusion

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at support@mosaicmfg.com.

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