Hi everyone, on the fuse1+ 30w and relative sift unit, how complicated is it to change material? Is it possible to easily switch from pa12gf to pa12w (for example)? Or is it so complex and slow that you have to think about buying two printers and two sifts?
Switching materials on the Fuse 1 or Fuse 1+ 30W is doable, but it requires thorough cleaning to avoid contamination and ensure consistent print quality. The process varies depending on whether the two materials are similar or completely different in composition.
If you’re switching between two materials of the same polymer type, like Nylon 12 and Nylon 12 GF, you’ll need to clean out the hoppers and dosing assemblies. This involves basic cleaning but doesn’t require deep cleaning of every chamber component. However, when switching between different polymer types (e.g., Nylon 11 and Nylon 12 GF), a full cleaning of the entire printer and Sift is necessary to prevent residual powder from affecting the new material’s performance. This includes steps like fully emptying and vacuuming each compartment and cleaning the optical and mechanical components.
If you’re regularly switching between materials, Formlabs actually recommends using a separate Fuse and Sift for each material to minimize downtime and maintain quality without frequent, detailed cleanings. If you’re interested in specific steps, you can refer to our detailed instructions on Switching SLS Powder Types and our guide for cleaning out powder out of a Fuse 1/1+.
They will ofc try to sell you 2 printers and 2 sifts. I switched from Nylon 12 to Nylon 12GF. If you keep the printers in good condition, clean and maintain them properly, then its approx an hour of cleaning before you can fill it with Nylon 12GF. Ofc the sift requires cleaning aswell. And thats no problem. If downtime an hour or two is ok then sure go for 1. I can´t justify recommending getting 2 of them if its not 100% necessary.
1 Like