Layer selective multi-color 3D printing - Thingiverse
Layer selective multi-color 3D printing
Kimball Andersen
Wednesday, April 23, 2014 1:47 PM
For this example we will use a hello kitty keychain from thingiverse. The goal is to print the bulk of the kitty in white, w ith the dress, shoes, and bow in pink.
The goal: a white cat with pink dress and bow STL file available at: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:154473
An image of the stl file imported into repetier host Begin by opening slicer configuration
Once in slicer go to print settings>output options and select Verbose G-code. This will make it easier to determine what the g-code is doing and select the right spot to make our changes.
Next we want to take make sure that we force a retraction on layer change so that the filament wont blob. To do this go to printer settings>Extruder 1 and make sure the check box next to retract on layer change is selected.
Unfiled Notes Page 1
Also, make sure to take note of the retraction length, as you will need it later (in this case 1.5mm)
Use the sliders at the bottom of the gcode editor panel to find the layer in which you want to initiate the color change
View of the whole g-code
Color change layer found. This is the last layer to be printed in white, the next layer should be printed in pink Once the desired color change layer has been found, the goal is now to insert a pause command into the g -code to allow for the manual change over of the color. To do this: • First save the gcode to your computer by clicking the save icon
○ • Next open this file in notepad ○ You will need to select all files to find the g-code file ○
• Do a search by hitting ctrl+f • Type in "move to next layer" followed by the layer in which you want the next color to start in parenthesis starting from layer 0 as the first layer ○ For example: move to next layer (6) if you want to switch to the new color on layer 7
Unfiled Notes Page 2
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• Now that we know where the layer change occurs, we enter the following command: @pause right after the layer change retracti on and lift. ○ • Note: Make sure the extrusion distance reset is after the pause • Save the g-code for later. Now we have gcode which when run, will automatically lift and retract and pause when it hits the desired layer. If desired we can add some additional run-on-pause code to lift the nozzle even higher to make it easier to purge the nozzle of the old color. To do this, go to the g-code editor tab and select run on pause then add the following gcode and hit save g91; set relative coordinate system g1 z20; lift nozzle 20mm g90; return to absolute coordinate system g28 x0 y0; go to home in x and y axis
This code will lift 2cm and move to the origin to keep any drool from interfering with the part if it gets left alone for too long. Now that we have our customized g-code, and our run on pause script, we need to load the modified g -code Click load or file>load G-code and load the modified g-code
Run the print with the first filament color, and when it pauses, manually remove the first color and insert the second. Run as much filament as you want through manually, and then make a retraction equal to your retraction setting noted earlier. This will ensure that a blob isn't created when the new color is started.
Once the new color is in and purged as desired, continue the print and enjoy your multi color print
Unfiled Notes Page 3
Kimball Andersen
Wednesday, April 23, 2014 1:47 PM
For this example we will use a hello kitty keychain from thingiverse. The goal is to print the bulk of the kitty in white, w ith the dress, shoes, and bow in pink.
The goal: a white cat with pink dress and bow STL file available at: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:154473
An image of the stl file imported into repetier host Begin by opening slicer configuration
Once in slicer go to print settings>output options and select Verbose G-code. This will make it easier to determine what the g-code is doing and select the right spot to make our changes.
Next we want to take make sure that we force a retraction on layer change so that the filament wont blob. To do this go to printer settings>Extruder 1 and make sure the check box next to retract on layer change is selected.
Unfiled Notes Page 1
Also, make sure to take note of the retraction length, as you will need it later (in this case 1.5mm)
Use the sliders at the bottom of the gcode editor panel to find the layer in which you want to initiate the color change
View of the whole g-code
Color change layer found. This is the last layer to be printed in white, the next layer should be printed in pink Once the desired color change layer has been found, the goal is now to insert a pause command into the g -code to allow for the manual change over of the color. To do this: • First save the gcode to your computer by clicking the save icon
○ • Next open this file in notepad ○ You will need to select all files to find the g-code file ○
• Do a search by hitting ctrl+f • Type in "move to next layer" followed by the layer in which you want the next color to start in parenthesis starting from layer 0 as the first layer ○ For example: move to next layer (6) if you want to switch to the new color on layer 7
Unfiled Notes Page 2
○
○
• Now that we know where the layer change occurs, we enter the following command: @pause right after the layer change retracti on and lift. ○ • Note: Make sure the extrusion distance reset is after the pause • Save the g-code for later. Now we have gcode which when run, will automatically lift and retract and pause when it hits the desired layer. If desired we can add some additional run-on-pause code to lift the nozzle even higher to make it easier to purge the nozzle of the old color. To do this, go to the g-code editor tab and select run on pause then add the following gcode and hit save g91; set relative coordinate system g1 z20; lift nozzle 20mm g90; return to absolute coordinate system g28 x0 y0; go to home in x and y axis
This code will lift 2cm and move to the origin to keep any drool from interfering with the part if it gets left alone for too long. Now that we have our customized g-code, and our run on pause script, we need to load the modified g -code Click load or file>load G-code and load the modified g-code
Run the print with the first filament color, and when it pauses, manually remove the first color and insert the second. Run as much filament as you want through manually, and then make a retraction equal to your retraction setting noted earlier. This will ensure that a blob isn't created when the new color is started.
Once the new color is in and purged as desired, continue the print and enjoy your multi color print
Unfiled Notes Page 3
