2 in 1 out dual extrusion (Cyclops) system Y shaped part with setup instruction

thingiverse

Human: This 2-in-1-out system is designed with two Bowden extruder motors and bowden tubes that feed filament to this part, which has only one outlet side feeding into a single hotend. Existing models didn't meet my needs, so I created a parametric part. The current parameters are tuned for use with an M6 thread and prior tapping. I recommend printing a test part (produced by setting debug = true) to ensure your tolerances are good. radIn - radius for the filament radThread - radius for fitting If your fittings don't let bowden tubes go straight through, replace radPtfe = 2.5 with radPtfe = radIn. If you don't want to tap the threads, try increasing radThread to allow the fitting screw to slide in. # Update 2017/06/13: Added scripts for Cura: In Cura, add a new printer with two extruders and set the machine settings as follows: `cura_printer_start_script_T0_first.gcode` - contains code that primes extruder #0 for the "Start gcode" field `cura_printer_start_script_T1_first.gcode` - contains code that primes extruder #1 for the "Start gcode" field `cura_printer_end_script.gcode` - "End gcode" field `cura_extruder_start_script.gcode` - "Extruder start gcode" field for both extruders `cura_extruder_end_script.gcode` - "Extruder end gcode" field for both extruders Make sure you set the gcodes for each extruder. # How this works and what it does: 0. Before the start of the print, filament in both bowden tubes should be retracted to a position where it is out of the Y-part. I call this the storage position. On my printer, it's 140mm before the nozzle, but yours may vary. When filament is in the storage position, you can start extruding with either extruder without jamming the two filaments together. 1. The start script primes the nozzle with one of the extruders. 2. Skirt is printed. 3. Part of the layer is printed with one extruder. 4. Extruder end script is executed - it retracts filament to storage position with old extruder. 5. Extruder start script is executed - it loads filament to the nozzle with new extruder. 6. Second part of the layer is printed with new extruder. 7. First part of the new layer is printed without switching extruders. 8. Go to 4. This cycle is repeated until the end of print. On each layer, there is only one filament switch. # First extruder selection Two Cura_printer_start scripts are provided: one primes nozzle with extruder #0, and the other primes nozzle with extruder #1. In Cura, add a new printer with two extruders and set the machine settings as follows: `cura_printer_start_script_T0_first.gcode` - contains code that primes extruder #0 for the "Start gcode" field `cura_printer_start_script_T1_first.gcode` - contains code that primes extruder #1 for the "Start gcode" field # What you need to tune Storage position. When retracting filament from the heated hotend, it usually stretches into hairs. Find how much you need to retract filament from a fully primed nozzle until it pulls filament hairs from the Y-part. This is your storage length. My storage length is 140 and this is what you'll find in scripts. Replace `140` with your value in printer start gcode, `-140` with -value in printer end gcode, `137` with your value minus 3 in Extruder start gcode, and `-137` with -(value - 3) in Extruder end gcode. Also add a gcode in your printing host that will retract the last extruder if you cancel the print: ``` G1 E-5 F10000; stage 1 of 3-stage retraction G1 E2 F10000; stage 2 G1 E-137 F10000; stage 3, this keeps from producing "hair" ``` # Retraction to the storage position Retraction to the storage position happens in three moves: ``` G1 E-5 F10000; stage 1 of 3-stage retraction G1 E2 F10000; stage 2 G1 E-137 F10000; stage 3 ``` This should minimize the amount of produced filament hair. The idea is taken from [3dator wiki](http://wiki.3dator.com/index.php/Dual_Extruder_single_nozzle).