Is it actually possible to print one piece effectively with 2 colors on FlashForge

3D Printing
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1

Is it actually possible to print one piece effectively with 2 colors on FlashForge Creator Pro? I seem to have a bit of filament coming out of the nozzle not being used and leaving pieces dragging across the part. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the concept of heat+plastic+gravity… I just don’t want to get discouraged if someone has pulled this off…

Thanks All!

2

Try retraction and cooling the idle nozzle by a few degrees

3

I considered something like that, but unsure how to achieve it using simplify3d and knowing exactly when the other nozzle will come into play… The retraction would probably help. I would look more for the use of 2 extruders for multiple materials. But if I cannot get it to produce a simple 2 color part, I think the material idea is out of reason. Thank you for the input…

4

I prefer using Repetier Host for dual extrusion as it allows me to do all of that. Moreover it has support for custom GCODE that is helpful between toolchange. I have no used Simplify3D, so cannot help there.

5

I know that simplify 3D has an ooze shield that works wonders. People have had luck with dual extrusion but it’s been tough for them. I would say that if you see yourself using it a lot you might want to invest in simplify 3D. As far as I’ve seen its an impressive slicer

6

I have simplify3d and didn’t think about using that… also, i found a video on how to use the dual extruder wizard on the software… time to try again…

7

Note that gravity has nothing to do with it. It’s due to thermal expansion and pressure.

8

Well… I understand thermal expansion, but if you heat anything to almost liquid state, then gravity will more than likely cause a drip or “ooze” to some extent.

9

But your material should never by near an “almost liquid state”. During printing it’s closer to solid then a pure liquid. (In the case of PLA, which is my main area of expertise for 3D printing)

Anyhow, test data is worth more then theory here I guess. The amount of oozing on prints didn’t change at all when we put printers upside down. (Not that hard with Ultimaker spacers http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:39452 ) I would gladly design the whole printer the other way around if that would solve the dual extrusion oozing issue for 80%. But it doesn’t.

10

Ok… I’m just thinking in more simple terms… if your heat is too hot… then you may drip… I have worked a lot with metal and have had to manipulate temperature and pressure to get accuracy on parts… I do not, however, have these experiences with plastic. Thank you for giving me that input… I’d love to pic your brain a bit more… Thanks again

11

Do you think the ooze shield would help as well?

12

I think so. I’m the one who came up with the concept of the oozeshield during my dual extrusion experiments years ago.

13

How much “ooze” is expected and what would seem excessive? I ran my stop watch and with the nozzle at 220 with ABS, I was getting around 3/8 in ooze within a minute.