Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes  

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

@towlerg

Slic3r will handle the gcode generation for you....
it will automatically create a gcode that prints the different color in the best order. the filament change gcode which i have in my profile will take care of initiating a manual color change ( M600) and adjusting the temperatures to the required new values for the next filament.
And yes, it will not have just one color per layer.. it will change the color mid layer where required based on the provided STLs.
I have created some customizable things which can be used to create e.g. multicolor signs. for the signs you can choose e.g. separate colors for the base, the text and the border and then create separate STL's for each of those items.
Link to my customizable things: https://www.thingiverse.com/rainers/collections/rainers-customizable-things ( I was talking about the customizable sign workshop there...)
There are some more changes in the profile on top of that tool change gcode, so if you want to have just that gcode, install the profile and copy it out of it...

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

Hello,

I was finally able to fix this. I mistakenly thought the slicer had problems with the "next_extruder" placeholder when in fact this line caused a problem:

M104 S[temperature_[next_extruder]];

I also tried:

M104 S[temperature[next_extruder]];

When I replace "[next_extruder]]" with a digit there is no problem.

Anyway, I will not be using that line, therefore can now make reference to the upcoming extruder.

Now I also understand your frustration, Rainer, concerning the M117 gcode and the poor implementation thereof. I have the latest firmware and none of the messages I send via M117 or M1 show on the screen.

If I am not mistaken this is the discussion on Github concerning this issue:

https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware/pull/1900

Well, I hope this helps anyone trying to achieve the same thing.

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

Posted by: @towlerg

"i had it on my list for quite some time to re-create the profile under the latest slic3r version.. so i'll check that when i find some time." That was the next question on my list.

So that the solution is generalised, rather than create a new config file perhaps it would be more useful to list the GCode changes.

Also, I think I understand how the virtual extruders works but I'd still like to be absolutely clear about the basic principle. Rather than print a whole layer(s) in a different colour which the slicer allows, you create a .STL with just the text and another STL with just the background and print them so that the thickness is the same across the whole object. During printing of the second colour, do you need to avoid passing the over the area of the first colour? ie when the extruder head is traveling (not extruding) does it clear the 2 or 3 layers you previously deposited?

Sorry to ask so many bone questions but as I say, this is all very new to me. 

I am also chiming in since I am going through the same exercise as you right now.

The starting point for multi-color printing is the CAD program you use. Each part you will print in a separate color which have to have it's own part (or STL). When you then load them into the Prusa Slicer you need to load all parts/STLs together, so Slicer recognizes them as a multi-part STL. Then you can assign colors to each part.

Does that make sense?

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

I am just in the process of creating an up to date version of the profile for Slic3r 2.1

i decided to increase the number of virtual extruders in the default setup.. i will as well add a 3MF file containing the above sample object for a 3 color print and the resulting gcode for people that just want to try out the actual print without bothering about how to set it up 😉

I someone wants to test it... let me know..

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

If you are just bored, looking at the empty wall, you could create a MK2 profile as well 😉

But your approach inspired me to solve one multicolor print issue on MK2.5S. I used standard MMU2 profile to generate the gcode and then replaced initial and ending codes with standard ones and all the extruder change sections for simple M600 commands. Very successful print in the end. Sure profile is better, you do not need to do it all the time again. So once I am bored, looking at the empty wall, I will try to make the profile 🙂

Milos

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

@milo-v

i don't have the MK2.. so i better keep staring at the wall 😉
but there is not really a lot of magic involved......
open 2 slic3r instances... open my profile and a default mk3s one.. look for changes... recreate the changes for a MK2.x

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

so i better keep staring at the wall

How can we be of service to you, Mr. Fisk?

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

On my way installing the 1.42; there is only one hour print time and a simple 2 color print left for my project^^

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

Here is an updated version of the multicolor profile as e 3mf file for Slic3r 2.1:
http://schlosshan.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/multicolor-without-MMU-Demo.zip
feel free to test it... just unpack and import the 3mf to slic3r as a project.
Have fun,
Rainer

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

Thank you very much! I am pretty sure this will fit my needs for 100%; just in the time I thought "how could I do font on a face plate" your topic was magically popping up! 😀

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

OK, I think I did it for MK2.5s, will test soon. Just one question. You disabled Z-lift for retractions in your profile. Is that necessary? MMU2 can also work with Z-lifts, does it cause you troubles?

