MakerGear Forum

Does anyone have a method to calculate or know they have enough filament left before starting a print?

I'm playing around with printing some items that take almost 24hrs to print...It would really stink to get to 18hrs and run out of filament!!

So I'm trying to see if there is a way to approximate this, to get some sort of idea if there is enough left in a spool...

I was thinking if the length of filament in a spool is a known entity, then with each print you could subtract that amount from the spool... Simplify3d tell you how much filament (in mm) is used for each print, so I could simply subtract that from the overall spool. Obviously it's not a perfect calculation because there is some filament used for priming and loading the filament...but it could get close...

Does anyone know what the length of an entire standard spool of filament is?

That takes all the sport out of it! Think of the excitement you'd miss as you get to the last few loops with 10 minutes to go!

You can switch spools out while it's printing, very easily. If you see that it's getting too close to the end, switch the spool out with a fresh one and use the bit that's left on the spool for some other little tchotchke. (Got several spools with just about 3-6 feet of filament left on them.)

Technique here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2729

If you have an identical empty spool, you can weigh the empty, weigh the material on-spool - subtract the difference to get the weight of filament left.

It doesn't matter. The filament on the spool is only consumed when you let the printers print unattended. They're like anorexic teenage girls -- they only consume anything in secret.

Just watch the printer. The remaining few coils on the spool will somehow last for about 2 pounds of printing.

insta wrote:It doesn't matter. The filament on the spool is only consumed when you let the printers print unattended. They're like anorexic teenage girls -- they only consume anything in secret.

Just watch the printer. The remaining few coils on the spool will somehow last for about 2 pounds of printing.

Totally true....if you are on stand by, waiting to make the switch, you'll be there for an hour or two as it magically regenerates.

It is the law.

I use digital scale.
measure the roll when new and write it down on the spool.

when you want to know how much is left throw it back on the scale.

S3d tells you how much you need for the print.

Thanks Jules, I read your post..excellent as usual! Would another way be to pause the print and change filaments? I haven't tried it but I know you can pause prints...just wondering...

Regardless, my dear is that the spool might run out when I'm not watching..say overnight...I guess I could change spools before bed just in case!

Jules wrote:That takes all the sport out of it! Think of the excitement you'd miss as you get to the last few loops with 10 minutes to go!

You can switch spools out while it's printing, very easily. If you see that it's getting too close to the end, switch the spool out with a fresh one and use the bit that's left on the spool for some other little tchotchke. (Got several spools with just about 3-6 feet of filament left on them.)

Technique here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2729

I'm not sure how the weight of the filament indicates whether or not I'd have enough remaining filament to finish a print. Can you explain?

Thank you!

zemlin wrote:If you have an identical empty spool, you can weigh the empty, weigh the material on-spool - subtract the difference to get the weight of filament left.

insta, I know exactly what you mean! If only I could stay up every night and watch the prints!!

insta wrote:It doesn't matter. The filament on the spool is only consumed when you let the printers print unattended. They're like anorexic teenage girls -- they only consume anything in secret.

Just watch the printer. The remaining few coils on the spool will somehow last for about 2 pounds of printing.

How do you equate the weight of the filament to the amount needed for the print...

I noticed S3D shows the length of filament needed for the print...does it also show the weight of the filament??

Thank you!

Slipshine wrote:I use digital scale.
measure the roll when new and write it down on the spool.

when you want to know how much is left throw it back on the scale.

S3d tells you how much you need for the print.