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Topic: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

I thought I would share this with you all!

DisTech Automation has developed a new solution for multi-filament 3D printing called The Prometheus System which allows you to print 2 different filaments from a single nozzle. This enables you to print multi-color objects, print with support material, or create multi-material prints!

Here are some recent news articles about The Prometheus System:

https://3dprint.com/147493/prometheus-s … ckstarter/

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20160830- … arter.html

http://www.fabbaloo.com/blog/2016/8/30/ … d-printers

https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/pro … ter-95071/

https://www.3printr.com/prometheus-syst … r-0042071/

https://3druck.com/drucker-und-produkte … r-1848442/

http://www.cantechletter.com/2016/08/di … -campaign/

http://www.htxt.co.za/2016/09/01/the-pr … -printers/

Here are some pictures:

https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/013/376/058/d50d14a41e592e2a42f57f32602ecd0d_original.gif?w=680&fit=max&v=1471231011&q=92&s=a42f4f47560394ae0b7a0befdfc9271a

https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/013/209/797/e9c76d56567b3c7d5b43dc81313ddb28_original.gif?w=680&fit=max&v=1469761717&q=92&s=c308041d928fb0ca2ea6a8a1d9104696

https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/013/487/280/c6328c7a45b26e15139ad2277ebf40b4_original.JPG?w=680&fit=max&v=1472090564&auto=format&q=92&s=530543129c95413def112aa4f703e651

The Kickstarter campaign will launch on September 6th. You can sign up at http://distechinnovations.com/ to receive a Kickstarter launch notification and get the first pick of the discounted Early Bird rewards.

Let me know what you guys think of this new product!

**Intuitive MULTI-FILAMENT 3D Printing** -- Successfully Funded on Kickstarter!

I designed the Prometheus V2 Customizable All-Metal Hot End. Buy online

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Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

It looks neat! I think it might waste a lot of filament just to purge between colors, but it still looks like a straightforward design.

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Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

It looks neat! I think it might waste a lot of filament just to purge between colors, but it still looks like a straightforward design.

4 (edited by RP Iron Man 2016-09-05 17:26:12)

Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

@machinistjoe

While there is filament waste, all single nozzle solutions have some filament waste, so unfortunately it is unavoidable. However, the simplicity and quality is well worth it smile

**Intuitive MULTI-FILAMENT 3D Printing** -- Successfully Funded on Kickstarter!

I designed the Prometheus V2 Customizable All-Metal Hot End. Buy online

5

Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

So what will the average price be after the KS is finished and I want to buy one directly?

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

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Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

@carl_m1968

We haven't determined the regular price after the Kickstarter campaign, but it will be significantly higher than the discounted Kickstarter rewards. I would definitely recommend backing the Kickstarter if you are interested in this product smile

**Intuitive MULTI-FILAMENT 3D Printing** -- Successfully Funded on Kickstarter!

I designed the Prometheus V2 Customizable All-Metal Hot End. Buy online

7

Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

We just launched our Kickstarter campaign for The Prometheus System!

Click on the link below to visit the Kickstarter page:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/81 … escription

We would really appreciate your support! smile

Cheers,
Eric

**Intuitive MULTI-FILAMENT 3D Printing** -- Successfully Funded on Kickstarter!

I designed the Prometheus V2 Customizable All-Metal Hot End. Buy online

8

Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

so its basically just 2 bowden extruders and a "Y" pipe for the ptfe to plug in to, and then a single j-head. I see copies springing up. Hows it work on flexible material?

Sd4 #9080 with a glass bed. E3d chimera duel extruder. Paste extruder , duet wifi.
Lawsy carriages. linear bearings. Y axis direct drive, Kinect scanner
SD4#8188 glass bed, lawsly carriages, E3d v6, octoprint http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hotrod96z28
Filastruder/filawinder, Custom Delta 300mm x 600mm

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Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

@Kronikabuse

It is not nearly as easy as it looks.

People have indeed been trying this for a long time but nobody has got it working reliably...except us! Please take a read through our campaign page to see how we dealt with the difficulties associated with this approach to multi-filament 3D printing!

