Sequential printing | Prusa Knowledge Base

This option is unavailable when PrusaSlicer is in Simple mode.

When printing multiple objects at once, you can finish them sequentially, one at a time. This differs from standard printing, where all objects are built layer by layer simultaneously. The main advantages are:

Reduced Stringing/Oozing: Less travel between parts as each is finished individually.
Improved Layer Adhesion: Each object completes without interruption.
Mitigates Print Failures: Failure of one part is less likely to ruin others.
Multi-Object Vase Mode: Enables printing multiple items in vase mode sequentially.

This feature uses advanced collision avoidance automatically arranges and orders objects on the build plate in a way that the print head assembly (extruder, rods, cables) does not collide agaist already compelted objects.

Note that this is only available for supported Prusa Printers. When slicing for other printers, PrusaSlicer will fall back on generic clearance settings (Extruder clearance radius and Extruder clearance height) to define the simplified shape used for collision checks. The settings for Extruder clearance radius and Extruder clearance height are located in Printer Settings -> Sequential printing limits.

Using the feature

You can turn this feature on by enabling Print settings -> Output options -> Complete individual objects.

After that, in the Plater view, click to arrange icons or press the A key. This will automatically arrange the objects in a safe way for sequential printing.

If the items are moved and a potential collision is detected, an error message will appear identifying the affected object. The error does not block export of the G-code, but requires careful review.

You'll have to check on the printer regularly, with every object there is a chance that the specific part won't stick to the print bed.

Print sequence

Check the print sequence. The print order is shown top-to-bottom on the Object list. You can manually reorder by dragging items here. Press E in the 3D view to visualize the printing sequence numerically on the objects.

G-code preview

Starting from the PrusaSlicer version 2.9.1, and exclusively for Prusa Printers, you are also able to see in the preview a 3d model of the extruder by using the horizontal slider. The standard mode will only show the preview of the top layer. By clicking on the gear on the bottom right of the plater and unchecking "Sequential slider applied only to top layer", you can see the preview of the entire print project.

31 comments

Nobody123456098

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It would be nice if the auto arrange function would consider to fill the bed from the front to the back in the right print sequence

Pietro Tordini

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May i propose to give the option with the new arrangement system, to choose the preferred priority for printers where the order can be different

Polikonomist

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You guys don't have an upvote function on these comments so consider this my +1 for fixing the sequential printing algorithm.

If you really want to go above and beyond, add the ability to set automatic color changes between object prints in sequential printing. Among other things, this would make multipass first-layer color changes much easier. The current workaround requires manually editing the color changes into the G-code.

Multipass, first layer color changes allow for text and logos that are so much nicer than simple embossing without needing any kind of MMU.

NikosSprocket

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Version 2.9.1 does not show the Red Collision boxes anymore.

Senshi

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!!! i was very confused by this !! @PR: plz fix

Petr Kubiš

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We currently use a more precise geometry for sequential arrangement. The old version of collision visualization no longer makes sense.
Taking it back is not on our list at the moment. The question is more about whether you achieve a successful print within the new sequential arrangement!?

Scott Bierly

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I'm sure a lot of work went in to the modeling of this, and we all appreciate the effort and trying--but this change really messes things up, and with the collision circles gone we are left with an automatic mode that doesn't work right, and no manual mode. I may need to revert if you guys don't fix this soon. Maybe this works on the i3 machines, likely your main focus, but I'm on Mini (which has different logic than at least the MK3, on the mini it's front to back, right to left), but slicing now, with sequential printing enabled, on the Mini, produces comically random order, and it's just wrong. And, I have no circle guides to help me do the manual placement that's still required. It doesn't matter that your modeling geometry is wrong, the circles have always let us pick a number for spacing (gone now), and have a visual placement circle to fill a plate with our objects. Now, it requires a calculator and poking numbers! I'm sorry, but this is a big step back. At least please leave the old methods as options until all is worked out, that would be an easy fix.

JRT3D

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I agree, even on the MK3s+, this feature is 100% broken.

