filaswitch

Filament switch post processor for Simplify 3D (3.1.1 and 4.0.0) and Prusa Slic3r (1.36.2 and 1.37.1).

Currently supports and tested with Prometheus System. Main features:

• adds material switch purge tower g-code to Simplify3D and Prusa Slic3r dual-extruder prints (Prometheus System supported)
• fixes S3D ver 3.1.1 bug with 'Perform retraction during wipe movement'

Perform retraction during wipe movement-bug (S3D 3.1.1):

• filaswitch detects if this feature is enabled in S3D profile and applies the fix automatically.
• also one doesn't need to have Prometheus System to apply this fix. Simply omit the dual-extrusion S3D configuration and filaswitch will skip dual-extrusion g-code addition

Disclaimer: i'm not responsible if anything bad happens due to use of this script.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.5 to run this script.
  • In Windows, make sure python is added to %PATH%
  • In Linux, python3.5 should be available (Ubuntu). You do need package 'python3-tk', so use apt-get to install it
• Simplify3D 3.1.1 or 4.0.0 (older versions not tested) or Prusa Slic3r
• 3D Printer with 2 extruders - one nozzle setup (Prometheus system)
• Printer profile in S3D/Slic3r configured for dual extrusion

##Use case1: Print dual-color model with Prometheus system

Simplify3D configuration for Prometheus dual-extrusion

• Open process and show advanced settings

G-code-tab

• select 'Relative extrusion distances' (IMPORTANT)

Scripts-tab

• Add following G-Code lines to Simplify3D scripts
• Starting Script: Enclose your starting script with:

; START SCRIPT START

[you start g-code lines here...]

; START SCRIPT END

• It is also a good idea to add T0 to the starting scrips, to make sure first extruder is the main first extruder

• Tool Change Script:

; TOOL CHANGE

T[new_tool]

Advanced-tab

• Set Tool Change Retraction distance to your normal retraction distance
  • also check retraction speed to match the normal retraction speed

Slic3r configuration for Prometheus dual-extrusion

• Open Slic3r -> Printer Settings

General

• Set number of extruders
• select 'Use relative E distances' (IMPORTANT)

Custom G-code

• Add G-Code lines below to following sections:
• Start G-code: Enclose your starting script with:

; START SCRIPT START

[you start g-code lines here...]

; START SCRIPT END

• It is also a good idea to add T0 to the starting scrips, to make sure first extruder is the main first extruder

• Before layer change G-code:

;BEFORE_LAYER_CHANGE [layer_num] [layer_z]

• Tool Change G-code:

; TOOL CHANGE

Extruders n

• Retraction when tool is disabled to 0

###Usage:

First slice your dual-color model in Simplify3D. Save g-code to disk.

####Post processing (GUI):

• Open the GUI, in Windows use filaswitch.bat, in Linux use shell (python3 filaswitch.py)
• Select your HW configuration; PTFE, E3DV6 or PEEK
• Click the 'Browse...'to select the g-code file
• Check info screen
• Done

####Post processing (cli):

• python3 filaswitch.py /path/to/yourgcodefile.gcode (Linux) PEEK-PRO-12|PTFE-PRO-12|PTFE-EV6
• python filaswitch.py \path\to\yourgcodefile.gcode PEEK-PRO-12|PTFE-PRO-12|PTFE-EV6

Result is a new file, with _fs.gcode ending. You're ready to print :).

##Use case2: Only fix S3D bug with Retract during wipe

First slice your model in Simplify3D, no need to change any settings. Save g-code to disk.

####Post processing (GUI):

• Open the GUI, in Windows use filaswitch.bat, in Linux use shell (python3 filaswitch.py)
• Select your HW configuration; PTFE, E3DV6 or PEEK (doesn't matter in this case)
• Click the 'Browse...'to select the g-code file
• Check info screen
• Done

Result is a new file, with _fs.gcode ending. You're ready to print :).