Putting the 2nd extruder to use

[Ward]

I have one of those FlashForge Creator X Clones. Dual extruders.

I was wondering.......

Can I use one extruder 0 to print items in one color......and the other to print the exact same items with a different color?

I've been printing all my items in black with the right extruder.

So if I load up white PLA on the other side can I simply change the extruder from right to left and print with the other extruder?

If so, this would be a very good reason I would be glad I bought a dual extruder.

[ssayer]

After trying a couple of dual extruder prints, the novelty wore off for me. I'm glad I bought a dual extruder because I have a whole spare extruder there just waiting in case the other one fails on me. The 2nd extruder's nozzle got used long ago (as have 3 replacement nozzles!). (Note that there is no way in this world I'd pay FF's price for replacement nozzles!)

[Ward]

Well,
I'm not exactly wanting to do "DUAL" extruder prints at this time.....

Just EITHER the left OR the right.....with black filament on the Right and White filament on the left.

So I was thinking I could print any given item in EITHER black OR white depending on which nozzle I tell the build to use.

I have a feeling this is VERY easy to do and works well......I just need confirmation

[djprinter]

Well,
I'm not exactly wanting to do "DUAL" extruder prints at this time.....

Just EITHER the left OR the right.....with black filament on the Right and White filament on the left.

So I was thinking I could print any given item in EITHER black OR white depending on which nozzle I tell the build to use.

I have a feeling this is VERY easy to do and works well......I just need confirmation

Yes you can do that, but you need to save out different g-code so the printer knows which nozzle to use. I use simplify 3d and have profiles for each nozzle, and just save "left" and "right" versions of the file.

Dual printing works by telling your slicer that you're using a single extruder printer and then setting the printer to "dual" in the LCD menu. You just have to make sure that your objects aren't wider than the distance between the nozzles, which is limiting. Still it's awesome to print 2 small or thin objects as quickly as you can print 1.

[ssayer]

OH. Too simple... just pick which extruder in your slicer!

[Ward]

That's all I needed to hear

THAT alone makes me 100% glad I bough a dual extruder!

[ssayer]

FWIW, I name my prints in the slicer with plastic type and extruder. Example, "FPVBaseLPETG" <-- Object is FPVBase, Left Extruder, PETG. You have to keep it short because you only get so many characters in a name...

[Ward]

Coolbeans!

Were the props 3D printed ?

[Ward]

I knew there was something about you I liked....it was in your avatar all the while

[ssayer]

Oh, you like 3d printed suff like this?

20151121_180435.jpg