How can I customise fff post to select T1?

[martinRRGNL]

Hi all, 

I can’t find an answer from searching the forums.  I’m trying to find a way to select T1 before printing as opposed to the default T0.

There doesn’t seem to be an option to select extruder/tool in the machine or material settings so I have been manually editing the Gcode afterwards to T1.

I would also like to be able to heat the bed with M104 U199 this if possible. 

Can anyone help me customise the generic fff post processor to add these changes? 

Many thanks,

Martin

[serge.quiblier · Accepted solution]

Hello @martinRRGNL 

If you have created a machine configuration file with several extruders defined, then in order to activate deposition using the second extruder can be done in the print settings.

Take an existing print settings and copy it in a Cloud or local personal folder.

This will allow editing the settings.

Depending if you are using the older dialog, itr can be done there

There is another setting under the support tab, to change the extruder used for depositing the support.

or with the new dialog, here

For editing the bed temperature control, open the post processor using your favorite text editor.

Search for this piece of code

// Specify the required commands for your printer below.
var commands = {
  extruderChangeCommand : undefined, // command to change the extruder
  setExtruderTemperature: mFormat.format(104), // command to set the extruder temperature
  waitExtruder          : mFormat.format(109), // wait command for the extruder temperature
  setBedTemperature     : mFormat.format(140), // command to set the bed temperature
  waitBed               : mFormat.format(190), // wait command for the bed temperature
  reportTemperatures    : undefined, // command to report the temperatures to the printer
  fan                   : {on:mFormat.format(106), off:mFormat.format(107)}, // command turn the fan on/off
  extrusionMode         : {relative:mFormat.format(83), absolute:mFormat.format(82)} // commands for relative / absolute filament extrusion mode
};

and alter a line to this code

setBedTemperature     : mFormat.format(104), // command to set the bed temperature

140 became 104.

In the setFormat function, add near the sOutput line this line below

uOutput = createVariable({prefix:"U", force:true}, xyzFormat); // parameter temperature

Then search for the function onBedTemperature

  if (wait) {
    writeBlock(getCode(commands.reportTemperatures));
    writeBlock(getCode(commands.waitBed), sOutput.format(temp));
  } else {
    writeBlock(getCode(commands.setBedTemperature), sOutput.format(temp));
  }
}

Replace the sOutput by the uOutput, in both instances.

Have a nice day.

Cheers

______________________________________________________________

If my post answers your question, please click the "Accept Solution" button. This helps everyone find answers more quickly!

[martinRRGNL]

Hi Serge,

That was extremely helpful, thank you.  I have made the changes and the post looks good, I just need to run it on the machine to test when I get a chance.

The machine that we're building is capable of 5 axis movement. For now I'm just using Fusion 360 for 3 axis prints but I'm hoping to progress to 5 axis soon.  Could you advise the best way to do this or if it's even possible?  I have looked at the DED machines in fusion but can't see a FFF option.

(perhaps this should be a new thread?)

Thanks again.

Martin

[serge.quiblier]

Hello @martinRRGNL 

the additive FFF workspace is unable to deal with multi axis deposition actually.

If you want to create 5axis simultaneous deposition toolpath, DED is the way to go.

We have created a template post as an example for Multi-Axis Deposition using D.E.D toolpaths, supporting 5 axis moves.

Link to the template post

https://cam.autodesk.com/posts/download.php?name=generic%20deposition&type=post

Cheers

[martinRRGNL]

Hi Serge,

Thanks, I have just used the DED to create a 5 axis toolpath which is a great start but it seems limited to producing NC for Laser wire,Laser powder and Electric Arc wire. Do you know if it would be possible to customise the generic deposition post so much that it could produce Gcode for FFF? Has anyone done this sort of thing before with Fusion? 

Now that I have access to 5 axis FFF machines it would be great to incorporate Fusion into the process if possible. 

[serge.quiblier]

Hello @martinRRGNL 

yes we already have done this, using a DED toolpath, for an additive fff printer, recalculating an e value.

But it is not on a regular post.

It was developped for a prototype post.

Regards.