My high school just bought 2 flashforge creator pros and I am doing some background and research in using both extruder heads. Is it possible to print 1 piece in 2 colors if you import the piece as 2 connecting parts in the software and label each file as a different color? An example would be trying to print a bowling pin keychain that has two red stripes along the neck of the white pin. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
There are two ways in doing it. The simplest way being to design your part as two separate parts that are together, but you don't need two different files, you can make two objects in one stl and still tell the printer which head to use for which object. The advantage of that is when the STL is imported both models will be lined up just right instead of spending a huge amount of time lining and sizing them up. Adafruit made a short post here which is a little helpful- learn.adafruit.com/dual-extrusion-3d-printing/overview
When you say assembly file, what do you mean? I mean, when you're in CAD creating your part, make sure there is two objects together than export the STL, then when it's opened in the Pro's software, tell the printer to print one of the objects on a different head.
Sam Archibald we use Autodesk Inventor for CAD which has part and assembly files, we can export these files as STL files to be able to print off a 3D printer. Assembly files are made up of part and or assembly files
Draikon the Darkon hey could you help me out? After you export the flash print file from the window do you just plop it into the sd card? Or is there an extra step?
Hi Sam. A very clear and easy to follow video. I have a Flashforge Creator, slightly later version than yours. Worked great, and I am printing PLA mainly as I use it for making patterns for investment casting. PLA works well in that role. However for the last few days I have been having real problems with the PLA filament not feeding through the printer head. Always seems to occur after 15 to 20 minutes into the print. The PLA filament buckles after the drive wheel. Obviously heat is getting up from the print head and softening the filament. What I have noticed is that the extruder motor fans are rarely on. I have searched through everything to find out how one turns them on. I presume they are controlled by a sensor somewhere. I note in your video, the left one of yours was whizzing around. In my desire to ensure that everything is fine, I have stripped the heads down, cleaned them, and swapped the left and the right nozzles and driver, as they have never been used, but it has made no difference. It's driving me mad as I have so many small parts to print.
Hi Tim. I used mine for about 20-25 prints off various sizes (45 minute prints to 7.5 hours) and the white/clear heat resistant tube in the heat head (filament feeds thru it to the tip) melted.. causing the filament to sixteen prematurely and form a blob that totally stopped my progress. Cleaned it out, replaced the tube, and now works great again. Something to check out.
Hi Sam, I am a new owner of one of these models, and has a couple questions/issues. 1. The left print head is slightly loose and rotates about 10 degrees back and forth. I assume it is secured with the Allen head screw that points forward. I have only used the right head so far, but if I tighten the left one, how can I be confident it is properly aligned relative to the other head? 2. The program it came with to convert models to print is ReplicatorG. Yours looks slicker. Do you know about ReplicatorG, and do you have a preference? 3. The SD card that was in it when I bought it had a few model files on it, and I have downloaded some free ones of the Web, but to create my own models, I have only tried the online TinkerCAD application by Autodesk. It is capable, but in its easy-to-learn simplicity, has limitations. I cannot position features as well as I would like, such as concentric circles. It asks me to change the diameter in two steps, by adjusting both the X and Y axes one at a time, and does it from an edge origin, not the center. Can you suggest a free or inexpensive 3D modeling app that I can use on the desktop that has better, more intuitive creation and editing tools? Thanks in advance.
My printers SD Card reader isn't working anymore. Is there a way to use the printing cable that came with the printer to print off my laptop using the flash forge software? Thank you!
I have been having trouble printing with the flashforge creator pro. It seems to start off well when it is doing single lines. When it starts moving it starts messing up. The plastic begins to clump around the nozzle and it begins to drag some of the plastic along with it. I have leveled it multiple times. I am pretty sure i am doing that right. I cleaned out the gears. Any suggestions on how to address this?
I had this problem, but it was a leveling problem. While the printer is in leveling mode, move the head manually with your hand to all corners of the plate. I'd also recommend changing the surface of the build plate, what is on your plate? Is it bare, using the blue bed cover that comes with the printer, or painters tape, or kapton tape?
When leveling, should only be SLIGHT friction between the nozzle and paper. Do the leveling on all 3 sides very carefully, then double check the others. One side is too close.
Hi, I have problem with my flashforge creator pro printer, today i print my first print smoothly but while trying to print another after print command bed loaded and start jerking with noice , please advise me if have solution thank you.
