The most common H-Series configuration has 3 additive tools, so we will use that as a baseline.
The toolchain is as follows: STL → Simplify3D → Diabase Wizard → Machine Upload and Print
Start with the attached S3D factory file, which includes the STL files we'll be using. This is a 3-material print.
Setup
Tools
- Tool 3, 0.4mm: TPU (Ninjatek Cheetah recommended)
- Tool 4, 0.4mm: PVA (eSun PVA recommended - less dissolvable, but prints and adheres much better)
- Tool 5, 0.4mm: PETG (no recommendation, all OK)
Build surface and adhesion strategy: Here we will adhere the PVA to a layer of PVA-based glue (wood glue thinned with alcohol) on the bed. For other prints, if TPU is your first layer (or an adhesion layer), then it will bond directly to the Kapton bed surface.
Toolpath Generation
First, open the factory file:
In order to apply a process to a part, open the process and click "Select Models". This is where you choose what tool will be used for what parts of the model.
This is still not enough to define the tool that is used for the part. This is defined in a number of locations: Layer, Additions, Infill, and Support. In each of these tabs, you can define which tool to use. In this example, we will not use any additions or support. We only care that the extruder in Layer and Infill is selected as T3. (You can always double check by checking the active tool in the print preview screen).
Once you are happy with your settings, click "Prepare to Print!". Highlight all the processes that you intend to use for this print, and click "OK".
Here, if we set Coloring to "Active Toolhead", we can check which tools are used where. This is a good final check to make sure we have selected the correct tools, processes, and models. Click "Save Toolpaths to Disk".
Open the Diabase Print Wizard and follow the prompts. At this step, open the file that you previously saved from S3D:
Note: Any time you change a setting in S3D, you will need to rerun it through the Wizard.
Continue to process the file and save the new file. From the controller, click "Upload and Print" to start printing the file.
It can be helpful, if your Z-offsets are not dialed in, to use the Baby Stepping function, which will change the height (for all tools) mid-print:
Hopefully the machine is printing perfectly. If there is a problem., there are a few troubleshooting steps to be done:
- No filament came out
- The cleaning station did not operate correctly
- Materials aren't adhering to the bed
- Nozzles are not aligned, or are too close to or far from the bed
This walkthrough can also be found in the video below:
If you have any other combinations of material and nozzle size you would like a .factory file for, please contact us in the forums. Here is a list of the configurations that are attached to this article: