Setup custom Dual Extrusion machine in Cura 2.3 Beta

[coolbye 2]

Hi everyone,

I have a customized i3 printer with a dual extruder setup. I got the 2.3 Beta version of Cura as soon as I saw that it now supports Dual Extrusion. Now I am trying to add machine settings for my printer that take advantage of this new feature.

I started by doing some research and finding this help page for adding custom machine settings in Cura 2.1: https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/20511-change-machine-settings

It seems like the .json fles are in a slightly different location in Cura 2.3 (...\Cura 2.3\resources\definitions) and there is a new folder there called "extruders" (...\Cura 2.3\resources\extruders).

So I started by making a new json file in the definition file based on the "prusa_i3.def.json" and named it "prusa_i3_dual.def.json" and changed the id to "prusa_i3_dual" in the file.

Then I went into the extruders folder and copied the "ultimaker_original_dual_[1st/2nd]" json files and renamed them prusa_i3_dual_[1st/2nd].def.json. In the code I gave them each a new ID ("prusa_i3_dual_1st" and "prusa_i3_dual_2nd",) as well and in the "metadata" I changed the Machine ID to "prusa_i3_dual" (the ID i gave my json file above).

Finally, after studying the "ultimaker_original_dual.def.json" file in the definitions folder, I went back into my "prusa_i3_dual.def.json" file and added the following code in the metadata section:

"machine_extruder_trains":

       {

           "0": "prusa_i3_dual_1st",

           "1": "prusa_i3_dual_2nd"

       },

   },

As far as I can tell, this should be the correct way to set up the printer, however when I launch Cura, the custom machine settings disappear. I also tried modifying the original "prusa_i3.def.json" file to try to get it to display 2 extruders, but this causes the Prusa i3 option simply disappear from the 'add printers' screen.

Is there something that I am missing here? Is anyone else also trying to set up a custom printer in Cura 2.3 with (or without) dual extrusion? Any success?

Thanks in advance,

coolbye

{EDIT: Clarity}

Edited September 2, 2016 by Guest

[drayson 75]

Hi! pls. take a look into the other topic where you posted this issue

https://ultimaker.com/en/community/22396-cura-23-beta-awesomeness-and-some-issues?page=2&sort=#reply-155330

[coolbye 2]

Hi! pls. take a look into the other topic where you posted this issue

https://ultimaker.com/en/community/22396-cura-23-beta-awesomeness-and-some-issues?page=2&sort=#reply-155330

Got it to work using the "ultimaker_original_dual" files as a template rather than the "prusa i3" ones. I'll try to summarize the process more clearly because my first post was kind of confusing.

1) Make a copy of the "ultimaker_original_dual" json file and give it an original name.

2) Open the new file and assign it an original id name and category. eg:

"id": "i3_dual",

"version": 2,

"name": "Custom i3 Dual Extrusion",

"inherits": "fdmprinter",

"metadata": {

"visible": true,

"author": "na",

"manufacturer": "na",

"category": "Other",

3) Make a copy of the "ultimaker_original_dual_1st.def.json" and "ultimaker_original_dual_2nd.def.json" files and give them original name.

4) Open these files and give them an original id. eg "i3_dual_1st" and "l_dual_2nd"

5) In the extruder files change the "machine" line to the name you gave your first json file. eg:

"metadata": {

"machine": "i3_dual",

6) Go back into the first json file and define the extruders with the id's that you define in the extruder json files. eg:

"machine_extruder_trains":

{

"0": "i3_dual_1st",

"1": "i3_dual_2nd"

},

Now launch Cura and you should see the printer in the 'add printer' menu. IMPORTANT: you should go back into the json file and modify it more to your exact printers specifications. This should get you started though if you are trying this too.

[drayson 75]

Great news - congratulation :-)

[nallath 1,120]

The custom machine settings plugin doesn't support multi extrusion just yet. Sorry about that.

[makingzone 2]

Thanks for your tutorial.

I tried it yesterday, but my new dual extrusion printer (based on a copy of the ultimaker original dual) is not listed. Do you know why ?

I used Bracket to edit the json and avoid any syntax error, and follow your tuto step by step.

Thanks

[coolbye 2]

Thanks for your tutorial.

I tried it yesterday, but my new dual extrusion printer (based on a copy of the ultimaker original dual) is not listed. Do you know why ?

I used Bracket to edit the json and avoid any syntax error, and follow your tuto step by step.

Thanks

 

I'm glad you found the tutorial useful, but sorry it didn't work for you right away. The most important thing is that the you have the correct ID for your extruders in your custom json file, and the correct ID for your custom json file in both of the extruders json files. This is confusing. Basically just make sure that each of your new json files has a unique ID, and then they all use these IDs in the json files where they need to point to each other.

