Dual Extruder Upgrade - Limited Availability

[ebmonon36]

I would like one of each as well. I started the 24V upgrade and realized I'll be getting a new wiring harness with the dual extruder upgrade, so I'll wait for the duals to come in before completing the upgrade.
Eric

[sprior]

The post office is supposed to delivery my dual extruder upgrade tomorrow and I've got too much time on my hands today to think about it. Does anyone yet have the instructions for installing the upgrade? I'm assuming we need a RAMBO firmware/config change. Any links would be appreciated.

I'm reading the dual extruder info for SImplify3D and what I expected to see somewhere was a configuration that specifies the distance between the two nozzles, but I don't see that and it HAS to be someplace - is that handled by the firmware and transparent to the gcode?

[Q*bert]

I'm reading the dual extruder info for SImplify3D and what I expected to see somewhere was a configuration that specifies the distance between the two nozzles, but I don't see that and it HAS to be someplace - is that handled by the firmware and transparent to the gcode?

I believe that the extruder offset ("the distance between the two nozzles") needs to be changed in the Marlin firmware. Look for lines like this in <configuration.h>:
// Offset of the extruders (uncomment if using more than one and relying on firmware to position when changing).
// The offset has to be X=0, Y=0 for the extruder 0 hotend (default extruder).
// For the other hotends it is their distance from the extruder 0 hotend.
// #define EXTRUDER_OFFSET_X {0.0, 20.00} // (in mm) for each extruder, offset of the hotend on the X axis
// #define EXTRUDER_OFFSET_Y {0.0, 5.00} // (in mm) for each extruder, offset of the hotend on the Y axis

If the two nozzles are 20mm apart, then the lines would look like this:
#define EXTRUDER_OFFSET_X {0.0, 20.00} // (in mm) for each extruder, offset of the hotend on the X axis
#define EXTRUDER_OFFSET_Y {0.0, 0.00} // (in mm) for each extruder, offset of the hotend on the Y axis

Anyone else chime in if I'm wrong...

[sprior]

I checked the firmware source in M2Marlin24r2.zip and no extruder offset setitngs are in Configuration.h or Configuration_adv.h. There seems to be a different branch of Marlin which has multi-extruder support, so a firmware version change will be required. While I can understand that the firmware might need to be configured to know how many extruders are present, I'm a little surprised that the firmware is also in charge of the offset - it just seems like that offset could change more easily than the extruder count, so it should be easier to configure.

[sprior]

Did some more digging. It seems the current Marlin firmware version for the 24V M2 is from 2012-05-30, and the extruder offset directives were added to configuration.h on 2013-02-04. Looking at the changes on that date also reveals that these values can be changed using the "M218 T# X# Y#" command, this can be found in Marlin/Marlin_main.cpp at around line 2467 in the latest version.

[Capt. John]

My 2-fer extruder is going to be delivered today and hope the more experienced can iron out the wrinkles
for newbies like me

[rpollack]

If you are using your M2 for production purposes or it will be a problem if there is some downtime related to the v4 then I suggest that you wait a bit before installing the upgrade.

[sprior]

Started assembling mine tonight. Noticed that the right filament guide doesn't have a recess to hold the bowden tube upright - I suspect someone will come up with one that does pretty quickly. By far the hardest thing is dealing with the wiring bracket on the back of the filament motors. I wasn't able to push any of the harnes 1 wires into the slots on the bottom, they just didn't fit. The cable tie "knots" on the harness kept getting in the way and you have to rotate them just right. The cables going to the extruder stepper motors have to be really squished to get on there, and the two long back retaining screws were the hardest thing of all. Removing the old stuff and mounting the new extruder motors was pretty easy. Don't expect any of the screw/washer/nuts in the bags to exactly match what is required - in usual MakerGear generous fashion there are extras of everything, so you can't go by the classic "it's done when all the parts are gone" assembly method.

I'm stopping for the night, will resume tomorrow evening.

[Rocketdog]

I had the same problem with the four retaining slots and the motor plugs cover. The wiring covers are tight but I got everything in. All I have left is the limit switch and firmware upload. Other than the tight fit of the wiring, the kit and instructions are well done. I have to admit the wiring does look good when finished.

[brettb]

I completed my upgrade last night. Working at a careful pace, the entire process was only about 2 hours. Don't get intimidated by the number of parts, the process goes pretty quickly. I'll have to agree with the previous posts, the upper wiring harness is the most difficult part of the upgrade.

All was going great until I went to actually use the printer, I'm getting errors when trying to heat up the extruders. I checked my wiring several times using following diagram http://is.gd/9UAmli, I've also reflashed with the new firmware (also several times) with the same results.

Here's what I get in S3D:

New firmware: Values for temp flash quickly & then the following error:

RECEIVED: ok T:20.9 /0.0 B:18.0 /0.0 T0:20.9 /0.0 T1:18.7 /0.0 @:0 B@:0
RECEIVED: Error:0
RECEIVED: : Extruder switched off. MINTEMP triggered !
RECEIVED: Error:Printer stopped due to errors. Fix the error and use M999 to restart. (Temperature is reset. Set it after restarting)

Flashing with old firmware & one extruder heats up with no issue. I've switched the extruder wires to verify that both extruders were functioning, the 2nd extruder heated up without issue.

I wanted to put his out to see if anyone was experiencing the same issue or had thoughts on a possible solution.

-Brett