Print in Multi-Colour with a Single Extruder

Once I first began working at MatterHackers all of my buddies have been so intrigued by the idea of 3D printing, I might typically get the query, “What does one thing 3D printed appear to be?”. So I made a decision to make myself a key chain I may placed on my automobile keys; one thing I may simply seize out of my bag when individuals requested me. The difficulty was, I’m a really colourful individual. I didn’t need my key chain to be only a single colour, I wished it to be 5 colours. However, I used to be solely a novice, and the printer I used to be utilizing solely had one extruder. 

With slightly little bit of chatter with the tech staff, they knowledgeable me that with the facility of MatterControl, and a few work on my finish, I may have my colourful key chain. 

Girls and gents, I did it! And with these easy directions, you possibly can too!

Getting began with Multi-color printing:

Step 1- Open up MatterControl and consider the file you want to print. As soon as, you’re viewing your file, you’ll need to go to Layer View.

Choose Layer View, you may be prompted to generate the layers to your file. Hit ‘Generate’ and wait to your layers to load.

Step 2- As soon as your layers have generated. You’ll discover MatterControl reveals you your print time. This is essential as a result of you’ll have to take your print time and divide it by the quantity of colours you may be utilizing; granted you need the colours to be evenly distributed. 

My file right here, goes to take 93 minutes to print. For this demo, we’re going to use three colours. So meaning, every colour will print for about 31 minutes. What you will wish to do is locate some kind of timer that may provide you with a warning each 31 minutes. My alternative is the helpful dandy timer that’s on my telephone and it really works nice.

Step 3– Prep your print area, have all the colours you wish to use close by and know the order you wish to print them in. After you have your first colour loaded, hit print!

Step 4- You’re going to want to begin your timer. However do not begin your timer proper once you hit print! You’re going to wish to wait till you printer truly begins extruding, then you’ll begin your timer.

Step 5- So that you wait however, as soon as you’re at about one minute left you will should do some prep. Choose ‘Settings & Controls’ in MatterControl. It’s key to have this up earlier than the next move.

Step 6- When your timer lastly goes off, you’ll choose the ‘Pause’ button.

When your print has paused you’ll then go to your Motion Controls and choose ‘Z+’ between 2-3 instances. You wish to ensure that there’s not lots of time in between pausing your print and transferring your nozzle up. In any other case, you nozzle may soften your print in that one space.

Swap the filament:

Step 7– It’s right now you’ll change your filament. Launch the extruder’s chilly finish leven and take away the present colour fully. Load your new colour. Be certain there aren’t any clogs and push the filament by way of the new finish till you see the colour change out the nozzle. 

Step 8- With the second colour swapped in, choose the ‘Resume Print’ button.

When you hit print you’ll restart your timer as soon as extra and look ahead to it to be up. You’ll undergo steps 4-8 for every colour till you’re completed! 

Now you possibly can have your personal colourful key chain or no matter you select to print!