FlashForge Dreamer Simplify3D Process Profile

[BaronWilliams]

UPDATED 8/8/2014: A new duel extruder profile was added to this post. Please read the post from 8/8/2014 for more details.

In this post I've attached my FlashForge Dreamer Simplify3D Profiles for the right extruder and dual extruders. The dual profile is the most recent. The right profile is out dated. I need to update it. It works great but needs some fine tuning.

Note: Simplify3D version 2.1.1 can't talk to the Dreamer over USB, so you'll have to load the G-code manually on the FlashForge Dreamer after creating it using Simplify3D.

I'm still learning Simplify3D and still learning the G-Code for the dreamer. The profiles I attached are a work in progress. The older one is for the right extruder. It is obsolete. The newer one is for dual extruders. I will update the right one, and add a left one later.

In the Starting G-code Script for the Dreamer there's a section where you'll see this kind of G-Code:

M907 X100 Y100 Z40 A100 B20

This is specific to using the right extruder with ABS. If you use PLA it's changed to this:

M907 X100 Y100 Z40 A80 B20

A and B values are swapped if you are using the left extruder. A is right, B is left.

A80 = 80% power for the Right head. This is for PLA and similar brittle filament.
A100 = 100% power for the Right head. This is for ABS and similar filament which doesn't crack so easily under pressure.
A20 = 20% power for the Right head. This is used when the extruder will not be used.

A80 = 80% power for the Left head. This is for PLA and similar brittle filament.
A100 = 100% power for the Left head. This is for ABS and similar filament which doesn't crack so easily under pressure.
A20 = 20% power for the Left head. This is used when the extruder will not be used.

A and B are the power level for the right and left extruder step motors. The dreamer uses 80 for PLA and similar brittle filament so that the step motor will skip instead of grinding the filament if the filament gets clogged. PLA is very brittle and prone to crack. A value of 80 helps prevent it from cracking. For ABS and similar filament that's more flexible than PLA 100 is used because its far less likely to crack. 20 is used if the extruder is not being used.

[BaronWilliams]

I downloaded the profile I posted above while at work today using a MacBook Pro, and Simplify3D on my MacBook can't see the profile. Why is that? I created the file using Simplify3D on Windows XP. Is that the reason it doesn't load on my MacBook Pro? How can I make it work on my MacBook Pro?

UPDATE: Never mind, I used the IMPORT function and it works now. I was previously just copying the profile file into the user folder. For some reason that doesn't work. I need to use IMPORT from within Simplify3D.

I noticed that file name changed when I downloaded the profile. It looks ugly. The "(" and ")" characters were replaced with "%28" and "%29". Next time I post a profile I'll only use internet friendly characters.

[BaronWilliams]

I now have a better understanding of the M907 G-code and what the values mean.

In the profile you'll see this G-code in the Starting G-Code Script.

Code: Select all

M907 X100 Y100 Z40 A100 B20

M907 is "Set digital trimpot motor current using axis codes."

The values are usually set in milliamps for a lot of printers, but on the FlashForge Dreamer they appear to be set in percent values.

X is for the X stepper motor. It's always set to 100.

Y is for the Y stepper motor. It's always set to 100.

Z is for the Z stepper motor. It's always set to 40. (UPDATE: this was a typo before, I had it as "100" instead of "40", sorry)

A is for the RIGHT extruder and is probably for it's stepper motor. It's set to 100 when using ABS, 80 when using PLA, and 20 when not used.

B is for the LEFT extruder and is probably for it's stepper motor. It's set to 100 when using ABS, 80 when using PLA, and 20 when not used.

We can safely set A and B to 100 for any filament type. I have tested using a value of 100 for PLA and it works just fine. I'm not sure why the stepper motor should run at 80% power when using PLA. Is PLA filament easier to pull compared to ABS? Also, why set the motor power to 20% when not in use. Why not use 0%?

It's possible that the FlashForge Dreamer is using M907 a bit differently and A and B are for setting the power for the extruder heater. That's not the proper way to use these values, but if that was the case then it might make sense to use a value of 80% for PLA because PLA is normally printed at a lower temperature than ABS.

The only disadvantage of using 100% power for PLA instead of 80% power in either case is that you might get very slightly higher electrical bills. The setting definitely works for PLA.

I will be updating my profile and adding profiles for LEFT EXTRUDER and BOTH EXTRUDERS soon.

[jesimon]

Thanks for the great info!

