Cura 2.4 Customised Delta Dual Extruder JSON error

[Dagnall 0]

Hi, thanks for the work updating 2.4 so it now supports more Delta stuff.

I am trying without success to modify a Delta json so that I can use a "flux capacitor" type single head dual extruder.

I saw that the punchtec_connect printer has a similar set of extruders (ie no offset between the "two" heads), so I tried to set up a Json for a "deltabot 2extruder" using these extruder definitions.

After much trial and error the following code does at least now not cause Cura to crash, but it fails to properly load. If you select it, it sort of "half leaves" the last selected printer on screen, with part of the delta mesh overwriting the last printer mesh. It also fails to show two extruders.

I am sure it must be a simple error in the Json , but I cannot find it.

Any corrections would be much appreciated.

 

{ "id": "deltabot_2ex", "name": "DeltaBot 2ex", "version": 2,   "inherits": "fdmprinter",   "metadata": {      	"visible": true,      	"author": "",	"manufacturer": "",	"category": "Other",	"icon": "icon_ultimaker2",       "platform": "kossel_platform.stl",	"file_formats": "text/x-gcode", 	"machine_extruder_trains":       {           "0": "punchtec_connect_xl_extruder_0",           "1": "punchtec_connect_xl_extruder_1"       },	"platform_offset": [ 0, 0, 0]},   "overrides": {	"machine_name": 			{ "default_value": "DeltaBot 2Ex" },	"material_diameter": 		{ "default_value": 1.75 },	"speed_travel": 			{ "default_value": 150 },	"prime_tower_size": 		{ "default_value": 8.66 },	"infill_sparse_density": 	{ "default_value": 10 },	"speed_wall_x": 			{ "default_value": 30 },	"speed_wall_0": 			{ "default_value": 30 },	"speed_topbottom": 			{ "default_value": 20 },	"layer_height": 			{ "default_value": 0.2 },	"speed_print": 				{ "default_value": 30 },	"machine_heated_bed": 		{ "default_value": true },	"machine_center_is_zero": 	{ "default_value": true },	"machine_height": 			{ "default_value": 127 },	"machine_gcode_flavor": 	{ "default_value": "RepRap (Marlin/Sprinter)" },	"machine_depth": 			{ "default_value": 175 },	"machine_width": 			{ "default_value": 175 },	"machine_extruder_count":   { "default_value": 2 },	"retraction_amount": 		{ "default_value": 4.2 },	"retraction_speed": 		{ "default_value": 400 },   	"machine_start_gcode":      {"default_value": "G21 ;metric values\nG90 ;absolute positioning\nM82 ;set extruder to absolute mode\nM107 ;start with the fan off\nG28 ;Home all axes (max endstops)\nG1 Z15.0 F9000 ;move the platform down 15mm\nG92 E0 ;zero the extruded length\nG1 F200 E3 ;extrude 3mm of feed stock\nG92 E0 ;zero the extruded length again\nG1 F9000\n;Put printing message on LCD screen\nM117 Printing..." },       "machine_end_gcode":        {"default_value": "M104 S0 ;extruder heater off\nM140 S0 ;heated bed heater off (if you have it)\nG91 ;relative positioning\nG1 E-1 F300  ;retract the filament a bit before lifting the nozzle, to release some of the pressure\nG28 ;Home all axes (max endstops)\nM84 ;steppers off\nG90 ;absolute positioning" },	"machine_shape":            { "default_value": "elliptic"}}}

 

[nallath 1,104]

What do the logs say?

[ahoeben 1,760]

I think the problem is you are trying to reuse the extruders from the punchtec printer. That does not work because the extruder definitions have a link back to the "parent" definition.

Note: this architecture is also why it is hard to make a UI to set the number of extruders (and why there are no "Machine Settings" for multiextrusion printers)

Edited March 2, 2017 by Guest

[Dagnall 0]

I think it was something to do with the punchtec extruders not finding a punchteck machine.

After I found this, I tried to make a pair of delta extruders, (and modified the json to look for these, ) (but they did not work either).

Unfortunately, at that point I cleaned out the App data files to make usre I had everything clean.

Unfortunately I then deleted the appdata logs as part of trying to clean cura.

I then modified the shape of the "punchtec_connect_xl.def" json, and it seems to work..sort of..

There is a serious problem with the machine center= zero causing problems with the print towers, so I have logged that on the github..

From this I assume that it must be something to do with the way Cura now seems to have multiple cross references in the extruder and machine definitions..

Revised machine, one extruder and log code follow below :

Edited March 3, 2017 by Guest
Got rid of huge chunk of unreadable code...

[ahoeben 1,760]

Sorry, your post is entirely unreadable like this. Don't post long logs directly in the body of your post. Put them somewhere that specialises in showing code/log dumps, eg pastebin.com.

[Dagnall 0]

I have made some updated extruder and machine json and loaded them in a git hub.

Cura now shows me two extruders, BUT I cannot access the "manage printer" setting s that allow me to modify the machine start and end G code from Cura.

Code is held in https://github.com/dagnall53/JSONS-for-Cura2_3

along with a copy fo the cura.log file

Is Cura VERY pedantic about the json format, or have I made a silly error in adding the G-Code settings??

Thanks in anticipation..

[ahoeben 1,760]

Cura now shows me two extruders, BUT I cannot access the "manage printer" setting s that allow me to modify the machine start and end G code from Cura.

 

See my note here:

https://ultimaker.com/en/community/39167-cura-24-customised-delta-dual-extruder-json-error?page=1#reply-173650

The Machine Settings plugin does not work with any multiextrusion definitions. You will have to edit the start/end gcode in the definition file.

[Dagnall 0]

Thanks for the support so far.

Now I understand that I cannot edit the G code from Cura, I am proceeding.. but slowly.

I have a set of Jsons that now compile and slice two colour prints. They are in my GitHub :https://github.com/dagnall53/JSONS-for-Cura2_3

I found the variables  

 

• "machine_extruder_end_code"
  
• "machine_extruder_start_code":
  

 

And have added these in the extruder jsons,

example below

 

"machine_extruder_start_code": { "value": " ; code from right extruder \nG1 E190 F600 ; extend filament fast \nG1 E7.5 F50 ; And take up slack.. \n ;end of start right gcode"},

 

but  they are not resulting in code at the Extruder changes.

However the Blank lines after the G92 E0's  that Cura adds when the extruders are changed have been replaced with "None"

 

G92 E0NoneT1G92 E0NoneM109 S190

 

.. so something is happening.

There is a note about "Parse errors" in the Cura log :

 

UM.Settings.SettingFunction.__init__ [36]: Parse error in function ( ; code from right extruder 

 

I can find no examples of the use of these variables.. I have repeated them in both extruders, should they perhaps be in only one?

I tried adding these variables to the Machine definition, as it seemed logical to me that they should be part of the machine, but that did not work either.

I hope you can assist...

And many thanks

Dagnall

Edited March 4, 2017 by Guest

[Dagnall 0]

the error was to use "value" and not default_value" in the Gcode part of the json.

Now I have a working set of Jsons.

See https://ultimaker.com/en/community/39211-y-extruder-jsons-for-cura-24-working