blaknite7
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 6:57 pm

[ALREADY ADDED] Tool Change Script VS. Auto-Configure

I have started converting (redoing) my legacy "profiles" which have been all individually named/set-up into the profile that's supported by the most recent [3.0+ ]revision of simplify3d. The newest profiles allow you to "auto-configure" material or the extruders... so far so good until getting into the tool change scripts.

Now, when selecting different extruders (left only, right only, or both) the starting script is saved uniquely for each of those options, as it should be. However, only 1 version of the tool change script is saved and is called for all of the auto-configure options of the extruder. This causes a problem because if you select a profile with only 1 nozzle active[say "left only"], S3D will post your tool change script right after your starting Gcode because it sees the initial tool offset selection (T0) as a tool change. :o

Below is an example of a tool change script and when used for a print written for 1 single head it will result in the inactive extruder sitting at 165 for the whole print. (in addition to an unexpected gantry move right at the beginning of the print) Since the tool change script isn't needed when a single extruder is selected it would be nice if the next version of the software has unique tool change scrips and End Gcode for when the auto-configure extruder drop-down is selected. This way the tool change script section could be blank when selecting "left" or "right only" and be populated with the script when "both extruders" are selected. The same could also be said for the end-gcode script section as it follows the same behavior though that one does not seem to be as critical.

; ******* Tool chance script start *******
G1 X0 Y40 F4000 ; Move out of the way while it stabilises active tool temp.
{IF NEWTOOL=0}; RIGHT Extruder is active (T0)
{IF NEWTOOL=0}M104 S165 T1; Cool inactive extruder to 165c (T1)
{IF NEWTOOL=0}M109 S210 T0; Heat active extruder to 210c (T0).
{IF NEWTOOL=1}; LEFT Extruder is active (T1)
{IF NEWTOOL=1}M104 S165 T0; Cool inactive extruder to 165c (T0)
{IF NEWTOOL=1}M109 S210 T1; Heat active extruder to 210c (T1).
; ******* Tool chance script end *******

by adding this feature it allows the user to "update" the profile with other settings without loosing the tool change script permanently if it was deleted in the profile to prevent the issue from occurring on a single extruder print.
CompoundCarl
Posts: 2005
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 7:23 am

Re: Material Profile - Tool Change Script VS. Auto-Configur

Just go to File > Export FFF Profile, and then export the profile you want to edit. If you open it in a text editor, you can scroll down to the bottom and edit the auto configure sections to modify whatever settings you want. In your case, it just sounds like you need to add the <toolChangeGcode> tags into each of the <autoConfigureExtruder> sections. Then save the file and go to File > Import FFF Profile. Now the tool change script will also be changed when you choose a different auto configure extruder option from the drop down.
blaknite7
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 6:57 pm

Re: Material Profile - Tool Change Script VS. Auto-Configur

CompoundCarl wrote:Just go to File > Export FFF Profile, and then export the profile you want to edit. If you open it in a text editor, you can scroll down to the bottom and edit the auto configure sections to modify whatever settings you want. In your case, it just sounds like you need to add the <toolChangeGcode> tags into each of the <autoConfigureExtruder> sections. Then save the file and go to File > Import FFF Profile. Now the tool change script will also be changed when you choose a different auto configure extruder option from the drop down.

This worked! :D thanks for posting this solution. But now its got me thinking... the default speed is the same for all of the materials, will doing something similar to the <defaultspeed> and putting it under a defined material allow me to have different speed settings for each of the materials? ( I want to have materials like ninja-flex print much slower by default). If it is possible do would I just have to put <defaultSpeed>3900</defaultSpeed> anywhere under the <autoConfigureMaterial name="xxx"> or does it need other syntax around it?

If this works I assume other settings can follow suit, (eg first layer speed, support and perimeter speed...etc)
dorsai3d
Posts: 237
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2016 9:01 am

Re: Material Profile - Tool Change Script VS. Auto-Configur

Welcome to the obscure world of profile editing! What you're describing should work fine, though. One trick to keep in mind is that the tag has to be in all of the autoconfigures of that type. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should use the top level tag, i.e. if you want to have something change in extruder settings (like retract length), you'll need to include the whole extruder tag.
blaknite7
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 6:57 pm

Re: Material Profile - Tool Change Script VS. Auto-Configur

dorsai3d wrote:Welcome to the obscure world of profile editing! What you're describing should work fine, though. One trick to keep in mind is that the tag has to be in all of the autoconfigures of that type. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should use the top level tag, i.e. if you want to have something change in extruder settings (like retract length), you'll need to include the whole extruder tag.
thanks for the input, I was playing around and seem to have gotten the unique speeds by material in there. :) By looking at the beginning of the FFF profile its pretty easy to tell what has a header and what doesn't. looks like the extruder, fan, and temperature controller are the only ones that need the header and everything else is a single variable.

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