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How to Realize Dual Printing

The Pro3 Series printer is equipped with two independent extruder models with a dual extrusion system. This allows the Pro3 Series printer to print a variety of filaments, reducing jamming, and allow the convenient disassembly and replacement of the extruders. This tutorial will systematically show how to load 2 spools of filaments, how to set up dual printing in ideaMaker, and introduce the related basic and advanced settings of dual printing.


A. Load 2 spools of filament to the left/right extruder respectively

In the accessories kit that comes with the Pro3 Series printer, 2 spools of Raise3D Premium PLA filaments are included, and you can load these 2 spools of filaments into the left/right extruder respectively.


1.Open the side door of the printer and install the filament holder to the installation point. Take out a spool of Raise3D Premium PLA printing filament and install it on the holder.

Note: If the filament is installed at points B and D, it is recommended to place the filament in a clockwise direction. If the filament spool installed at points A and C, it is recommended to place the filament spool in a counterclockwise direction.


2.Press and hold the quick connector on the extruder and pull out the filament guide tube.


3.Find the end of the filament, and pass the filament into the left/right inlet and through the guide tube.

Note: Here we take the left extruder as an example, because the operation of the left extruder is the same as that of the right extruder.

The left and right inlets are as shown in the figure, please do not confuse them.


4.After loading filament to the left extruder, select “Utilities” at the bottom of the screen, and set the left nozzle temperature to the appropriate printing temperature for the filament you are using.

For example, the default loading temperature of Raise3D Premium PLA is 215°C. Here, the left nozzle temperature can be set to 215°C.

Note: Generally, the recommended loading and unloading temperature of the filament should be 5-10°C higher than the printing temperature.


5.Click “Load”, and the printer will start heating. When the printer reaches the target temperature, click “Load” button to load the filament.

Note: The instructions are based on the properties of Raise3D Premium PLA filament. This is the standard filament included with your printer and we recommend using Raise3D Premium PLA for testing and initial setup.

 

The extruder gear will start to rotate. Gently push the filament into the extruder by hand. When the filament is extruded out from the nozzle, click “OK” to complete the loading. Insert the guide tube back into the quick connector.


B. Dual Printing - Slicing

You need to slice your model file in the slicing software ideaMaker. Make sure you have the latest version of ideaMaker installed. Or click the link below for more download versions https://www.raise3d.com/download/. The model in this tutorial is a test model provided in a USB flash drive in the accessory kit, which is suitable for dual printing.

 

1. Open ideaMaker, click the "+" button to import the test model named "Giveway Spinner". The model has two parts, the inner circle A and the outer ring B.


2.Click “Move>On Platform” to place the two models on the build plate respectively. Laying the model flat on the build plate allows you to add less support for the model, thus improving the printing efficiency.


3.Select one of the two models, click “View>Model Info>Extruder” on the left, and select “Left Extruder” in the drop-down list. Each nozzle has a different printing range. You can tick the “Show Extruder’s Printing Range” to display the printable area of the nozzle. You can also assign different colors to each nozzle to distinguish them.


4.Select another model, click “View>Model Info>Extruder” on the left, and select the right nozzle in the drop-down list.


5. Press the “Ctrl” and “A” keys at the same time to select all models. Then click “Move>Align Together” to align the models. The “Align Together” function can align multiple models according to their original relative position (original relative position refers to the original position of the model in the modeling process).


6.Click “Start Slicing”, select the appropriate printer model, the filament you used and the template. Click “Edit” or double-click the template to enter the advanced settings interface to view or adjust more parameters.


7.ou can select the type of the Platform Addition in the “Edit Template” drop-list.

There are three types of Platform Addition: Raft/Brim/Skirt.  

Raft is to print several layers similar to the base structure before printing the model. Raft can enhance the adhesion between the model and the build plate and reduce the risk of model warping.

Note:

1. It is not recommended to print Raft when printing flexible filaments.

2. It is not recommended to print Raft with PVA filaments.

3. If the model size is larger than 150mm, it is recommended to use the Raft first.  

Brim is an outward extension of the first layer of the model (like the brim of a hat) that allows for better adhesion to the printing surface.


8.You can select the type of Support in the “Support” drop-list.

There are three types of Support: None/Touch Platform Only/All.

None refers to no support structure will be added for the model.

Touch Platform Only refers to only adding support structures which can touch the build plate. Those supports added from one surface of the model to another surface of the model will not be created.

All refers to adding support structures to all the overhanging parts of the model.

Note: If model A is stacked on model B, ideaMaker will not be able to detect whether support structure will be created for model A. ideaMaker will open a window with the message, “The model is not on the build platform and has no support, do you want to assess support structures?” If the model does not need support, you can click “No” to not add support structure to the model.


