Rep 2x Multimaterial

[Matt]

HI All,

I am new to this (forum and 3D Printing). I have a replicator 2x and would like to know how to print a file with ABS material and PVA support structure. In the software, I select the model, add the supports, define the extruder with the ABS, but then when I select the other extruder and change the material to PVA, everything then changes to PVA, vice versa when I change it back to ABS. So how do I select ABS material for one extruder and PVA for the other? And then tell the PVA extruder to work with the supports? In Makerware this is very easy, but I can't see how to do it with this software. (but this software gives so much better results for my prints than Makerware)

Thanks for any advice.

Matt.

[Joey]

This is doable, I think you might just be a little mixed up with how the software works, so I'll make a list to keep things simple and organized

I'm gonna assume that your ABS is in the right extruder and PVA in the left for my instructions. If it's the other way around you just have to be smart about it when you follow my instructions, but that should be pretty intuitive.

1.Import model
2. Edit Process button
3. Select profile- MakerBot Repliator 2X (both extruders)
4. Auto-configure-Select ABS (it defaults to this)
5.In the layer tab, make sure it says right extruder, in the infill tab, make sure it says right extruder.
6. In the support tab, select the check box for "generate support material", then choose the left extruder.

--So not we're at a point where the print is setup for a dual extrusion with the right extruder printing the model and the left extruder printing the support. The issue is though that the software is set for ABS- so your extruders are gonna be set at 230 degrees Celsius, which is a bit high for PVA.

7. To change the temperature of your left extruder, go to the temperature tab. click on the left extduer in the "temperature controller list" and then remove the Layer 1-Temperature 230 setpoint. After you've removed it, you can add a Layer-1 Temperature 190 setpoint which should be good for PVA.

8. Make sure that this process is on the model you'd like to print by using the select models button

That should work

[Matt]

This is doable, I think you might just be a little mixed up with how the software works, so I'll make a list to keep things simple and organized

I'm gonna assume that your ABS is in the right extruder and PVA in the left for my instructions. If it's the other way around you just have to be smart about it when you follow my instructions, but that should be pretty intuitive.

1.Import model
2. Edit Process button
3. Select profile- MakerBot Repliator 2X (both extruders)
4. Auto-configure-Select ABS (it defaults to this)
5.In the layer tab, make sure it says right extruder, in the infill tab, make sure it says right extruder.
6. In the support tab, select the check box for "generate support material", then choose the left extruder.

--So not we're at a point where the print is setup for a dual extrusion with the right extruder printing the model and the left extruder printing the support. The issue is though that the software is set for ABS- so your extruders are gonna be set at 230 degrees Celsius, which is a bit high for PVA.

7. To change the temperature of your left extruder, go to the temperature tab. click on the left extduer in the "temperature controller list" and then remove the Layer 1-Temperature 230 setpoint. After you've removed it, you can add a Layer-1 Temperature 190 setpoint which should be good for PVA.

8. Make sure that this process is on the model you'd like to print by using the select models button

That should work

Hi, thanks for the explanation - that is the conclusion that I came to. I just was confused about why they have material profiles set at the top if the only difference is the extrusion temp setting. In that case, why even bother to set a material profile? just enter the desired temperature regardless of the material that you are extruding - that would make the software neater and cleaner.......

Or perhaps less confusing would be to allow these material perimeters to be set to each extruder independently in future versions - might be nice?

However, thanks once again for confirming the work flow information for me.....much appreciated.

Matt.

[TenKOhms]

Hi, thanks for the explanation - that is the conclusion that I came to. I just was confused about why they have material profiles set at the top if the only difference is the extrusion temp setting. In that case, why even bother to set a material profile? just enter the desired temperature regardless of the material that you are extruding - that would make the software neater and cleaner.......

Or perhaps less confusing would be to allow these material perimeters to be set to each extruder independently in future versions - might be nice?

However, thanks once again for confirming the work flow information for me.....much appreciated.

Matt.

The material profiles at the tops are a pretty nice feature in my opinion. Sure, you could manually adjust the temperature yourself to the material of choice, however, some printers have their quirks and specifics for their materials. for example, on my machine, I always print PLA ~180-185, but I know makerbot machines like to print PLA at 230. To a brand new user, they can just select which material they want without really knowing what temperature they should print at, and get to printing as soon as possible without having to adjust "advanced settings".