configuration of cura for hybrid 3-D printer having IDEX and laser

[Lokibaghel 0]

hello freinds , actually I am working on project where I have to configure Cura slicer for hybrid 3-D printer  where two independent extruder deposit dielecric and composite material  and a laser is attached with one extruder to sinter composit material . 

assuming laser as extruder how can we make  it in cura that it cover same volume or cordinates  as  cover by composite material. I tried to  import two files of same ,model at same place and assign it to seperate extruders  but it gives wierd results when I Preview  it , It is unclear which part is made by which extruder

Can anyone help me out ,I will be very thankfull  

[GregValiant 1,251]

On 7/17/2021 at 11:36 AM, Lokibaghel said:

two independent extruder deposit dielecric and composite material  and a laser is attached with one extruder...

 

So the laser is extruder 3? Or is it extruder 2?  I will assume it is extruder 2.

If extruder 1 deposits material and then extruder 2 (laser) is to come in to fuse material then I think the layers need to be "interleaved".

Layer:1 extrude with T1

Layer:1 fuse with T2

Layer:2 extrude with T1

Layer:2 fuse with T2

Etc.

Something like that?  Cura would preview that as it would a gcode file created with objects printed "one at a time" which is correct but seems wrong because of multiple instances of each layer number.

The preview is layer-by-layer though the gcode is really line-by-line.

 

 

 

[Lokibaghel 0]

thanks @GregValiant  for your reply ,yes you understand correct , I think the problem is that when we try to work both extruder T1 and T2  at same position in same layer then Cura doesn't allow us because of detection of interference(collision) of profiles of extruders so we have to find in documentation of Cura the file which perform this task and then we have to change, replace or place a new file there to stop this detection . but till now I am unable to figure it out.     

Can you  help me out @GregValiant    or anyone ? I will be very thankfull for this

[Cuq 198]

Using postprocessing script. Duplicate each layer one by one and assign the Laser Tool number to the copied data.

Edited July 21, 2021 by Cuq

[GregValiant 1,251]

I agree with @Cuq a post processing script is required OR two gcode files that you hand copy-and-paste together.

Changing the way Cura handles building a gcode file would seem to be much more work than building a single file from two files with proper handling of tool-switch retractions and extrusion resumption.  Even a macro in Excel could handle merging the files.

Cura was not built with IDEX printers in mind.  If the printer requires u and v axis then the difficulty would go up.

[Lokibaghel 0]

thanks @Cuq and @GregValiant for reply.  I also had the idea of merging or copy and paste of two files  but I also think Changing the way Cura handles building a gcode file would seem to be much more work than building a single file from two files  that. we need to do some changes in documentation of CURA. Did any of you find anythingh in that direction, then please convey it to me.

[GregValiant 1,251]

You need advice from one of the heavy hitters here.

@nallath or @ghostkeeper may be able to point you in the right direction (if there is one).

[ghostkeeper 105]

On 7/21/2021 at 9:46 PM, Lokibaghel said:

thanks @GregValiant  for your reply ,yes you understand correct , I think the problem is that when we try to work both extruder T1 and T2  at same position in same layer then Cura doesn't allow us because of detection of interference(collision) of profiles of extruders so we have to find in documentation of Cura the file which perform this task and then we have to change, replace or place a new file there to stop this detection . but till now I am unable to figure it out.    

The setting Remove Mesh Intersection prevents meshes on multiple extruders from extruding in the same area. If you disable that, you can achieve toolpaths that cover the same area. Getting it to produce exactly the same paths could be tricky though. Need to make sure it has exactly the same settings everywhere, at the very least.

 

With a post-processing script this is pretty doable. That would be the preferred solution in the end at least, but requires programming skills.

 

If you really want to get into the code where this collision prevention is implemented, it'll be here: https://github.com/Ultimaker/CuraEngine/blob/master/src/multiVolumes.cpp . However implementing a post-processing script is likely going to be easier than making modifications there (and compiling CuraEngine afterwards).

[Cuq 198]

I think that your process should not be very different from the Idea of this guy using a Sharpie permanent markers to produce multicolor printing without changing the filament with Cura : https://github.com/Sakati84/3DPrintColorizer

 

As I mentionned He's using a post-processing  script for painting the model , in my mind should not be very different from deposit a  composite material  and using a  laser attached with one extruder to sinter composit material. 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2021 by Cuq

[Lokibaghel 0]

thanks  all of you  .Now let me see what can we do with the help of sources provided by you