For setting up a single material process see Setting up a Simplify3D Process
This tutorial will describe how to set up two different materials but it can easily be applied to three or as many materials as the H-Series machine configuration supports. At the end are included download links for the .stl files used in this tutorial, as well as the completed factory file.
When first loading the multi-material .stl files, they will be distributed across the build surface (See image above). Make sure that all your Models are selected and click Edit -> Align Selected Model Origins. It is then helpful to group all the Models together by clicking Edit -> Group Selection or Ctrl + G.
Identify what materials will be used and what tool each material is loaded in. This tutorial will be using Armadillo (75D TPU) in Tool #5 and Ninjaflex (88A TPU) in Tool #3. Add a new Process for the first material, in this case it will be Ninjaflex in Tool #3:
Now assign this Process to partial Models: click on Select Models and choose the Models that you will want printed with the current material, in this case Ninjaflex:
Follow the same steps for other materials to be used in the print. In this example, the base will be printed in 75D TPU using Tool #5.
Temperatures
First, highlight all the Processes and click Edit -> Group Selection or press Ctrl + G. When Processes are grouped, any change you make to a setting will be applied to all Processes in which that setting is the same. If the setting in another Process is NOT the same as in the edited Process, it will NOT update.
Next, set your desired temperatures for each Tool in each Process. You will quickly understand the utility (and danger) of Grouping Processes.
- 88A Printing Temperature: 225C
- 75D Printing Temperature: 225C
In this example Ninjaflex and Armadillo print at the same temperature, so no change is needed here, but if Tool #5 contained ABS which prints at a much higher temperature, these settings will need to be changed within each Process (which will be automatic one the Processes are Grouped and the settings match).
Once all the processes have been created, click Prepare to Print! and proceed to the next step. A pop-up will appear, select the Processes that will be used and ensure that Continuous printing is selected and click OK.
The simulation can be utilized to verify that each section will be printed with the correct tool, by making sure that Active Toolhead is selected under Coloring.
Click on Save Toolpaths to Disk when finished to generate the gcode and open up the Diabase Wizard.
CONTINUE TUTORIAL