MakerGear Forum

Hi guys, maybe some help.

I'm having a problem getting the dual extruder to operate properly. I bought the machine with setup with dual extrude. I'm using Simplify 3D I had already owned from my Robo (she's a good machine after a few upgardes)

When it goes through the starting script, after the home command, the x axis starts to drift off the home switch before it gets the move to travel off the bed when the build plate is moving to position. Then, when it gets the X200, it bangs against the end stop. I noticed in Simplify that when it's doing this, the X counter on the control panel is reading a big fat zero as it's moving.

I'll try to post a link to the video I posted on YT here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXGaTIODFAE

All help is appreciated.

Here's the starting scripts I pulled out of the printer configuration I loaded using the wizard.

right extruder

M108 S255 ; Turn on M2 fans
T1 ; Switch to right extruder offsets for homing
G28 ; Home all axes
T0 ; Switch to left extruder
G1 X0 Y50 Z0.3 F9600 ; Move forward to avoid binder clips
G1 X200 Z10 F3600 ; Move off platform
G1 Z0.4 ; Position nozzle above buildplate
T1 ; Switch to right extruder
G92 E0 ; Zero extruder
G1 E25 F225 ; Purge right extruder
G92 E0 ; Zero extruder
G1 X160 Z0.1 E1.0 F1200 ; Slow wipe
G1 X140 Z0.25 ; Lift


left extruder

M108 S255 ; Turn on M2 fans
T1 ; Switch to right extruder offsets for homing
G28 ; Home all axes
T0 ; Switch to left extruder
G1 X0 Y50 Z0.3 F9600 ; Move forward to avoid binder clips
G1 X200 Z10 F3600 ; Move off platform
G1 Z0.4 ; Position nozzle above buildplate
G92 E0 ; Zero extruder
G1 E25 F225 ; Purge left extruder
G92 E0 ; Zero extruder
G1 X160 Z0.1 E1.0 F1200 ; Slow wipe
G1 X140 Z0.25 ; Lift

both extruders

M108 S255 ; Turn on M2 fans
T1 ; Switch to right extruder offsets for homing
G28 ; Home all axes
T0 ; Switch to left extruder
G1 X0 Y50 Z0.3 F9600 ; Move forward to avoid binder clips
G1 X200 Z10 F3600 ; Move off platform
G1 Z0.4 ; Position nozzle above buildplate
G92 E0 ; Zero extruder
G1 E25 F225 ; Purge left extruder
G92 E0 ; Zero extruder
T1 ; Set right extruder
G1 E25 F225 ; Purge right extruder
G92 E0 ; Zero extruder
G1 X160 Z0.1 E1.0 F1200 ; Slow wipe
G1 X140 Z0.25 ; Lift

I would make sure that in S3D that you use the configuration wizard, and set the machine to the M2 Dual V4.

These might help...they're the ones I set up that most folks start with on the duals.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=3554

The head is going to move differently during the purge cycle for a dual than with a single extruder - it's got different projections to dodge with the two heads. So yes, it might drift towards the center a bit before it moves off to the right for the purge.

Sorry, I do not have a solution, only another problem that I will add here.
I have been fighting to get my dual extruder working for a long time. I have gotten it to the point where it can print, but the Z-axis does not move properly. After dropping to the low stop, when it should raise to the nozzles, the motor makes a funny noise, the bed barely moves, I can turn the Z-knob with minimal force, and I can feel lots of vibration in the knob. Soon the noise and vibration stops and the knob cannot be turned, yet the bed is 180+mm too low. (I can pause the print, manually raise the bed, and continue, but what a PITA!)
MakerGear Support is engaged on my problem, but I thought I might elicit help here, too.

They're going to be able to help more than we will. Are you sure you have the correct firmware for whichever model you are using?
(Tell them the kind of machine that you have and which firmware you loaded.....we saw something similar when people loaded the wrong firmware right after the changeover. Just make sure they know which one, and they will be able to tell if that's the problem.)

No surprise, I reloaded the firmware 3-4 times, with no change.

Working with support is your best bet then....maybe the Z rod has gotten warped or the motor is having a problem. (How are you able to print if you've got all of that going on? Is that something that recently started?)

Send an M503 and post the output.
I'm wondering if your Z accel setting is somehow whacked. I've had that behavior happen when I pushed my z accel too high.

i currently have
Recv: echo:Maximum Acceleration (mm/s2):
Recv: echo: M201 X3000 Y3000 Z900 E75

Jules,
The Z-rod is fine. It only acts funny and makes odd noises at that particular time; perfect operation otherwise.

zemlin,
The Support guys looked at that output, but I do not know if they thought about the acceleration, though. I will check on that.

zemlin,
Here are the results. While talking to the Tech Support guys, we did change a few things, including the z-rate of travel. I do not remember specifically changing any acceleration rates.

SENT: M503
READ: echo:Steps per unit:
Steps per unit:
READ: echo: M92 X88.88 Y88.88 Z1007.70 E471.50
M92 X88.88 Y88.88 Z1007.70 E471.50
READ: echo:Maximum feedrates (mm/s):
Maximum feedrates (mm/s):
READ: echo: M203 X200.00 Y200.00 Z25.00 E25.00
M203 X200.00 Y200.00 Z25.00 E25.00
READ: echo:Maximum Acceleration (mm/s2):
Maximum Acceleration (mm/s2):
READ: echo: M201 X900 Y1000 Z30 E2000
M201 X900 Y1000 Z30 E2000
READ: echo:Acceleration: S=acceleration, T=retract acceleration
Acceleration: S=acceleration, T=retract acceleration
READ: echo: M204 S2000.00 T3000.00
M204 S2000.00 T3000.00
READ: echo:Advanced variables: S=Min feedrate (mm/s), T=Min travel feedrate (mm/s), B=minimum segment time (ms), X=maximum XY jerk (mm/s), Z=maximum Z jerk (mm/s), E=maximum E jerk (mm/s)
Advanced variables: S=Min feedrate (mm/s), T=Min travel feedrate (mm/s), B=minimum segment time (ms), X=maximum XY jerk (mm/s), Z=maximum Z jerk (mm/s), E=maximum E jerk (mm/s)
READ: echo: M205 S0.00 T0.00 B20000 X4.00 Z0.40 E1.00
M205 S0.00 T0.00 B20000 X4.00 Z0.40 E1.00
READ: echo:Home offset (mm):
Home offset (mm):
READ: echo: M206 X0.00 Y0.00 Z8.42
M206 X0.00 Y0.00 Z8.42
READ: echo:PID settings:
PID settings:
READ: echo: M301 P25.89 I1.94 D86.53
M301 P25.89 I1.94 D86.53
READ: ok