Karrie Marciniak The prints not sticking can be a couple things. Your bed or print temperature. Make sure your bed is getting hot, if you can, use kapton or painters tape, and use the recommended temps in thr video. And if you plug in your printer, can yoir computer see it?
I tried leveling the print bed and that worked on one side only... I cannot print from my computer as the prints just glob up. I am so inexperienced... My students and I want to create something other the test print and no luck so far. Can I use Thingiverse to create prints?
Karrie Marciniak Thingaverse is what's called CAD software. It's used to model 3D models. You can use it to design prints but you then need to import them into Flashprint since it's the required Slicing software. I have used Thingaverse and in my experience it's not that great. I recommend Autodesk 123D, as it's almost as easy to use as tinkercad, but works a lot better. And if leveling it helps, level again. And don't just level once, keep leveling until you know every part of the bed is exactly level, meaning you can pass a piece of paper between the head and bed with slight and even resistance. And I think your COM port on your printer may not work, meaning it cannot communicate with the computer. So try printing of the SD card. Workflow in steps described above- 1) Level the bed several times until you can pass a paper with slight and even resistance at every point. You can also move the head of the printer with your hand to check every part of the bed. 2) Make your model in TinkerCAD or Autodesk 123D or download from thingaverse. Export as a STL. 3) Open the STL file with flashprint, add supports or whatever you need. 4) Hit the print button, hit SD card, and input normal temp settings 5) Remove SD Card from printer and put into your computer or a SD card reader. 6) Hit the button to export the print file and save it to the SD card. 7) Insert SD card into printer and print from the card as if you're printing a example print. Let me know what happens
My high school just bought 2 flashforge creator pros and I am doing some background and research in using both extruder heads. Is it possible to print 1 piece in 2 colors if you import the piece as 2 connecting parts in the software and label each file as a different color? An example would be trying to print a bowling pin keychain that has two red stripes along the neck of the white pin. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
There are two ways in doing it. The simplest way being to design your part as two separate parts that are together, but you don't need two different files, you can make two objects in one stl and still tell the printer which head to use for which object. The advantage of that is when the STL is imported both models will be lined up just right instead of spending a huge amount of time lining and sizing them up. Adafruit made a short post here which is a little helpful-
learn.adafruit.com/dual-extrusion-3d-printing/overview
So I should create an assembly file and export as 1 STL versus two part files and exporting as 2 STL files?
When you say assembly file, what do you mean? I mean, when you're in CAD creating your part, make sure there is two objects together than export the STL, then when it's opened in the Pro's software, tell the printer to print one of the objects on a different head.
Sam Archibald we use Autodesk Inventor for CAD which has part and assembly files, we can export these files as STL files to be able to print off a 3D printer. Assembly files are made up of part and or assembly files
Ah, then I'd say yes, export as 1 stl with both objects as one part
Hey thank you very much! I recently got a creator pro and was a bit confused on the software workings but your video has straightened it out!
Draikon the Darkon hey could you help me out? After you export the flash print file from the window do you just plop it into the sd card? Or is there an extra step?
Sam Archibald thanks very much I've been trying to get it to work forever now and now I finally got it
You give a lot of good advice I wish I'd watched this before I did anything else lol
Hi Sam. A very clear and easy to follow video. I have a Flashforge Creator, slightly later version than yours. Worked great, and I am printing PLA mainly as I use it for making patterns for investment casting. PLA works well in that role. However for the last few days I have been having real problems with the PLA filament not feeding through the printer head. Always seems to occur after 15 to 20 minutes into the print. The PLA filament buckles after the drive wheel. Obviously heat is getting up from the print head and softening the filament. What I have noticed is that the extruder motor fans are rarely on. I have searched through everything to find out how one turns them on. I presume they are controlled by a sensor somewhere. I note in your video, the left one of yours was whizzing around. In my desire to ensure that everything is fine, I have stripped the heads down, cleaned them, and swapped the left and the right nozzles and driver, as they have never been used, but it has made no difference. It's driving me mad as I have so many small parts to print.
Hi Tim. I used mine for about 20-25 prints off various sizes (45 minute prints to 7.5 hours) and the white/clear heat resistant tube in the heat head (filament feeds thru it to the tip) melted.. causing the filament to sixteen prematurely and form a blob that totally stopped my progress. Cleaned it out, replaced the tube, and now works great again.
Something to check out.
Thanks so much, You save my time brother :D
Thanks this was a useful tutorial.
It's very useful video. Thanks mate
Hi Sam, I am a new owner of one of these models, and has a couple questions/issues.
