MMU2 - Real Multi Material  

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Can you add to the program to put a remark into the gcode header that the file was processed with mmuGcodeParser version X. So after some time passes I can check what the file stored on the card actually is?

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Can you add to the program to put a remark into the gcode header that the file was processed with mmuGcodeParser version X. So after some time passes I can check what the file stored on the card actually is?

Yes, it make sense. And yes, I'm doing it already 🙂
Every line which was changed by the script is marked with "; MMUGCODEPARSER v0.1"

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Great 😉

I'm currently printing this thing since noon parsed with your script:

PLA Plasty Mladeč and Filamentum 205°C and Verbatim BVOH 195°C. But still stuggling with the BVOH tips:

This is the best I could get so far. All values default just increased cooling moves to 3. So I have to trim the fillament and clean the strings once a while during printing.

Was someone able to figure out usefull settings for Verbatim BVOH???

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Was someone able to figure out usefull settings for Verbatim BVOH???

This works for me. And temperature change before ramming to 205°C.
Drying before printing might help too.

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Negative.....still stringing 😕

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Negative.....still stringing 😕

Is it causing issues? Based on my experience small strings are not a problem if FINDA is set right. The long strings are usually killing me.

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Based on my experience small strings are not a problem if FINDA is set right.

Finda is triggered as it should. But the strings stockpile so after 100 +- changes it got jamed.

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Finda is triggered as it should. But the strings stockpile so after 100 +- changes it got jamed.

Let me rephrase it 🙂 . Small strings are not an issue. If their size is longer then the retraction distance (distance to the knife), then yes. They stockpile usually in the ball area and generating jams in the tube while filament is pushing it out.
Had to clear such a jam today morning after 10 hours of print. 20 hours to go 😉

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

YAY-HOORAY!!!

I haven't had a lot of time for printing, let alone testing, due to my job... 🙁
But yesterday I finally managed to tweak some settings...

Using PrimaSelect PVA+ as filament. Since no profile for this exists, I used the BVOH and changed temperature (as advise by online-support).
The BIG game-changer was increasing the cooling-moves. That is at 1 in original profile. I upped it to 5 for testing and was amazed as the tips are now more or less consistent after each tool-change. Though there is sometimes still a thin hair attached, this has a maximum length of 3cm or less. This is getting awesome...
For testing, I used a simple cube, wall thickness of 2mm, top open, and rotated it upside down, so the whole interior would be filled with support in order to increase the number of tool-changes for observations.
Temperature given by manufacturer did not work, it wouldn't stick to the plate. Based on earlier test lowered those to 180°C for both first and other layers - et voilà...
Currently printing "the" test, 36hours for a figurine, which would not be printable with regular supports.
This is getting awesome...
Finally, nine months after receiving the MMU2, it turns into the machine I wanted in the first place... 🙂

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Finally, nine months after receiving the MMU2, it turns into the machine I wanted in the first place... 🙂

Sorry to nit-pick, but I don't believe the MMU2 was shipping nine months ago 😉 If my memory serves me well, I think the first shipments were at the end of August 2018.

Peter

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

😆

You're right... 🙂

I received it beginning of September - half a year then... 😉

The point was: ...a veeeeeeeeeery long time ago... 😉
...at least that's how it feels...
...especially since I took the printer out of its enclosure to install the MMU2, and now it's standing on the workshop-bench ever since, with the enclosure empty, since I did not want all the hassle with handling faults and errors in an enclosure.
Now that it gets closer to working, I can pick up the enclosure where I left it. 🙂

Nikolai,
Are there any chances to have your procedure integrated into Slicer?
So the script won't be necessary anymore?

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Nikolai,
Are there any chances to have your procedure integrated into Slicer?
So the script won't be necessary anymore?

Got no response on GitHub yet. Don't know if PR is already working on a similar solution.

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Sorry to bump this after a month, but this is exactly what I've been looking for and I'm hoping to give it a run in the next few days. One query, is this version dependent? If I've using the Slic3r 1.42 Beta, will it still work?

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

It should work. As long as the gcode comments did not change, this script will work.
Please report back if it doesn't work.

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Hats off to Nikolai for creating this script. It fixes the Slic3r PE bug when slicing an object that uses filaments that need to be printed at different temperatures. It works really well.