As for flexibles, we have tested it with Taulman PCTPE (flexible nylon) with great results. I would not recommend using Nijaflex since it is a bowden system, but semi-flex should be a good alternative.

Cheers,
Eric

**Intuitive MULTI-FILAMENT 3D Printing** -- Successfully Funded on Kickstarter!

I designed the Prometheus V2 Customizable All-Metal Hot End. Buy online

10

Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

It’s been a while since the last update. We have been working hard over the past few months since fulfilling the remaining Kickstarter rewards in March, and we have some exciting news!

We are proud to announce the release of the Prometheus System (E3D V6 Upgrade)!

You can view the promo video below:

This upgrade kit allows E3D V6 Hot End users to create multi-color and multi-material objects. The Prometheus System solution simplifies the multi-extrusion process and expands the capabilities of 3D printers using the E3D V6.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0426/9205/files/Prometheus_System_E3D_V6_Upgrade.jpg?2909364669516999688

The original Prometheus System was specifically designed to work with our Prometheus V2 Hot End. However, with the success of the Kickstarter campaign and hundreds of active users around the world, many people have requested system compatibility with the E3D V6 Hot End.

To enable reliable multi-filament 3D printing using the Prometheus System with the E3D V6, we had to develop the "Prometheus Heat Break". This is a precision machined and polished component that replaces the standard E3D V6 heat break to facilitate reliable filament switching with the Prometheus System.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0426/9205/files/Prometheus_Heat_Break_E3D_V6_Upgrade.jpg?2909364669516999688

The Prometheus System (E3D V6 Upgrade) solves all of the issues associated with conventional methods of dual extrusion. We believe that this new product will be a popular upgrade for E3D V6 users who want to print multi-color and multi-material objects.

The Prometheus System (E3D V6 upgrade) is available for order and ships immediately. The upgrade kit can be purchased by following the link below:

https://www.distechautomation.com/produ … v6-upgrade

In addition to the release of the E3D V6 Upgrade kit, we wanted to provide a quick update on Simplify3D software compatibility with the Prometheus System. This is something that many people have been asking about, and unfortunately, it has been delayed for a long time due to ongoing bugs in the Simplify3D software.

However, one of our Kickstarter backers named Pekka, (aka. “spegelius” on our forum) recently began working on a post-processing script called “FilaSwitch” to allow Simplify3D to work with the Prometheus System. We are supporting his efforts and he has made a lot of progress! You can view his development thread on our forum by clicking on the link below. Feel free to post in that thread to offer him encouragement or suggestions for his script.

http://distechforum.com/showthread.php?tid=127

We will be sure to post an update as soon as the S3D post-processing script is ready for beta-testing smile It’s almost ready!

Stay tuned!

**Intuitive MULTI-FILAMENT 3D Printing** -- Successfully Funded on Kickstarter!

I designed the Prometheus V2 Customizable All-Metal Hot End. Buy online

11

Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

I think it might waste a lot of filament just to purge between colors, but it still looks like a straightforward design.

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Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

I think it might waste a lot of filament just to purge between colors, but it still looks like a straightforward design.


Sorry, I had to.

Robox printer, HICTOP (Prusa i3 variant) Model 3DP17 printer, ELEK 2.5W laser engraver, AutoDesk 123D Design, Windows 10

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Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

Is that a lasercut acrylic extruder?  Something seems familiar about that.

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Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

@IanJohnson

Yes, that is our laser cut ProStruder, which is the geared extruder that we designed as a part of the Prometheus System. It is the same one that we released with our Kickstarter campaign last year (with some improvements).