Only when everything is set up correctly will the new custom printer show up in Cura.

[coolbye 2]

Thanks for your tutorial.

I tried it yesterday, but my new dual extrusion printer (based on a copy of the ultimaker original dual) is not listed. Do you know why ?

I used Bracket to edit the json and avoid any syntax error, and follow your tuto step by step.

Thanks

 

Because this can be so confusing to describe with words, I have uploaded a screenshot of some json files that I made and highlighted the values that you should double check. Pay attention to the file paths and IDs.

Hope this helps!

Edited September 6, 2016 by Guest

[makingzone 2]

Thanks for trying to help me... But I double checked this fields without success... Maybe the problem come from that I'm using a Mac.

[coolbye 2]

Sorry about that.

 

 

Thanks for trying to help me... But I double checked this fields without success... Maybe the problem come from that I'm using a Mac.

 

It could be a different process for Mac, but it seems like it should work the same. Maybe the Devs can respond to clarify.

In the meantime, i forgot to point out that you also need to modify the "name" field in the json file as well. See the screenshot below.

[nallath 1,120]

Mac should work the same file wise.

[makingzone 2]

Of course I've already modified the name field too... without success.

No problem, I will wait the next (stable or beta) release, with an improve Custom Printer plugin included the dual extrusion features AND custom start / end scripts dedicated to dual extrusion and custom toolchanges script :-)

[tcconsulting 0]

Hello Is their a post or video where i could learn how to make my prusa i3 to do dual extrusion as how to setup motherboard ramps and what i have to change in the firmware

[designsoul 18]

Cura 2.3 works great, and dual extrusion works after installing new firmware and the Arduino drivers. However I can't seem to alter the machine settings to enable a default offset for the dual extruder. So I am adjusting this feature manually.

More importantly, there are long pauses (up to 10 minutes!) when changing between print heads. And at the start of some layers, there is an almost duplicate G0 code, which may or may not have to do with it. Does anyone know what to do with this?

[nallath 1,120]

Cura 2.3 works great, and dual extrusion works after installing new firmware and the Arduino drivers. However I can't seem to alter the machine settings to enable a default offset for the dual extruder. So I am adjusting this feature manually.

More importantly, there are long pauses (up to 10 minutes!) when changing between print heads. And at the start of some layers, there is an almost duplicate G0 code, which may or may not have to do with it. Does anyone know what to do with this?

 

You can set them in the extruder definitions.

[jjhuang5566 0]

Hey!!!! Good news, i know what's happening.

It's quotation mark problem. See the screenshot below.

So the right side quotation mark is correct one.

But i stuck in the next step. See the screenshot below.

any idea???

Of course I've already modified the name field too... without success.

No problem, I will wait the next (stable or beta) release, with an improve Custom Printer plugin included the dual extrusion features AND custom start / end scripts dedicated to dual extrusion and custom toolchanges script :-)

Edited November 2, 2016 by Guest

[3dcase 37]

Hi,

Using cura 2.3.1 with a UM3.

tried to make myself a custom json file (copied from UM1 org dual extr.) for a Big-Builder dual.

All works well, except.... the heated bed setting.

Each time I start cura I have to manually add a heated bed, in printer settings.

Any idea wich file to modify, to have the setting stored?

Regards Kees

[Ram 0]

Hi

Thanks for your tutorial @coolbye.

Followed all the instruction but i have an issue in it. Created custom printer json for creatbot dual extruder 3d printer from ultimaker_original_dual.def. Every thing was fine printer is listed in cura But when open cura it is not getting selecting in printer slot and also it is not showing any files when imported to cura 2.3.1.  

couldn't get what went wrong in creating json file.

Edited February 22, 2017 by Guest

[ahoeben 1,948]

Post the json files somewhere (eg pastebin.com) and we can have a look.

[Ram 0]

@ahoeben below are the links of json files in pastebin.

http://pastebin.com/PgctkEEb -- creatbot 3D printer json file

http://pastebin.com/6wYC3Wpr -- json file for 1st extruder

http://pastebin.com/uVaKZiY4 -- json file for 2nd extruder

[ahoeben 1,948]

The filed seem to work fine for me. Could you also post your logs?

[Ram 0]

@ ahoeben sorry couldn't get you. logs?

[ahoeben 1,948]

In your configuration folder (accessible through Help -> Show Configuration Folder) there should be a stderr.log

[Ram 0]

@ ahoeben sorry for the delay reply.

below link has text of stderr.log file

http://pastebin.com/jeY9jdP8

[JaquesLeSpaques 0]

Ihave followed above instructions to adapt the Malyan M180 profile (shipped with Cura) to support both extruders. I had to add one more line I found in this github thread:

 

"machine_extruder_count": { "default_value": 2 },

in the overrides part of the printer definition.

Hope this helps