Filament color change automation to a part  

RE: Filament color change automation to a part

You can go into printer settings and define a number of extruder equal to the number of colors. You can then assign different parts to different extruder. Even without an MMU, it will prompt you to change filaments. For an example, see https://prusaprinters.org/prints/50534

RE: Filament color change automation to a part

@fuchsr

Thank you for this information. The G Code is not automatically stopping and ejecting the filament to change colors and I have attempt to do this a few different ways. Ideally I would like to be able to print multiple colors on a single layer and be prompted to change the filament at the right time. 

Thanks again !

RE: Filament color change automation to a part

Here is a test print but I had to manually hit change filament at the exact correct time to get this print as the printer did not ask for a change of filament even thought I assigned the parts to 1-3 colors. flag-test

RE: Filament color change automation to a part

After reviewing the parts you sent it seems that there is a color change option and in the slicer and not adding extruders as you indicated. 

RE: Filament color change automation to a part

Okay, let's take this apart.

Prompting for color change: It should definitely do it. It did it for me (of course I know unhelpful it is to say that 😥).

The only idea I have: Are you printing from Octoprint? This may interfere with it. 

Color change options: In the link I sent you there are actual models that illustrate both ways of doing multi-color print without an MMU. (Triggered by my reviewing the files in response to your messaged, I just cleaned up a bit--the new Prusa website now allows you to create folders). What's in Embossed Lettering uses the standard Change Color option in Prusaslicer: slice the model normally, then in the preview click on the layer number/height where you want a color change, and it will insert pauses accordingly into the GCODE. Pro: Super easy. Con: Color changes only possible at layer change.

The files in "Smooth Lettering" use the multi-extruder approach. In Printer Settings pick the number of extruders according to the number of colors ydour model uses. Assign each part of the model to an extruder. Pro: You can change colors as often and whenever you like, even within one layer. Cons: Your model must consist of individual parts, each representing one color. If you do the color swaps for more than a few layers, this gets old very quickly.

Again, short of suspecting Octoprint, I'm not clear on why it wouldn't call for a color change. (I am assuming you're using a Prusa printer; I don't think the filament swap gcode instructions work for other brands).

RE: Filament color change automation to a part

I just discovered I had saved a link to an article that essentially describes exactly the same method I used -- but it's 9 pages of discussion (for better or worse...). It's a bit dated (when I just looked at it, I noticed the screenshots are way out of date):

https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-user-mods-octoprint-enclosures-nozzles-.../simple-way-to-print-in-real-multi-color-without-mmu-or-layer-height-based-changes/

RE: Filament color change automation to a part

@fuchsr

I have a Mini + and stock interface but in the Mac version. Ok thanks for the info... more reading and tweaking to do!