**Intuitive MULTI-FILAMENT 3D Printing** -- Successfully Funded on Kickstarter!

I designed the Prometheus V2 Customizable All-Metal Hot End. Buy online

15

Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

IanJohnson wrote:

Is that a lasercut acrylic extruder?  Something seems familiar about that.

wink

Printit Industries Model 8.10 fully enclosed CoreXY, Chamber heat
3-SD3's & a Workbench all fully enclosed, RH-Slic3r Win7pro, E3D V6, Volcano & Cyclops Hot End
SSR/500W AC Heated Glass Bed, Linear bearings on SS rods. Direct Drive Y-axis, BulldogXL
Thanks to all for your contributions

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Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

People have expressed concerns about using laser cut components, but we have been sure to design these parts to handle all of the stresses involved in extrusion. The parts will not break. We have shipped hundreds of units and our users really like the ProStruders from the feedback we have received.

**Intuitive MULTI-FILAMENT 3D Printing** -- Successfully Funded on Kickstarter!

I designed the Prometheus V2 Customizable All-Metal Hot End. Buy online

17

Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

After a few weeks of beta testing, the Prometheus System is now officially compatible with Simplify3D!

"FilaSwitch": Simplify3D G-Code Post-Processor

We would like to give special thanks to our Kickstarter backer named Pekka (aka. “spegelius” on our forum) for developing the "FilaSwitch" post-processor! (https://github.com/spegelius/filaswitch) Pekka has worked very hard on this script and he deserves full credit. You can follow his FilaSwitch development thread here on our forum:

http://distechforum.com/showthread.php?tid=127

FilaSwitch is a Python script that processes the S3D G-code output and adds a smart purge tower to enable compatibility with the Prometheus System. This smart purge tower has some very neat features to optimize the filament switching process.

As seen in the preview below, FilaSwitch eliminates unnecessary filament switches on single color layers by printing a support structure on the tower. This saves a lot of time and filament.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0426/9205/files/S3D_Infill.JPG?6908948085603197805

FilaSwitch also generates a perimeter around the tower to keep the purge lines clean and contained and stops printing the purge tower when there are no more filament switches required for the print.

By incorporating the above features with the wipe setting and carefully controlled purging, FilaSwitch is truly a work of art. This is a Benchy boat that we printed using S3D and FilaSwitch:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0426/9205/files/S3D_Benchy_1.JPG?6908948085603197805

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0426/9205/files/S3D_Benchy_2.JPG?6908948085603197805

Once again, a huge thank you to Pekka, our Kickstarter backer, for developing FilaSwitch. Based on our testing, we think that there are no more bugs remaining in the script. However, if you do happen to find a bug, please post it in the GitHub issue tracker:

https://github.com/spegelius/filaswitch/issues

You can find instructions for using S3D and FilaSwitch in our User Guide:

https://www.distechautomation.com/pages/pro-sys-guide

Happy printing!

**Intuitive MULTI-FILAMENT 3D Printing** -- Successfully Funded on Kickstarter!

I designed the Prometheus V2 Customizable All-Metal Hot End. Buy online

18

Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

Cool idea.

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Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

Just a heads up:

We are offering a 15% discount on all orders during this Black Friday weekend!

If you have been waiting to purchase a Prometheus System or Prometheus V2 for your printer, now is your chance. Use the discount code BF2017 at checkout to receive 15% off your order: https://www.distechautomation.com/

Sale ends Monday, November 27!

Check out our Prometheus System - Product Feature video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w30eRzXaCCI

Happy printing!

**Intuitive MULTI-FILAMENT 3D Printing** -- Successfully Funded on Kickstarter!

I designed the Prometheus V2 Customizable All-Metal Hot End. Buy online

20

Re: The Prometheus System - Intuitive Multi-Filament 3D Printing!

We are having a Christmas Sale at DisTech!

We are offering a 15% discount on all orders placed through our online store! Sale ends Wednesday, December 20.

Our Christmas Sale is the perfect time to buy a Prometheus System or Prometheus V2 for your printer in time for the new year! 

Head over to our website and use the discount code XMAS2017 at checkout to receive 15% off your order: https://www.distechautomation.com/

Merry Christmas and happy printing!

**Intuitive MULTI-FILAMENT 3D Printing** -- Successfully Funded on Kickstarter!

I designed the Prometheus V2 Customizable All-Metal Hot End. Buy online