Dual printing - what do I actually need to do?

Discussion in 'Calibration, Help, and Troubleshooting' started by Pierce, Mar 7, 2016.

  1. Pierce

    Pierce Well-Known Member

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    Hey,

    So this is my first dual nozzle printer, and my question is what do I need to do :)

    My basic understanding of what I need to do is....

    1, Both nozzle's need to be perfectly level to the bed
    2, Check both nozzle's print independently without any issues or problems
    3, then use simplyf3d or something to handle the dual wizard printing and fine tune z lift / ooze shield or the "magic wipe experimental" code
    4, continue to tune and improve as you go until the end of time

    What am I missing? Anything obvious or is that the basics covered? Anyone printing dual currently with any good pointers?
     
  2. PsyVision

    PsyVision Moderator
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    1. Yes. Mine may not be both exactly perfect but they're good enough.
    2. I didn't do this, but would probably be a good step!
    3. Firstly, you need to get your offset configured / calculated, you can take a stab at going +34 on the X and 0 on the Y to start with and go from there. This then needs configuring, you can set this in firmware but I prefer not to. Simplify3D has a setting but I didn't find it did what I wanted. Therefore I have this in my start code: M218 T1 X35.7 Y-0.2 I don't use z-lift (personal choice). E3D don't use an ooze shield and just rely on the magicalness of their quick retraction to prevent ooze, I found this sufficient.

    Theses are good for offset calibration:

    http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:533814
    http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1009171
    http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:832453

    Lastly, using the dual experimental profile I kept getting the print head crashing into the docking area due to the offsets, I'm not sure whether my changes to the g-code for tool change were correct but after lots of trial and error I got something that works:

    Code:
    ;BigBox Oozeless Tool Change Script Begin
    
    ;retract to move
    G92 E0
    G1 E-1.5 F100
    G92 E0
    
    ;dock
    {IF OLDTOOL=1}G1 X105.7 Y200 F3000
    {IF OLDTOOL=1}G1 X105.7 Y240 F3000
    {IF OLDTOOL=0}G1 X70 Y200 F3000
    {IF OLDTOOL=0}G1 X70 Y240 F3000
    
    ;purge
    {IF OLDTOOL=1}G92 E0
    {IF OLDTOOL=1}G1 E25 F400
    {IF OLDTOOL=1}G1 E-14 F6000
    {IF OLDTOOL=1}G92 E0
    
    {IF OLDTOOL=0}G92 E0
    {IF OLDTOOL=0}G1 E25 F400
    {IF OLDTOOL=0}G1 E-14 F6000
    {IF OLDTOOL=0}G92 E0
    
    ;extruder steps per mm
    {IF NEWTOOL=0}M92 E290 ;adjust steps per mm for your filament in extruder 0 (L)
    {IF NEWTOOL=1}M92 E290 ;adjust steps per mm for your filament in extruder 1 (R)
    
    ;prime new extruder
    {IF NEWTOOL=0}T0
    {IF NEWTOOL=1}T1
    G92 E0
    G1 E20 F200
    G1 E-1 F2000
    G92 E0
    
    ;undock
    {IF NEWTOOL=0}G1 Y200
    {IF NEWTOOL=1}G1 Y199.8
    
    ;BigBox Oozeless Tool Change Script End
    
    The offsets in the dock and undock needed adjusting based on the tooling offsets. If you set the offsets using the S3D settings on the G-code tab then I don't know whether it matters, I never worked that out.
     
  3. Pierce

    Pierce Well-Known Member

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    Cheers Psy thats very helpful. I stumbled at the first step of "check both print heads can print". I had wired up my fans on the left side all wrong so that needed to be re-wired. Another helpful "things to check" item for any one stumbling on this.

    Those are some good test pieces, have downloaded now :)
     
  4. Pierce

    Pierce Well-Known Member

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    Been doing a brief bit of testing this evening. No matter what I tried in simplify3d the nozzles always printed where they were. Turns out there is a setting to apply offset to gcode which was not checked for me. Something else to try tomorrow.
     
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  5. PsyVision

    PsyVision Moderator
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    I don't have this set, but I think my M218 does the same thing (hotend offset).

    I tried having it set at one point but still had problems (as I said on G+). Keep me updated with what you do change and whether it works, if I can simplify my profile then I'd like to.
     
  6. Pierce

    Pierce Well-Known Member

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    Will do, intend to keep this thread going for anyone who stumbles on it. The problem with only getting an hour of print time a night... Means my testing will take ages more than likely
     
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  7. Gregory Grubbs

    Gregory Grubbs Active Member

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    Im right there with you, work too many hours to get much time with it yet, took monday off and built for 12 hours so at least all I have left (Hopefully) is wiring the rumba and then commissioning.
     
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  8. Pierce

    Pierce Well-Known Member

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    I can never post pictures properly here so here are my dual extrusion efforts for tonight. https://plus.google.com/+PierceFerriter/posts/jkRgrTnuPiF

    Have simplfy3d working, realised it was a negative - 36 I needed to aligned, also after every print the settings to apply offset to gcode seemed to be unchecked again.

    But it's working! Now to fine tune the zits, and I think my offset is slightly out and my extruder and bed could be a bit more level.

    And typically away on business from Sunday so not much time this weekend either @Gregory
     
  9. Pierce

    Pierce Well-Known Member

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    @PsyVision also I didn't have any issues with docking but I wasn't wiping between layers or anything, just before and at end. Seems S3D didn't affected me in anyway apart from preview window looks like it's all going to go wrong with offset shown
     
  10. PsyVision

    PsyVision Moderator
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    @Pierce Thanks, I replied on G+ but should probably keep it here!

    You didn't do any wiping between tool changes? The dual experimental profile does that though...
     
  11. Pierce

    Pierce Well-Known Member

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    Nope, where is the fun in that? Wanted to do a quick test and that 5cm cone was an hour print that fit into my schedule :)
    Figure fine tune the basics then move onto the experimental profile. Maybe I should do a post of all the things to check/test for dual printing as "make sure wiper is at right level for both heads" should be on the list
     
  12. Spoon Unit

    Spoon Unit Well-Known Member

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    Hey Pierce, on your issue of posting pictures here, what I do is:

    * Get the picture on screen
    * Screen grab it with ShareX
    * Upload it with ShareX (automatically also puts the URL on your clipboard)
    * Attach photo here
     
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  13. Pierce

    Pierce Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Spoon Unit, I'm on mobile and too lazy to get my laptop, that's my real problem! My pictures are 3mb and this forum only accepts 1mb or lower, on Pc I just go to photos.google.com and right click and save the preview to upload as that's smaller file size. However uploading to google+ I can just do in the app and share link, seems like the quickest route on mobile at least.
     
  14. Pierce

    Pierce Well-Known Member

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