snowygrouch

Ok, Well I am going to have a go at building a firmware myself. Just a question about the config for multiple temps. #define TEMP_SENSOR_0 -1 #define TEMP_SENSOR_1 -1 #define TEMP_SENSOR_2 0 #define TEMP_SENSOR_BED 0 So I am guessing that "TEMP_SENSOR_0" is what I would refer to as the "old" primary extruder....and that the new 2nd extruder temp will be "TEMP_SENSOR-1" ? Just confused becuase there are 3, and because one starts at Zero which is pretty non-intuitive. Anyway just wanting to check. Thanks ! C.

Ok, so possibly there are also Software issues, BUT I am leaning towards there also being some Firmware issues from that uploaded automatically by Cura 13.03 Netfabb when USB connected to the Ultimaker, cannot "see" the 2nd extruder. Even though the temperature shows in the ulticontroller, and even though I have manually tested that the 2nd extruder "works". So you can see here the 2 thermocouples are reading on the display Even though both hotends are about 90 degrees, Netfabb when connected cannot read the temp of the 2nd hotend. Anyway, Daid can you offer any help here because basically im now at the point where short of building my own Marlin I have tried everything. 3 different slicers, and several evenings of messing with the settings of all 3. Can you give a link to download windows versions of older Cura versions ? I couldnt see anything on your website or this one....

I am also getting strange behaviour from Netfabb and KS code since updating the dual extruder firmware from Cura 13.03 printhead speed is wayyyyyy to fast. I have no idea at all how that can happen. I have to now run KS code at 50% speed from the ulticontroller to make it manageable. C.

I am only interested in using 2nd Extruder for support material. So am not making 2 STLs then loading using the "load dual" option. You cannot really "draw" the support material (unless its a really simple shape) so I think this is not required when just asking it to print support in 2nd extruder.

I have posted the other problems I am having in the MARLIN firmware bit of the forum and the CURA section. Basically its just printing everything with the primary extruder only

So as mentioned elsewhere the 2nd extruder does "work" as I tested it with KS by just selecting "extruder 2" for everything. So here is the code that CURA 13.03 is supposed to insert during extruder change, BUT if i look in the GCODE output none of these lines appear in the GCODE... I assume there is some setting or something somewhere that I am supposed to make....

UPDATE. Tested 2nd extruder with Kisslicer by selecting extruder 2 to print everything. So the 2nd extruder and 2nd stepper driver is all "working". Dont really know if this is firmware, hardware or software issue now...are there any jumpers to set on the UMaker board to enable both extruders at once or something ?

Ich denke diese PLA ist gut. http://www.orbi-tech.de/shop/Plastic-Welding-Rod/PLA:::30_46.html?XTCsid=9bfb101d1f5ac9d9e3075578185a0e0f

Yesterdays progress, mechanically 2nd extruder install is finished and dual firmware installed via Cura 13.03. However now struggling with software to get 2nd extruder to work...

Just to add the following bugs for the bugslist. 1) Ulticontroller "cooldown" button only cools down the primary #1 hotend. 2) Ulticontroller display seems to be a bit wierd since updating the firmware for 2nd extruder...(EDIT ** was due to having USB connected to PC because I was just done uploading firmware. Is fine without USB connection) 3) Fan stays on even after stopping the print. 4) Display says "printing" even after stopping the print

So I updated the firmware for 2nd extruder using the Cura 13.03 wizard. This now shows up the 2 hotend temps, which I can sucessfully control manually with the UController. However not having any luck with either CURA or Kisslicer getting them to USE the 2nd extruder. Both are printing support AND main model using only Nozzle #1. No idea if this is firmware or software config issue.

Hi, So have done 1st test with this. Issue so far is that the second extruder is not being used - both support AND model are being printed by #1 extruder which means that the support is offset by the extruder offset. I have ticked the "SUPPORT DUAL EXTRUSION" icon in CURA, and uploaded the firmware from CURA. As you can see the two nozzles are showing up in the Ulticontroller, and can be made to heat up independantly with the UController too. Any ideas Daid ? Thanks in advance C.

Hi Lars, Which grade aluminium alloy are these calcs based on ? Regards C.

Oppps was being retarded and missed that.... ahaha thanks Daid. C.

So unless I am missing something, the beta release of Cura 13.03 is only usable in Linux and not Windows so far ?

Hi, Yes I think the problem was that for a couple of weeks I had the wrong STL model uploaded to my website. I fixed this a few days ago. So go to my website, download the STL file and compare it to what you have, probably you need to get the printer going well enough to print again then print out 2 new proper brackets. Apologies for that. C.