9.In the “Edit Template” interface, click “Advanced” to view and modify more parameters.


10.Under “Advanced Settings”, users can adjust the retraction amount of the filament in the “Extruder” tab.

Retract Material Amount refers to the amount of filament drawn out to avoid stringing when the nozzle quickly moves from point A to point B.

Retraction Amount of Extruder-switch refers to the amount of filament retraction for an extruder change. 0 refers to no retraction at all.

Note: It is recommended to use the default parameters for Raise3D official filaments. For third-party filaments, appropriate adjustments are required.


11.User can adjust the “Inactive Cooling Temperature” in the “Temperature” tab.

Inactive Cooling Temperature means that when this function is enabled, the inactive nozzle will drop to the set temperature during printing.

For example: Suppose that the right nozzle is idle while the left nozzle is printing, the temperature of the right nozzle is still very high. The filament will melt to a liquid state and will drip onto the model due to gravity, resulting in dyeing of the model. To avoid this issue, the temperature of the idle nozzle can be reduced to a state where the filament will not melt and drip. But relatively speaking, it will increase the printing time.

12.Users can adjust parameters such as “Wipe Wall” in the “Oozing” tab.

Enable Wipe Wall will add extra shell(s) around the model during dual-extruder printing. This wall(s) can help clean the oozing filament from the unused nozzle to reduce the oozing of the model on the model.

Wipe Wall Offset refers to the distance between Wipe Wall and the outer shell of the model. If the wall is positioned too closely, the Wipe Wall may stick onto the model. If the wall is set too far, the wiping results may be affected.

Wipe Wall Angle refers to the maximum angle for generating the Wipe Wall. If the maximum angle is set too low, the wall may have a difficult time following the shape of the model, especially around curved surfaces.

Wipe Wall Loop Lines refers to the quantity of the shells of wipe wall.

Wipe Wall Type refers to the shape of Wipe Wall. There are the following 3 types of Wipe Wall. The difference between them is the distance between the Wipe Wall and the model.

Contoured is the Wipe Wall structure closest to the shape of the original model. In some cases, it will be too close to the model which may be difficult to remove especially the inner structures.

Water Fall will be generated along the origin shape, but if the lower structure is more narrow than the upper structure, a vertically dropping wall will be created.

Vertical a vertical type wipe wall will be created at the widest part of the model. It is ideal for simple structures like tubes or cubes.


13.Dual-extruder printing with Multiple Filament Types

Printing with multiple filament types may limit printing compatibility. The table below lists all the officially-supported dual-extruder printer material combinations currently possible on the Pro3 series printers.

14.How to Print PVA Filament

When a nozzle is assigned to print with PVA filament, ideaMaker will automatically edit some additional settings to get better printing performance with PVA filament. This will disable some settings under the “Advanced” menu and these settings will not be directly editable. If you want to edit these settings, you can move to “Printer > Filament Settings > PVA 1.75mm”; Or you can directly click the pencil icon on any tabs of “Advanced Settings”, ideaMaker will directly jump to the filament template, making it convenient for you to edit the parameters.

Method 1


Method 2


For how to print with PVA+ filament, please refer to How to set up PVA+ Filament for Printing.


15.After the parameter is edited, you can click “OK” on the “Advanced Settings” interface to save the parameters, and click “Slice” on the “Select Template” interface to slice the model.

16.After the model is sliced, click “Export” in the pop-up window “Estimated Print Result” to save and import the .gcode and .data files into your USB flash drive.

Note: File names that do not conform to the Western Latin character set may not display properly.


C. Calibrate left and right nozzle heights and X/Y offset values

1. Before starting dual printing, please calibrate the left and right nozzle heights and X/Y offset values of your Pro3 series printer to ensure that the printer can perform dual printing normally.

1) How to calibrate the Nozzle Height, please refer to How to Calibrate the Nozzle Height.

2) How to calibrate the X/Y offset value, please refer to How to Calibrate the Right Nozzle XY Offset.


D. Import the model and print

1.Insert the USB device that contains your sliced model files (.gcode or .data) into the USB port on the side of the touchscreen to print your model file.


2.Select “Print” on the touchscreen, and choose “USB Storage” to open the file storage path. Select your sliced model file to check the printing parameters and settings.

Select “Print” to start printing the model.


3.During the printing process, you can check the printing status from the “Home” interface on the touch screen, including the remaining printing time and other parameters.

Note: The touch screen will display an image of your model during printing. This image will only be shown when the file is sliced by ideaMaker and the .data file is exported to the USB flash drive.

 

 

[Pro3 Series-How to Realize Dual Printing-V1.0]


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