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

@milo-v

z-lift is not that important and definitely no parameter that you need to change to get this working... just a question of personal preferences.. (and i prefer to disable it as standard 😉 )

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

Progress....
the new version of the multicolor profile is growing....
I managed to add a post processing script which will automatically extract the required filament changes from the gcode and displays them in an editor window. As i am running slic3r on windows, it will currently only work on that OS ( but should be pretty easy to be done on linux or macos as well.)
when exporting the gcode, the post process script will run and create a small text file with the name of the gcode file +".txt"
That file will be automatically opened in notepad during the export and look like this:

"Post processing output:
The following are the colors used in your print.
This list includes the filament that needs to be loaded when starting the print.

---------- H:\3D DRUCK\RAINER'S MK3 MULTICOLOR PROFILE\TEST STLS\MULTICOLOR SIGN BASE_0.15MM_PLA_MK3S_25M.GCODE
;Filament Color:: 0 white
;Filament Color:: 2 yellow
;Filament Color:: 3 red
;Filament Color:: 0 white
;Filament Color:: 2 yellow
"

quite useful in my opinion as it avoids another manual step...

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

Here is the latest pre-release version of the profile 2.0
http://schlosshan.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Color-Profile-2.0-dev.zip

there is a post processing batch file included which needs to be copied to your slic3r directory... check the included readme.txt

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

@krauthaus

That's exactly the sort of thing I'm hoping to be able to do. What software did you use to create the design file for the face plate?

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

@rainer-s

"NozzleCam" is great!

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

@wieman01

You don't need to handle M104, M106, M107 and M900 commands. As soon as there is multiple extruders a Tx code is added, the proper M104, M106, M107 and M900 commands are sent and the volumetric speed are adjusted. And it works like this on my slicer.

PrusaSlicer 2.1.0-rc2 release note:

"The custom tool change G-code behavior has been changed in PrusaSlicer 2.1.0-rc in a way that was not compatible with PrusaSlicer 2.0 and earlier: If the custom tool change G-code was not empty, PrusaSlicer 2.1.0-rc expected that the custom tool change G-code was taking responsibility of emitting the tool change G-code (Tx), while the older PrusaSlicer always emitted the Tx code independent of the custom G-code content. Starting with this release, the processed custom tool change G-code is parsed for the tool change G-code switching to the next extruder. If such a tool change G-code is not found, it is emitted after the custom tool change G-code. Such logic is backward compatible with the existing multi-material printer profiles while allowing versatile tool change sequences #2884 #2886."

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

Posted by: @ron

@wieman01

You don't need to handle M104, M106, M107 and M900 commands. As soon as there is multiple extruders a Tx code is added, the proper M104, M106, M107 and M900 commands are sent and the volumetric speed are adjusted. And it works like this on my slicer.

PrusaSlicer 2.1.0-rc2 release note:

"The custom tool change G-code behavior has been changed in PrusaSlicer 2.1.0-rc in a way that was not compatible with PrusaSlicer 2.0 and earlier: If the custom tool change G-code was not empty, PrusaSlicer 2.1.0-rc expected that the custom tool change G-code was taking responsibility of emitting the tool change G-code (Tx), while the older PrusaSlicer always emitted the Tx code independent of the custom G-code content. Starting with this release, the processed custom tool change G-code is parsed for the tool change G-code switching to the next extruder. If such a tool change G-code is not found, it is emitted after the custom tool change G-code. Such logic is backward compatible with the existing multi-material printer profiles while allowing versatile tool change sequences #2884 #2886."

Thank your clearing that up, Ron. I have removed them entirely, because I anyway don't think you would want to have different temperatures when printing multi-color as you stick with one material type (e.g. PLA). I like the code to be clean and as minimal as possible.

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

Works very well. PrusaSlicer nicely optimize the color changes, so no extra manual changes are needed. Also you can print multiple objects. This whistle has two last layers printed in blue (one would be too transparent), only two changes were necessary. Starts layer with white, changes to blue and finish the layer. Then starts the new layer still with blue and finishes with white after second change.

RE: Simple way to print in "Real" multi-color without MMU or layer height based changes

@towlerg

The file is not from me, i got it frome here: https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/7066-lab-power-supply

I just sliced the text in PrusaSlicer from the baseplate and put it back in the right place. (After slicing it falls down to the lowest level.)

It worked really great!