YvesAtLorax
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2015 11:10 pm

Re: Color mixing

I have a home made 3D printer that uses the "multi-color (CMY) Diamond Hotend". Currently I use "Repetier" software so I can print with 16 virtual printer heads. I was wondering if Simplify 3D could handle multi-color printing? Is there tutorial or examples on how to do so? Does anyone has used "Autodesk Meshmixer" with "Simplify3D"?
My intent is to have sharp or smooth transitions between the different color zones in the print mixing the cyan Magenta and yellow coming out of the multi-color Diamond Hotend.
mech
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2016 10:34 am

Re: Color mixing

I have a Diamond Extruder and I have my machine mixing 16 colors through Repetier with 16 virtual extruders. It mixes the colors well but I would prefer to use simplify to do the Slicing. I used this site, (http://reprap.org/wiki/Repetier_Color_Mixing) to set it up. I have used Simplify with it, but I have to reinstall firmware designating 3 extruders and 1 nozzle when I do. I tried a few different set ups in simplify , (16 profiles 1 extruder each) (1 profile 16 extruders) to no avail. I have 4 machines so I use Simplify a lot, I hop you guys set up mixing in your next upgrade.
CompoundCarl
Posts: 2005
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 7:23 am

Re: Color mixing

I was able to get color mixing working in Simplify3D, so I posted a tutorial about it here:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6565

Basically, just copy/paste the entire starting script and post-processing script that I posted in that thread. Then as long as you handle preheating on your own, you can use the temperature controls to change to different colors at specific layers, or even use different colors for different processes or models. I've been doing lots of prints lately using this method on my diamond hot end and it seems to work really well :D
errolt
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2014 5:24 am

Re: Color mixing

CompoundCarl wrote:I was able to get color mixing working in Simplify3D, so I posted a tutorial about it here:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6565

Basically, just copy/paste the entire starting script and post-processing script that I posted in that thread. Then as long as you handle preheating on your own, you can use the temperature controls to change to different colors at specific layers, or even use different colors for different processes or models. I've been doing lots of prints lately using this method on my diamond hot end and it seems to work really well :D
Your solution does have the drawback that one can't specify one head for support anymore. I have a diamond setup with Repetier firmware configured for mixing, but I always want to use T1 for all support, and T0-T15 for outlines/infill.

The main issue with Simplify3D is that it artificially limits us to 6 tools.
YvesAtLorax
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2015 11:10 pm

Re: Color mixing

Thank you for your help. I did a few simple changes to the setup from: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6565, that I found useful: That way Temperature can be handle directly in Settings.
I use T0 to define the 16 tools(colors) in Temperature Tab in the FFF Settings, and I use T1 to set the temperature of the hotend.

---- Starting Script ----
; code above this line is generated by simplify3d
; -----------------------------------------------------
; --------------- Start Code Initialization -----------
G28 ; Move to Origin (Home)
G0 Z10
G0 Z15 ; was 5
G0 X0 Y0
G91 ; Set to relative positioning
; ----------------- Purge Extruders -----------------
G0 E8 F100 T2 ; Purge yellow
G0 E8 F100 T1 ; Purge magenta
G0 E8 F100 T0 ; Purge cyan
; --------------- 16 GRAY Palette ----------------
; CYAN 1
M163 S0 P1 ; P1 ; W ; C
M163 S1 P0 ; P0 ; T ; M
M163 S2 P0 ; P0 ; K ; Y
M164 S0
; Ocean 2
M163 S0 P2 ; P5
M163 S1 P1 ; P1
M163 S2 P0 ; P0
M164 S1
; Blue 3
M163 S0 P1 ; P5 ; P3 ; P1
M163 S1 P2 ; P3 ; P2 ; P1
M163 S2 P0 ; P0
M164 S2
; Violet 4
M163 S0 P1 ; P7 ; P3 ; P1
M163 S1 P3 ; P6 ; P4 ; P5
M163 S2 P0
M164 S3
; MAGENTA 5
M163 S0 P0 ; P0 ; C ; W
M163 S1 P1 ; P1 ; M ; T
M163 S2 P0 ; P0 ; Y ; K
M164 S4
; Raspberry 6
M163 S0 P0; P0
M163 S1 P5 ; P4 ; P5
M163 S2 P1 ; P1
M164 S5
; Red 7
M163 S0 P0 ; P0
M163 S1 P3 ; P7 ; P3/P1
M163 S2 P1 ; P3 ; P2/P1
M164 S6
; Orange 8
M163 S0 P0 ; P0
M163 S1 P1 ; P2 ; P1
M163 S2 P1 ; P4 ; P5
M164 S7
; YELLOW 9
M163 S0 P0 ; P0 ; C ; W
M163 S1 P0 ; P0 ; M ; T
M163 S2 P1 ; P1 ; Y ; K
M164 S8
; Spring-Green 10
M163 S0 P1 ; P2 ; P1
M163 S1 P0 ; P0
M163 S2 P1 ; P4 ; P5
M164 S9
; Green 11
M163 S0 P3 ; P1
M163 S1 P0 ; P0
M163 S2 P1 ; P1
M164 S10
; Turquoise 12
M163 S0 P6 ; P4 ; P5
M163 S1 P0 ; P0
M163 S2 P1 ; P1
M164 S11
; Cyan-Brown13
M163 S0 P3 ; P5 ; P2
M163 S1 P2 ; P3 ; P1
M163 S2 P1 ; P2 ; P1
M164 S12
; Magenta-Brown 14
M163 S0 P2 ; P3 ; P1
M163 S1 P3 ; P5 ; P2
M163 S2 P1 ; P2 ; P1
M164 S13
; Yellow-Brown 15
M163 S0 P3 ; P3 ; P1
M163 S1 P3 ; P2 ; P1
M163 S2 P2 ; P5 ; P2
M164 S14
; Brown 16
M163 S0 P1 ; P2; P1
M163 S1 P5 ; P2; P1
M163 S2 P1 ; P1; P1
M164 S15
; ---------------- Temperature and Color ---------
M104 S[extruder1_temperature] T0 ; Set Tool Temperature
M109 S[extruder1_temperature] ; Set Tool Temperature
M104 S[extruder0_temperature] T0 ; Set Tool Color change
; ---------------- Start Purge Line -----------------
G90 ; Set to absolute positioning
G0 X30 Z10 F1000 ; Move X and Z to start purge line
G92 E0 ; Initialize E to Zero
G1 Z0.0 F80 ; position Z axis
G91 ; Set to relative positioning
G1 Y10.0 E4 F600 ; Draw purging lines
G1 X75.0 E16 F600 ; ... draw a line
G1 Y-10.0 E4 F600 ; ... draw a line
G1 X-70.0 E14 F600 ; ... draw a line
G90 ; reset to absolute positioning
G92 E0 ; Initialize E to Zero
; -------------- Start Printing Part ----------------


