Learn how to Print in Multi-Shade with a Single Extruder

After I first began working at MatterHackers all of my pals had been so intrigued by the idea of 3D printing, I might typically get the query, “What does one thing 3D printed seem like?”. So I made a decision to make myself a key chain I might placed on my automotive keys; one thing I might 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 needed 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 a bit of little bit of chatter with the tech group, they knowledgeable me that with the ability of MatterControl, and a few work on my finish, I might have my colourful key chain. 

Girls and gents, I did it! And with these easy directions, you’ll be able to too!

Getting began with Multi-color printing:

Step 1- Open up MatterControl and examine the file you want to print. As soon as, you might be viewing your file, you have to to go to Layer View.

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

Step 2- As soon as your layers have generated. You’ll discover MatterControl exhibits you your print time. This is essential as a result of you will 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 which means, every colour will print for roughly 31 minutes. What you may need to do is use some type of timer that may provide you with a warning each 31 minutes. My selection is the useful dandy timer that’s on my cellphone and it really works nice.

Step 3– Prep your print house, have all the colours you need to use close by and know the order you need to print them in. Upon getting your first colour loaded, hit print!

Step 4- You will want to begin your timer. However do not begin your timer proper once you hit print! You will need 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 might be at about one minute left you may must do some prep. Choose ‘Settings & Controls’ in MatterControl. It’s key to have this up earlier than the next step.

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 occasions. You need to make certain there may be not a whole lot 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 at the moment you’ll change your filament. Launch the extruder’s chilly finish leven and take away the present colour fully. Load your new colour. Make sure there are not any clogs and push the filament by way of the recent 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 watch for it to be up. You’ll undergo steps 4-8 for every colour till you might be performed! 

Now you’ll be able to have your personal colourful key chain or no matter you select to print!