My 2 color printing system in the making.

I was an original investor in a kickstarter called the Prometheus System. After several slips on delivery, I complained and was given my investment back. So I decided to "Do it Myself". The approach is to have two extruders and only one hot end. The extruders are Bowden style and both feed a "Y" device that allows both filaments into the hot end, but only one at a time.
This idea has been around for a while and there are several designs on the internet for making this "Y". I down loaded three and printed them and then designed my own based on what I had learned. So now I have to calibrate my two new extruders and then give it a go. Pictured below are the 5:1 geared all metal extruders, the Y and the Y holder that clamps to the top of the hot end.

Here is the holder and plate for the hotend.

I now have both Bowden extruders mounted and I am printing from one of them. Its time to install the "Y" and see what happens.

Here is the system set up. I can now print from either extruder, but I must do a retraction on the current extruder before starting the other, as only one can be present in the "Y" at one time. Now I have to set up my software and slicer. Each color change will require an island or tower beside the printed object to use as a means of purging extra filament until the color changes. I will post again when I have tried it all together.






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2017 03:51PM by cwaa.

First print is black with blue center. Not much contrast, but both colors printed well. Here is a picture of the keychain I printed.





This system seems to work quite well. It requires a purge area and a wiper pad. That is what else is in the picture. Between colors, it moves to that area and then retracts one color and then feeds and extrudes until the colors have been purged.
I am going to print some dice next and they will have more contrast. I will post a picture when I have them done.

Fantastic to make your own, Im using one of these: [www.aliexpress.com]

There is a lot of info on making this system work here, although a lot of it is duet related: [www.duet3d.com]

I am at the stage you are I have both extruders connected and can print from one or the other but haven't yet figured out how to print from both in one print.

---

Simon Khoury

Co-founder of [www.precisionpiezo.co.uk] Accurate, repeatable, versatile Z-Probes
Published:Inventions

The slicer I am using is part of Repetier Host and it has the ability to use scripts. Essentially, there is a special script that is used just prior to the filament change and another just after. So if your software will handle it or you can download Repetier Host.

My code prior to the change is:

G90 ; absolute positioning
G1 X12 Y29 F12000 ; move to purge zone
G1 E0 F4800 ; feed filament
G91 ; relative positioning
G1 X-50 E4.5 F6000 ; purge trail
G1 Y1 F3000 ; Y shift
G1 X50 E4.5 F6000 ; purge trail
G1 Y1 F3000 ; Y shift
G1 X-50 E4.5 F6000 ; purge trail
G1 Y1 F3000 ; Y shift
G1 X50 E4.5 F6000 ; purge trail
G1 Y1 F3000 ; Y shift
G1 X-10 E-20 F1500 ; drip trail
G4 P2500 ; 2.5s cooling period
G1 E-110 F3000 ; 50mm/s long retract

After is:

G91 ; relative positioning
G1 E65 F3000 ; 50mm/s feed
G1 E60 F1500 ; 25mm/s feed
G1 X-40 E4 F900 ; prime trail
G90 ; absolute positioning
G92 E0 ; reset extruder position

The slicer I am using is part of Repetier Host and it has the ability to use scripts. Essentially, there is a special script that is used just prior to the filament change and another just after. So if your software will handle it or you can download Repetier Host.

My code prior to the change is:

G90 ; absolute positioning
G1 X12 Y29 F12000 ; move to purge zone
G1 E0 F4800 ; feed filament
G91 ; relative positioning
G1 X-50 E4.5 F6000 ; purge trail
G1 Y1 F3000 ; Y shift
G1 X50 E4.5 F6000 ; purge trail
G1 Y1 F3000 ; Y shift
G1 X-50 E4.5 F6000 ; purge trail
G1 Y1 F3000 ; Y shift
G1 X50 E4.5 F6000 ; purge trail
G1 Y1 F3000 ; Y shift
G1 X-10 E-20 F1500 ; drip trail
G4 P2500 ; 2.5s cooling period
G1 E-110 F3000 ; 50mm/s long retract

After is:

G91 ; relative positioning
G1 E65 F3000 ; 50mm/s feed
G1 E60 F1500 ; 25mm/s feed
G1 X-40 E4 F900 ; prime trail
G90 ; absolute positioning
G92 E0 ; reset extruder position

Take a look at this:

[www.distechautomation.com]

Here are a couple of pictures of a dice I printed yesterday.