Build Plate

[parules678 0]

  How do I save what is on the build plate so I can come back and work on it later???

[GregValiant 1,250]

It depends a lot on the printer and firmware.  Sometimes allowing the build plate to cool off will pop a print off.  Once its location is lost, all is lost.  It's the same with the stepper motors losing position.  You didn't mention your printer and I don't know about the Ultimaker models, but on my Ender, the maximum time I can enter for the stepper motor disarm is 3 hours.  After that the steppers lose their position.  If that happens then a homing move is required.  Sometimes the print is in the way and it can't be done.  Even if the print isn't in the way, the end-stop switches on my printer aren't consistent regarding the exact stop point so a small layer shift (up to .5mm) can occur.  If I pause a print to change filament I really don't like to have to Home the print head.

With the disclaimers out of the way...depending on your printer and how the firmware is configured, you can pause the print and then adjust the bed temp back to what it was during the print.  That at least eliminates one possible failure mode.  The whole process really has to be practiced so you know what you are doing and how to overcome any hardware/firmware constraints.  On some printers all you have to do is shut the machine off and sleep with your fingers crossed.  When you get up in the morning turn the printer on and it asks you to resume the print.  If the print didn't move on the build plate it should just go back to work.  Shutting off while it's printing support is the best situation with infill being second.

Print a calibration cube and after the first few layers are down practice different methods of pausing and restarting.  No matter how you do it - if the nozzle stays in contact with the print it will leave a divot and may glue itself to the print.  Re-starting like that would be a bad thing.

 

Edited February 10, 2021 by GregValiant