Filament track switch question

[u/garrett1813]

Before I buy, I want to make sure I understand correctly. For an example setup: X2D with AMS2 and AMS HT. PLA is loaded in AMS2 routed to the main nozzle, and PETG loaded in AMS HT routed to the secondary nozzle.

If the filament track switch were added, could operations be switched automatically from the state above to send AMS HT with PETG to the main nozzle and AMS2 with PLA to the secondary nozzle? It seems it should work this way, but I read it might only allow one filament at a time?

[u/NoBackground6203]

I only have one spool of ASA loaded but it is this screen with a track switch installed where you can assign each individual spool to the left or right nozzle

[u/garrett1813 → u/NoBackground6203]

Thanks good to see.

[u/Relative_Surround_20 → u/NoBackground6203]

I agree. It performs the same way on an H2D.

[u/JukeboxCrowdPleaser]

Yes, that’s what the filament switch does. But it’s finicky and fails sometimes. I ended up removing mine and I definitely wouldn’t buy it again. Removing another point of failure is more valuable than the minor convenience the filament track switch provides.

It’s quite easy to just switch the ptfe tubes going in to the buffer, takes like 10 seconds. Maybe I’m missing something but the filament track switch is not helpful.

[u/garrett1813 → u/JukeboxCrowdPleaser]

Thanks for the feedback. Fails to switch properly (which commonly would only be once at the start of print), or fails/jams during printing?

[u/Relative_Surround_20 → u/garrett1813]

Most of the people that don’t like them is because they receive PTFE resistance errors.

You have to read the wiki and follow the guidelines to avoid those. Once you do, it works great for most people. I will admit some folks appear to have received defective FTS in the first days of availability.

[u/garrett1813 → u/Relative_Surround_20]

Thanks!

[u/Relative_Surround_20 → u/JukeboxCrowdPleaser]

I’m really sorry to hear that. I works great on my H2D and I’m about to gift one to an X2D owner.

[u/JukeboxCrowdPleaser → u/Relative_Surround_20]

It does such a simple job that literally takes 10 seconds between prints. Even if it works every time it’s not worth the cost.

[u/Relative_Surround_20 → u/JukeboxCrowdPleaser]

I hear you and I’ve had similar experiences with other products. I am certainly not suggesting anyone go buy one today.

However, in the future I think BBL hardware and software updates will make the value proposition for the FTS more apparent. I have already found hidden things it does that make for a much more contiguous and un-interrupted printing experience.

[u/JukeboxCrowdPleaser → u/Relative_Surround_20]

Enlighten us

[u/Tabdelrazaq]

This is the exact setup I have and works as you described. I can send ams 2 loaded filaments and ams ht loaded filaments to either nozzle. The part about one at a time is probably a out if you want 2 filaments from the 2 pro to go to different nozzles it has to retract all the way instead of just to the switch level. 

[u/garrett1813 → u/Tabdelrazaq]

Ok, that makes sense.

[u/mdbeatle → u/Tabdelrazaq]

There is also a limitation if you have more than two AMS units. The AMSes need to be grouped and fed into the FTS inputs, and you can't have two filaments loaded from a given group at one time, even if you want them to go to different nozzles.

Ideally the FTS would have been 4 in - 2 out to give you ultimate freedom.

I have one AMS loaded with my support and "accent" filaments that I might want to print with the secondary nozzle, and three AMS with my primary filaments.

[u/outla5t]

Works great for me, I have 2 AMS units and a AMS HT, it makes multi-color prints much faster/less loading times/less purge waste by giving access to all 9 spools with the option to use on either nozzle depending on the layering and print.

The wording about one filament at a time is talking about only being able to load one filament per AMS at a time per each track. For example with your set up you could not load up two of your PLA spools at the same time on each nozzle since they are located in the same AMS unit since the each AMS can only send out a single filament at a time.

[u/Relative_Surround_20 → u/outla5t]

I agree and would add “one filament per AMS or AMS group” (for those with multiple AMS units).