<p>You should do a complete calibration for ABS (temperature tower, E steps, flowrate %) before starting the print, then when you change filament remember to apply all the parameters I mentioned.</p>
<p>While I'm not in favour of using the flow rate % to correct the E steps calibration, since you are doing it mid print this may be the easiest way, instead of changing E steps AND flow rate %.</p>
<p>As you said, you need to change temperature too, but both PETG and ABS print well at 235 °C so it may not be needed. PLA works too, but PLA bridges at 235 °C are difficult to get properly.</p>
<p>For sure you won't be able to change other parameters, such as fan speed, printing speed and flowrate for bridges, which are all specific to each filament, but hopefully it will work out anyway, since PETG is trickier than ABS or PLA.</p>
<p>Of course you may have issues with adherence: PETG may not bond well to ABS or PLA (in fact, PETG can be used for support for PLA and viceversa because the bonding is not too strong). You may have a weak print with PLA, so go for ABS.</p>
<p>PETG as support for PLA: <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/13931/can-petg-be-used-as-support-material-for-pla">Can PETG be used as support material for PLA?</a></p>
<p>Bridge calibration:</p>
<p><div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4KAMFamy3zw?start=0"></iframe>
            </div></div></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-28T10:25:33.483Z
2021-01-28T10:25:33.483Z
FarO
<p>I have an Ender 3 Pro and I'm about to print a relatively large model on it.
I've been printing in PETG and I'd like to use up the last of the roll during this print.</p>
<p>When the roll runs out however, I don't currently have any PETG lying around but I do have two brand new rolls of PLA and ABS.  I'd love to swap to one of them (lets say ABS) when the PETG is running low, and I'm just wondering if there is anything I should be wary of besides the print temp.</p>
<p>I am aware of general issues with ABS (warping without heated enclosure and stuff) but if I:</p>
<ol>
<li>Have heated enclosure</li>
<li>Tune temperature to be higher when I swap to ABS</li>
<li>Have &quot;draft shield&quot; printing along with the model</li>
</ol>
<p>Are there any other considerations that I need to put in the gcode or anything?  How much it pushes the filament or retracts or something?  I'm just using &quot;Generic PETG&quot; settings on Cura.</p>

<creality-ender-3><abs><petg>
How to switch from PETG to either PLA/ABS mid print?
Joseph Crozier
# How to switch from PETG to either PLA/ABS mid print?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-27)

I have an Ender 3 Pro and I'm about to print a relatively large model on it.
I've been printing in PETG and I'd like to use up the last of the roll during this print.

When the roll runs out however, I don't currently have any PETG lying around but I do have two brand new rolls of PLA and ABS. I'd love to swap to one of them (lets say ABS) when the PETG is running low, and I'm just wondering if there is anything I should be wary of besides the print temp.

I am aware of general issues with ABS (warping without heated enclosure and stuff) but if I:

1. Have heated enclosure
2. Tune temperature to be higher when I swap to ABS
3. Have "draft shield" printing along with the model

Are there any other considerations that I need to put in the gcode or anything? How much it pushes the filament or retracts or something? I'm just using "Generic PETG" settings on Cura.

**Tags:** creality-ender-3, abs, petg


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-01-28. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

You should do a complete calibration for ABS (temperature tower, E steps, flowrate %) before starting the print, then when you change filament remember to apply all the parameters I mentioned.

While I'm not in favour of using the flow rate % to correct the E steps calibration, since you are doing it mid print this may be the easiest way, instead of changing E steps AND flow rate %.

As you said, you need to change temperature too, but both PETG and ABS print well at 235 °C so it may not be needed. PLA works too, but PLA bridges at 235 °C are difficult to get properly.

For sure you won't be able to change other parameters, such as fan speed, printing speed and flowrate for bridges, which are all specific to each filament, but hopefully it will work out anyway, since PETG is trickier than ABS or PLA.

Of course you may have issues with adherence: PETG may not bond well to ABS or PLA (in fact, PETG can be used for support for PLA and viceversa because the bonding is not too strong). You may have a weak print with PLA, so go for ABS.

PETG as support for PLA: [Can PETG be used as support material for PLA?](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/13931/can-petg-be-used-as-support-material-for-pla)

Bridge calibration:


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