SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-07-31T13:23:36Z

Hunter Green wrote:

My first try at using the @pause technique, very similar to above but at a smaller scale. Making a very gimmicky thing, a 3D-printed business card. Probably the reasons it came out only just sort of okay include that I haven't yet done a Y-backlash calibration (need to buy a dial indicator) and that I haven't yet learned how to set up Slic3r settings to adjust flow rate. This also takes forever -- the print is only about 23 minutes, but I spent that much time on switching filament back and forth before and after (takes an age to clear black out to print in white). Still, it looks pretty impressive.
Sliced at 1mm vertical resolution since this whole thing is about a half-millimeter thick. I figured out using the G-Code Editor's "Show Layer Range" settings where the layers switch between the solid white background and the raised lettering (just to confirm that it was where I expected based on how thick I'd made the layers). Then by clicking on lines in the gcode I found where layer 4 started, and added "@pause" in just before it did. Printed in white until the pause, then manually controlled the head to move it up and over so I could change filament without the goop ending up on the model -- making careful notes about how much movement so I move back to exactly the same spot. Also changed extruder temp to 205 for black since it prints better. Once I'd run enough black to work out the white, I moved it back to the same spot and resumed printing. Easy-peasy.
What I ought to be doing, once I know how to make Slic3r settings perfectly adapted to each filament, is slice it separately with each settings, then use a text editor to merge the relevant bits of the two gcodes produced with a @pause in between them. After I learn enough to be able to understand the articles about calibrating the extruder and flow rates, I'll have to try that.
By way of contrast, here's the one-color version.
(The discoloration here just shows I didn't clean off some of the green from the outside of my extruder before doing this print, but it's okay, it was just a test run.)

Great print

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-07-30T14:50:04Z

Looks good! Just try not to burn through them too quick at 20+ minutes each!

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-07-30T14:28:29Z

Thanks, good thing to know -- I assumed it didn't, but I didn't actually test it.

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-07-30T14:02:20Z

The great thing about @pause is RH remembers where you were. You don't have to keep track of your movements, it will return automatically. Just don't bump an endstop along the way.

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-07-30T13:40:37Z

My first try at using the @pause technique, very similar to above but at a smaller scale. Making a very gimmicky thing, a 3D-printed business card. Probably the reasons it came out only just sort of okay include that I haven't yet done a Y-backlash calibration (need to buy a dial indicator) and that I haven't yet learned how to set up Slic3r settings to adjust flow rate. This also takes forever -- the print is only about 23 minutes, but I spent that much time on switching filament back and forth before and after (takes an age to clear black out to print in white). Still, it looks pretty impressive.

Sliced at 1mm vertical resolution since this whole thing is about a half-millimeter thick. I figured out using the G-Code Editor's "Show Layer Range" settings where the layers switch between the solid white background and the raised lettering (just to confirm that it was where I expected based on how thick I'd made the layers). Then by clicking on lines in the gcode I found where layer 4 started, and added "@pause" in just before it did. Printed in white until the pause, then manually controlled the head to move it up and over so I could change filament without the goop ending up on the model -- making careful notes about how much movement so I move back to exactly the same spot. Also changed extruder temp to 205 for black since it prints better. Once I'd run enough black to work out the white, I moved it back to the same spot and resumed printing. Easy-peasy.

What I ought to be doing, once I know how to make Slic3r settings perfectly adapted to each filament, is slice it separately with each settings, then use a text editor to merge the relevant bits of the two gcodes produced with a @pause in between them. After I learn enough to be able to understand the articles about calibrating the extruder and flow rates, I'll have to try that.

By way of contrast, here's the one-color version.

(The discoloration here just shows I didn't clean off some of the green from the outside of my extruder before doing this print, but it's okay, it was just a test run.)

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-05-19T00:18:01Z

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-05-18T11:15:50Z

nlancaster,now I got it lol , I was using upper case pause.Thanks for all your help.

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-05-18T06:09:42Z

Here is a sample of the code I use to print my signs like the PDXLan one above. The @pause, pauses the printer. And the Gcode editor tab on the "run at pause" drop down executes G1 X203 Z40. And the @pause pops up the big "continue printing" box at which point I change out the filament and then continue the print. I use kisslicer most of the time, and it inserts the comentext text "; BEGIN_LAYER_OBJECT z=2.10" or some such and that is what I use to find the point at which to change filaments.

; BEGIN_LAYER_OBJECT z=2.10
; fan on
M106
@pause
;
; 'Loop', 2.5 [feed mm/s], 49.0 [head mm/s]
G1 X189.08 Y173.96 Z2.6 E0 F4800

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-05-18T01:11:16Z

OK am understanding a bit more, but does the @pause command supposed to pause the print automatically when it reaches the @pause line?

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-05-17T17:38:35Z

Like the prints on the link. Thanks for the how to as well. Been wanting to try this. Thanks!

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-05-17T03:03:27Z

@pause goes into the code at the point/layer you want to pause the print to change the filament. The G1 X203 Z40 was intereted into the area in the gcode editor under the drop down "run on pause" that makes it so the only thing you have to add to your gcode is @pause. Also executes teh X and Z move when you manually press the pause button.

If you were to add all the code into the gcode it would look like this.

G1 X203 Z40
@pause

The @pause has to come after the move you command.

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-05-17T01:13:15Z

I guess I am not quite understanding. Do you actually put @pause in the gcode then next line G1 X203 Z40. The "@pause command " is the issue. Where in the gcode does it go?

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-05-16T23:04:56Z

Satman I setup my repetier to do a G1 X203 Z40 after an @pause command. Then I just change and purge the filament and hit, Continue print. Been making money doing custom printing name plaques for some people that go to PDXLan you can check them out here.

http://www.pdxlan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17242

All the money generated from those sales is going to go into building/buying a even better 3d printer

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-05-16T22:19:07Z

Just add "@pause"? Any thing after pause?

Re: Color changing process midprint and weird happenings

2013-05-16T21:03:37Z

You would have to do something like that that if they were two different files, or not using Repetier. It is far easier to combine them into a single STL and insert the @pause command into the gcode at the layer where the color changes and then resume after you have swapped filaments and purged the old color.