1. The left print head is slightly loose and rotates about 10 degrees back and forth. I assume it is secured with the Allen head screw that points forward. I have only used the right head so far, but if I tighten the left one, how can I be confident it is properly aligned relative to the other head?
2. The program it came with to convert models to print is ReplicatorG. Yours looks slicker. Do you know about ReplicatorG, and do you have a preference?
3. The SD card that was in it when I bought it had a few model files on it, and I have downloaded some free ones of the Web, but to create my own models, I have only tried the online TinkerCAD application by Autodesk. It is capable, but in its easy-to-learn simplicity, has limitations. I cannot position features as well as I would like, such as concentric circles. It asks me to change the diameter in two steps, by adjusting both the X and Y axes one at a time, and does it from an edge origin, not the center. Can you suggest a free or inexpensive 3D modeling app that I can use on the desktop that has better, more intuitive creation and editing tools?
Thanks in advance.
Great video! Thank you
My printers SD Card reader isn't working anymore. Is there a way to use the printing cable that came with the printer to print off my laptop using the flash forge software? Thank you!
Can and how do you dimension a custom part in the software?
So is it possible to print the fish body with one color and the fish eyes with the second color?
Can you use maker ware on this
I have been having trouble printing with the flashforge creator pro. It seems to start off well when it is doing single lines. When it starts moving it starts messing up. The plastic begins to clump around the nozzle and it begins to drag some of the plastic along with it. I have leveled it multiple times. I am pretty sure i am doing that right. I cleaned out the gears. Any suggestions on how to address this?
I had this problem, but it was a leveling problem. While the printer is in leveling mode, move the head manually with your hand to all corners of the plate. I'd also recommend changing the surface of the build plate, what is on your plate? Is it bare, using the blue bed cover that comes with the printer, or painters tape, or kapton tape?
When leveling, should only be SLIGHT friction between the nozzle and paper. Do the leveling on all 3 sides very carefully, then double check the others. One side is too close.
hey im kind of late to the party the link is dead 404 an when i go to the site it says the same thing when i look for it. what do i do?
is there any other slicer programs that we can use with Flashforge creator pro?
Cura, prusa, simplify3d
Hello sir ,
What type of tape Ur using for ABS printing , Pls give some details on it , part is not printing properly on ABS Material . , Flash forge
Capton
Hi,
I have problem with my flashforge creator pro printer, today i print my first print smoothly but while trying to print another after print command bed loaded and start jerking with noice , please advise me if have solution
thank you.
basheer k E-mail me a video and info at samuel.archibald@maine.edu
your video looks like it is made In the early 90ies and I don't know why ;)
I have this printer and my prints aren't sticking. Also I can't print from my computer but only from SD (test prints.) What's going on?
Karrie Marciniak The prints not sticking can be a couple things. Your bed or print temperature. Make sure your bed is getting hot, if you can, use kapton or painters tape, and use the recommended temps in thr video. And if you plug in your printer, can yoir computer see it?
I tried leveling the print bed and that worked on one side only...
I cannot print from my computer as the prints just glob up.
I am so inexperienced... My students and I want to create something other the test print and no luck so far. Can I use Thingiverse to create prints?
Karrie Marciniak Thingaverse is what's called CAD software. It's used to model 3D models. You can use it to design prints but you then need to import them into Flashprint since it's the required Slicing software. I have used Thingaverse and in my experience it's not that great. I recommend Autodesk 123D, as it's almost as easy to use as tinkercad, but works a lot better. And if leveling it helps, level again. And don't just level once, keep leveling until you know every part of the bed is exactly level, meaning you can pass a piece of paper between the head and bed with slight and even resistance. And I think your COM port on your printer may not work, meaning it cannot communicate with the computer. So try printing of the SD card.
Workflow in steps described above-
1) Level the bed several times until you can pass a paper with slight and even resistance at every point. You can also move the head of the printer with your hand to check every part of the bed.
2) Make your model in TinkerCAD or Autodesk 123D or download from thingaverse. Export as a STL.
3) Open the STL file with flashprint, add supports or whatever you need.
4) Hit the print button, hit SD card, and input normal temp settings
5) Remove SD Card from printer and put into your computer or a SD card reader.
6) Hit the button to export the print file and save it to the SD card.
7) Insert SD card into printer and print from the card as if you're printing a example print.
Let me know what happens
Sam Archibald thingiverse is not a cad program. it'd a website for downloading models
Thanks for your help! I will give it a try!
to quiet