It doesnt sequence anything in any proper order - it breaks and seperates into randomness and multiple plates instead of just one.

Now no visual, can't even align things manually and trying to sequence them manually is also hell.

Kacaperek

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Let me explain my case. The print was successful, but the arrangement is very inefficient. When doing it manually, I was able to print between 9 and 12 pieces, depending on the required size. The automatic arrangement only finds space for 5-6 pieces. I hope you understand how problematic this is when you need to print a hundred of them. I also think the print order is strange. It seems to print from right to left instead of following the recommended front-to-back order as mentioned in this article. This alone makes me consider downgrading the slicer version I’m using. Please, at least bring back those collison lines. I'll manage from there

GSKR

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💯 Completely with you on this.
I've wasted 4hr of my production day just trying to find HOW to place things when the auto-placement clearly demonstrates repeated FAILURE to arrange multiple items with 30mm for even a basic logical sequential print of 5 items on the Prusa mini.

👉 I've Reverted to the last version with manual placement and red spacing indication.

JRT3D

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I'll likely be doing the same in ease of trying to get my plate established in order to stop wasting efforts otherwise.

Glad this isn't just a "Josh" issue, because I was starting to question my existance....

JRT3D

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100% in this very situation right now, I can put a plate together of 16 parts of the VERY same model, and then sequencial order is just completely whatever it wants and reordering them manually is near impossible.

Dead in the water feature for large production runs, especially if using TPU

precisionbee

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W/ the prior method that showed the 'keep out zone', it was relatively easy to place objects. Without this zone, we have to 100% guess at where a collision will occur? Of course you realize this immediately renders a more precise method moot. I don't care if the machine thinking about collisions is efficient/precise, I care how much of my time is spent trying to make it work. Upvote +10 for bringing some indication of 'keep out zone' please!

Sputnik72

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I agree where can I add my vote +10 to get this back again? The "Keep out Zone" was very helpful in placing objects.

Pietro Tordini

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the changes to the automatic arrange are un improvement over the old one for sure for the majority of users, but if as a side effect of having it we lose the radius of collison, i think many powerusers that won't consider the trade worthwhile in most situation, especially when printing with non mrk3S/4/etc printers.

In my case i use PS on a very very custom machine, where my active airflow on the bed is not homogenous in all location, so manual adjustment to the location and best order is a must for me.

Tyler Reeves

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I'd very much appreciate the red collision circles to come back. The auto arrange is inefficient had is unable to fit as many pieces on my print beds as I was. I run a small print farm for my business and I simply can't upgrade to the new slicer without this feature as it currently stands, as I am able to more efficiently arrange object's for both my MK4 and Mini printers then the current auto arrange is capable of.

Petr Kubiš

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We will also soon update this help page with information about the new improvements. Sorry for confusion

Velode

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HI Petr, Is there any way of adding a toggle that enables and disables the full toolhead in the normal slicing review on the plater page. So instead of the tiny nozzle model you can right click the tool marker button (on legend) in the Plater view) so you can see the full extruder. I just had a case where I spaced the parts 60mm or so from the wipe tower. I didn't anticipate the organic support space and didn't think when I sliced that the distance was compromised. The extruder did a minor clash with the part and broke away the organic support. Which caused PLA to pop off and the area supported to be a bit droopy. only a minor test part but still wasteful. I know the wipe tower cannot be enabled in the sequential printing. But I am more concerned with space to wipe tower when doing "no sparse layers (EXPERIMENTAL)... to save plastic waste.

As for the sequential printing its better than before seeing full tool head. But can it be optimized to allow to enter spacing (I think you could do that somewhere before). manually placing parts can do more than the automatic placement. it seemed to start at read work forward. If you start front left and work to back right tou can get a lot on a plate (even on last way before update).

fingers crossed you can added the first query.

LPB23

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Would be nice if there was a setting in the slicer to turn off printbed heating in the area of the finished parts for the modular heatbed of prusa XL.