Just so nobody gets confused... I think you meant "Z is for the Z stepper motor. It's always set to 40." (instead of 100)

[pabtec]

Thank you VERY MUCH to provide a Dreamer preset, Flashprint looks great, sadly its very limited, and I have a lot of print problems with it...
Dreamer is a BIG step forward from Creator, but still in near beta results... the hardware is incredible (only few limited things, such as the limit size of the filament rolls), now is time to take best results from it.
I have both printers (creator and dreamer), I hope FF open the dreamer firmware and its software limits, its necessary, like we seen in Creator...imho...

[pabtec]

I see in my Simplify3D that dreamer custom profile includes both extruders (in fact is dual).
But as is, ever Dreamer print with right extruder, independent to choose in the Simplify3D the left or right extruder as primary (on expert, "layer" option).
Probably the GCode need to be changed, as you told us, probably A & B not corresponding to Extruder A/B...

Please, if anyone knows how to force or change to select L or R extruder on the Dreamer, please, let us know.

[pabtec]

Update:

Today I printed in my flash forge using the simplify3D profile.

Sadly the right extruder not print. Problem comes from the motor that push the filament, not works properly, during print the most time is stopped, some times push the filament, but other times unload the filament during print... (probably a error in the retract commands).

I hope that Flashforge and or Simplify people help us to give Support for Dreamer.
Now that I have my new Dreamer, but using other slicing software, now is when really need Simplify3D, the result of the last one is far away from others, including Flashprint...

[BaronWilliams]

Hi pabtec, I updated the profile. Try downloading it again. There was definitely a problem in the previous profile which I didn't notice because I was not using the default custom profile settings. When I used the default settings from my custom profile, it didn't work properly. I believe I have fixed the problem. The default settings in the custom profile should now work. I will test it a bit more using the default settings. If I find anything else wrong I'll fix it.

Note that I also got rid of the left extruder, because the profile doesn't support the left extruder. That was messing it up. It was defaulting to use the left extruder in some parts and not working right because of it. So I removed it.

[TenKOhms]

Hi pabtec, I updated the profile. Try downloading it again. There was definitely a problem in the previous profile which I didn't notice because I was not using the default custom profile settings. When I used the default settings from my custom profile, it didn't work properly. I believe I have fixed the problem. The default settings in the custom profile should now work. I will test it a bit more using the default settings. If I find anything else wrong I'll fix it.

Note that I also got rid of the left extruder, because the profile doesn't support the left extruder. That was messing it up. It was defaulting to use the left extruder in some parts and not working right because of it. So I removed it.

Baron, I don't see a file attachment in the op, I think you forgot to attach it when you edited the post.

[BaronWilliams]

TenKOhms, it should be there now. I re-uploaded it.

I have only tested this profile using Simplify3D 2.1.1 on Windows on a single Dreamer. I assume the profile will work on the Mac and on Linux, but I don't know for sure.

I will do more testing with this, making sure to use the default settings from the custom profile. If I have problems I'll fix it and upload it again.

FlashForge released a new firmware for the Dreamer. I will test using the new firmware a little later after I install it. I like how FlashPrint automatically detects the new firmware for the Dreamer. That's nice.

UPDATE: I am testing printing ABS on just Kapton tape using my latest uploaded profile. I usually print on blue painter's tape. I had trouble with the print sticking to the Kapton using the default settings in my uploaded profile (blue painter's tape always works better, but sometimes too much). I also noticed that during the raft print, I heard some clicking, meaning the temperature was a bit low for the ABS I was printing.

Two changes to the profile made it print better. I changed the temperature to 230, and turned off the fan (to do this change "M106" to "; M106" in the Starting G-Code Script so the M106 command doesn't get executed). Now the ABS is sticking much better to the Kapton tape and the clicking sound is gone. After I'm done testing a few more prints I'll upload an updated version of the profile.

UPDATE: The ABS I'm currently testing with is the white ABS that came free with my FlashForge Dreamer, so it's the FlashForge brand white ABS. I will be testing a lot of other filament types including T-Glase, Wood Filament, Glow In The Dark PLA, and many other filament types and brands using Simplify3D with my FlashForge Dreamer. If special settings are needed I'll put them in my Simplify3D profile and upload it here.

I understand a DUAL extrusion profile is needed, but first I want to prefect the RIGHT extrusion profile, and then convert it to a LEFT, and then a DUAL profile when it's done.

If anyone else has made their own FlashForge Dreamer Simplify3D profile, please let me know so I can add it to the first post in this thread making it easy for others to find.