Tool Change Retraction
Adjust and save tool-change retraction and priming distances separately for T0 and T1 on the Vision Miner 22IDEX V4.
Use the Tool Change Retraction macro on the Vision Miner 22IDEX V4 to adjust how much filament each toolhead retracts when parking and extrudes to prime the nozzle when returning to a print. Use this when a parked nozzle drips or the first lines after a tool change are incomplete.
These settings apply to tool changes. Retraction during ordinary travel moves is controlled separately in the slicer. For the complete dual-material workflow, see Multi-Material Printing.
Before you begin — safety and risk
Read the Safety — Before You Begin article to understand the hazards involved in working on the Vision Miner 22IDEX V4 — including electrical, thermal, mechanical, and chemical risks. All procedures in this wiki are provided as recommendations only. By choosing to follow any procedure, you do so at your own risk.
1. Choose the tool and setting
The macro saves one setting for one tool each time you run it. Opening it does not retract or extrude filament.
| Setting | What it controls during printing | Firmware default |
|---|---|---|
| Retraction | Filament pulled back before the selected toolhead parks | 5 mm |
| Extrusion | Filament pushed into the purge bucket to prime the selected nozzle | 10 mm |
Previously saved settings may differ from these defaults. The input dialog does not display the currently saved value.
- In the Web Interface, open
Macros > System > Settings > Printing > Tool Change Retraction.
- In Tool Change Settings, choose Tool 0 or Tool 1.
- Choose Retraction or Extrusion.
2. Enter and save the distance
- Enter the distance in millimeters, using a positive value between 0 and 50. For example, enter 5 for a 5 mm retraction. The allowed range is an input limit, not a recommended tuning range.
- Confirm the entry. Check that the confirmation names the correct tool and setting.
For a 5 mm retraction on Tool 0, the confirmation reads Tool 0 retraction set to E-5 F3000. The negative sign means filament is pulled back; enter a positive distance in the dialog. A 10 mm extrusion on Tool 0 reads Tool 0 extrusion set to E10 F9000.
- Run the macro again to change the other parameter or tool. Record the values you save so you can return to them after a test.
The setting is saved on the printer and survives a restart. It becomes available to the next applicable tool-change operation, including during a print. Confirming the dialog itself does not move filament. Canceling an input dialog leaves that setting unchanged.
3. Check the next tool changes
Make adjustments between test prints so you can compare results. Change one parameter on one tool at a time, then observe a short print that switches between T0 and T1. A tool selection while the printer is idle does not reproduce every purge and retraction action used during printing.
| What you see | Adjustment to evaluate |
|---|---|
| The parked nozzle leaves drips on the part | A small increase in Retraction for that tool |
| The first lines after a tool change are thin or incomplete | A small increase in Extrusion for the returning tool |
| Tool changes are clean but produce excessive purge waste | A small decrease in Extrusion, checking that the first lines remain complete |
Avoid excessive retraction
Too much retraction can pull softened filament into the cold zone and cause a clog, especially with soluble supports. Larger extrusion amounts also fill the purge buckets faster. Use small changes and check the buckets before the test.
- Check whether the parked nozzle leaves drips and whether the returning nozzle lays down a continuous first line. Use the multi-material preparation checks before testing.
- Compare several tool changes before keeping the new value. If the result gets worse, restore your previous value through the same macro.
For symptoms that persist, contact support with the affected tool, material, nozzle size, saved distances, and photos of the first lines after a tool change.
FAQ
Support
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