You will have a lot more luck by re-desiging your fan duct design. I almost guarantee that with the fan airflow being asked to do a 90 degree turn almost immidiately after the exit - that the airflowrate is almost zero through your heatsink. I recommend sourcing a very small diameter fan, and making it flow almost straight into the heatsink, PC cooling fans have extremely low pressure flow (big gaps between the end of the blades and the housing, low RPM, design is optimised for low-noise not high-flow). If you ask the flow to change direction like that it will simply stagnate after the rotor and half is probably flowing BACK out the fan in the reverse direction. One (messy) way to test, is to get a powerful torch and some flour. Turn the lights off in your room, shine the torch on the fan, turn on the fan and dust some flower powder near the fan inlet. That will soon show you whats really happening. You are quite correct that a stainless steel material will work alot better, but you might find that simply by using the fan better you can also make it work. C.

Hi, Ok I will try the Cura 13.03 firmware as you suggest. I didnt install the nozzle yet, when I do - I will add details to the post I already started in the "hacks and modifications" section of the forum. It would be a bit off-topic here. Regards C.

Hi, I have almost finished installing the required mechanics and electronics to enable dual extrusion on my Ultimaker, which leaves updating the Marlin firmware as the last hurdle to cross. Since the marlin-builder server is down, and my knowledge of firmware is fairly limited when it comes to messing with code, can anyone help me to sort out a build of Marlin which will enable the 2nd extruder, thermocouple and heater ? Thanks in advance C.

Well I dont know which one you have, but mine says AV-7525M12s DC 12v Brushless Made in China on the back...not sure why yours is 24v ?

Well I dont have alot to show so far, but here is current progress with adding 2nd extruder. My target for this has nothing to do with multi-colour, just to allow the support to be printed in something I can dissolve with solvent or water. (so ABS or PVA). Couldnt get the wooden parts from UM, so bashed out a new extruder plate. Which is mostly just the old 3 plates joined together. But has a nice feature which is a thread integrated into the STL file so that you can thread in a proper bowden retainer (which has NO slop at all). This is a "WISKA ESKV Ø3-7 IP68" fitting. http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/532210/Wiska-Kabelverschraubung-ESKV-metrisch-ESKV-M12-RAL-7035-Licht-Grau-Klemmbereich-3-7-mm-M12 I also modified the V2 extruder upgrade I got from UM, glued in an M3 thread and used the same stud and wingnut arrangement that the original Bertho mod used (which I much prefer as you will always have maximum thread engagement no matter what spring preload you choose). I also put 4x 0.6mm thick washers inside to space out the plates, so that I could use a ball bearing instead of "ball bearing and delrin ring". So I just pressed the ball bearing over the tiny one that comes with the upgrade. This should offer more longevity. Have seen some pics of failed delrin rings on the forum elsewhere. The bearing is a standard Ø16x8x5mm "deep groove" ball bearing. Credit for big gearwheel goes to Mooncactus, http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:25501 However, he decided not to add the little hole that the standard one has...so its a pain to screw in the stepper motor....oh well. I now have to make a new printhead fan duct that will fit the 2nd nozzle, then wire it all in - then see how to mod the firmware and so on. Will put STL for extruder plate on the website later today, in case anyone is interested. C.

No idea what the standard spring is, but I preload my extruder spring (with V3 knurled bolt) to about 80Newtons force. (the spring I use has a rate of about 10N/mm) This makes it grip enough such that you will only be able to pull the filament back out the extruder by using a great deal of force. You can measure this if needed with a very cheap digital readout used for aeroplane luggage weight checking. Cost me about 28 Euros. http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/124148/VOLTCRAFT-HS-10L-Haengewaage-Fischwaage-Wiegebereich-bis-10-kg-Aufloesung-10-g

You should make a sleeve for inside the spring, so that it functions co-axially. Your spring rate and also orientation of the force with the installation as it is, is bad and will give problems in filament drive. With some tuning, you can then even make the sleeve the correct length. Such that it acts as a "stopper" for the nut, when you tighten it to the correct amount. That way, when you have to unwind it - to replace the filament or such - you can guarantee it will go back exactly the same as before. C.

200 Degrees is a bit low. When you are starting out, heat to 220 or 230 degrees.

If its the same age, and supplier I would expect the same result. It all probably got wound on the same day.... Best not to stock up on loads of reels unless you print every day. C.