--- Post processing ---
{STRIP "T"}
{REPLACE "M104 S1 T0" "T0"}
{REPLACE "M104 S2 T0" "T1"}
{REPLACE "M104 S3 T0" "T2"}
{REPLACE "M104 S4 T0" "T3"}
{REPLACE "M104 S5 T0" "T4"}
{REPLACE "M104 S6 T0" "T5"}
{REPLACE "M104 S7 T0" "T6"}
{REPLACE "M104 S8 T0" "T7"}
{REPLACE "M104 S9 T0" "T8"}
{REPLACE "M104 S10 T0" "T9"}
{REPLACE "M104 S11 T0" "T10"}
{REPLACE "M104 S12 T0" "T11"}
{REPLACE "M104 S13 T0" "T12"}
{REPLACE "M104 S14 T0" "T13"}
{REPLACE "M104 S15 T0" "T14"}
{REPLACE "M104 S16 T0" "T15"}
; {REPLACE "T20" "T0"}
; {REPLACE "M104" "M109"}

--- Ending Script ---
; End of G-code
T0
G91 ; set to relative positioning
G0 Z1 ; go up from current position 1mm
G90 ; set to absolute positioning
G28 X0 Y0 ; home x and y
G0 Z 75 ; move z at 75 mm
M104 S190 ; turn off extruder
M140 S0 ; turn off bed
G106 S0 ; turn of fan
G91 ; Set to relative positioning
G1 Z10 F1200
M84 ; disable motors
robertoreis
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2015 9:13 pm
Location: Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil

Re: Color mixing

+1

A diamond support should be a great option upgrade.
lmgmo
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2018 4:22 am

Re: Color mixing

Hello
Are you planning to include the multi-color mixing feature and multiple extruders?
This with user-friendly access to the settings.
In advance thank you
LMG (Paris)
Godsmack0226
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2020 11:00 pm

Re: Color mixing

For RepRap we use the M567 command that treats it all as one tool and then assigns percentages to each extruder. Currently 6 color 1 nozzle is the most mixing so far. This allows for CMYKK and a support filament another 7 output nozzle is being developed that would add clear as well or another color. The command looks like this for a 4 color mixing extruder tool # 1 set to 25% each extruder
Pnnn = tool number
Ennn= mix ratios
M567 P2 E0.1:0.2:0.1:0.6
This example sets the mix ratio for tool 2 (the P value). When mixing is then turned on (see M568), only single E values need to be sent on a G1 command (any extra E values will be ignored, but are not illegal):

G1 X20 E1.3
This will move to X=20 extruding a total length of filament of 1.3mm. The first drive of tool 2 will extrude 0.1*1.3mm, the second 0.2*1.3mm and so on. The ratios don't have to add up to 1.0 - the calculation done is as just described. But it is best if they do.

See also M568.
TheBum
Posts: 177
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 11:13 pm

Re: Color mixing

I’m actually wanting dynamic color mixing, similar to what Voxelizer supports. I use the static mixing, but it’s really only useful if you have one model per “extruder”.

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