Prusa Moderator ,

This really is a bug with the Slic3r PE software. In fact, it is a really BIG bug. People can't print multi-material on the M)ulti M)aterial Unit 2.

Can you talk with the Slic3r PE developers and see what can be done to fix this bug?

I know that Josef is eager for the MMU2 to really work - hence the upgrade. Kudos to him for doing that. Let's not spoil that goodwill by letting this bug linger any longer.

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Hi folks,
I wanted to bring this topic up again, because it (in my opinion) "fixes" a problem with Slic3r that I'm hoping with be incorporated into future updates. I think I've also found a "hack" to make it drop the temps while ramming for EVERY filament change (not just from PLA to BVOH or PETG, etc).

Personally, I think Slic3r should let you set a "ramming" temperature for each filament, in addition to the "print" temperature. For example, you can print PLA at 205 degrees, then have the temp drop to 195 (or whatever you choose) during filament ramming/unload. Then go to the print temp for the next filament as it's being loaded by the MMU2S.

Luckily, THIS little script does something similar.

So far as I can tell, as long as there's a temp change between filament changes, Nikolai's script will drop the temp 10 degrees during the ramming process. BUT ONLY IF THERE'S A TEMP CHANGE. If changing from PLA at 205 degrees to PLA at 205 degrees, the script doesn't change anything (I don't think).

I already printed one model that switched between 205 degrees for the four PLA filaments and 195 for #5 - BVOH. It would load the PLA at 205 degrees. Print the purge tower and model. However, because there was no change in temps between the different PLA filaments (all set at 205 degrees), it would only drop to 195 to ram the PLA before it changed to the BVOH. BVOH would load at 205....quickly drop to 195 to purge and print, then drop to 185 to ram before changing back to the PLA. Nozzle would go back to 205 during the PLA load, print at 205. But stay at 205 during changes from PLA to PLA.

When ramming with the lower temp, I'm getting GREAT tips with PLA and BVOH (I haven't messed with PETG yet...but that's on my list of things to do).

Here's a cool little "trick". If you vary the print temps for extruders 1 to 4 by one degree, then it'll also execute the script during changes from PLA to PLA as well.

For example, I've currently got it set like this (all Hatchbox PLA except for #5 which is Verbatim BVOH).
Filament 1 - Print Temp 206
Filament 2 - Print Temp 205
Fliament 3 - Print Temp 204
Filament 4 - Print Temp 203
Filament 5 - Print Temp 195

Now.....it'll drop 10 degrees for ramming during EVERY filament change.
I've just sliced a test model and checked over the G-Code. It appears to be doing what I'm expecting it to do. For example, when changing from Filament 1 to Filament 3, it shows the temp dropping to 196 while ramming, then going up to 204 during the change to Filament 3 for purge/print. Once Filament 3 is done, the temp drops to 194 while ramming before changing to whatever comes next.

I'm actually printing the model now, but like a dummy, I'm using an ACTUAL model (26 hour print time). But so far, so good. It's been changing back and forth between the PLA and BVOH and dropping the temps 10 degrees during the ramming each time.

I know there are similar scripts floating around, but this is the only one that I can find that's been pre-compiled to work with Windows 10 for those of us who haven't taken the time to learn Python yet.

Fingers crossed and BIG THANKS to Nikolai for doing all the hard work.

Thanks!
Eric

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Hello guys,

I'm glad this script is useful and thanks on using it/providing feedback!
The temperature drop regardless of the temp difference is actually already implemented in the script. It can be set with the variable. But I understand that not everybody is installing the python runtime environment on their windows pc. Once I find some time, I will create a windows binary with that option turned on.

Thanks,
Nikolai

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Thanks Nikolai!! I'm planning to give myself a crash course on Python scripts this weekend, but if you can do the .exe file, it would be amazing!

So far, the way I have it running, I'm 24-hours into the print. No jams, no strings, no filament grinding, etc.

Temps are updating nicely during each filament change.

Thanks again for putting in the hard work on this for us!
Eric

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

Here we go. Precompiled binary with always temperature drop enabled .
No need to learn python 🙂

@Moderator: Please add this link to the initial post.

Thanks,
Nikolai

Re: MMU2 - Real Multi Material

@Moderator: Please add this link to the initial post.

Done 🙂

Peter