I have been able to “fool” my printer into printing text that will not come out when it is sliced.

I was able to print it using my 0.2mm nozzle on my printrbot but wanted to use a filament that would not support. Most of the metal fill need a nozzle 0.4mm or above.


By changing the slicer to use a smaller nozzle, smaller details are patterned into the gcode. The volume of the part did not change and by using a flat nozzle rather than a pointed nozzle the filament is laid down in smaller widths.


Using thicker text is not always an option. The copper filament is 40% fill by Sainsmart, it prints great. The higher fill have issues with clogging.

Most of the Higher metal filled filament require speed and flow changes for best results. Most are 50% of normal PLA print speeds.

Remember that the extrusion multiplier changes the volume of material through the nozzle, not the amount needed when sliced through a particular nozzle. These are two different calculations.

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Nice work,and goot tip!

Sorry @sputtermick I’m being dumb this morning (no change there). So… you’ve actually got a 0.4mm nozzle, but you set Simplify to 0.2mm then double the extrusion?

I used a “virtual” nozzle of 0.3mm with an actual 0.4mm nozzle and under extruded. The slicer just made the paths closer together which still provided solid layers.

This was done on a MakerFront steel i3 wirh a e3d type extruder and Ubis heater core.

I have also overextruded to provide smoother prints, I will provide another thread on that. I have done what you suggest and forced 400% through a 0.2mm nozzle by telling the slicer I have a 0.4mm nozzle

I am also interested in more detail on this. I could see if it is just settings changes you could do the bulk of a print at standard settings then do the last layers that have detail at the changed settings. Very interesting.