Dual Colour 3D Printing by PrintUP K8 Channel Letter Printer Concept, Design and Settings

In our previous video, we covered the basics of 3D printing with a 3D Printer from AM.CO.ZA. If you haven’t watched that video, please do so before proceeding by click here. This guide will build on that knowledge and walk you through the steps of dual-colour printing with a P3-FDM/K8: AM.CO.ZA PrintUP 800x800x80mm Channel Letter 3D Printer.

Watch video below on YouTube:

Designing the Model

First, let’s design a simple model using Tinkercad:

1. Open Tinkercad: Create a new document.
2. Create a Square: Draw a square. The size doesn’t matter as we can adjust it later in our slicing software, Cura.
3. Export the Model: Select the square, export it as an STL file, and save it.

Setting Up Cura for Dual Colour Printing

Next, we need to prepare the Cura profile for dual colour printing:

1. Open Cura: Load the STL file.
2. Set Up Colour Profiles:
   • Manage Materials: Go to “Manage Materials” and create a new material profile. Name it according to the filament you’re using (e.g., “PETG AM”).
   • Configure Material Settings: Set the density to 1.24 g/cm³ and filament thickness to 1.75 mm. Adjust cost settings if needed.
   • Set Print Settings: Adjust temperature settings based on your filament. For instance, orange filament might need 235°C for the nozzle and 70°C for the bed.
3. Dual Colour Profiles:
   • Create and configure profiles for both colours (e.g., “Orange” and “Black”).
   • Duplicate Profiles: After creating one, duplicate it and change the colour for the second one.
4. Layer Height and Print Speed: Use a layer height of 0.2 mm for better results. Set print speed to 100 mm/s or lower to avoid mistakes.
5. Cooling and Adhesion: Set the fan speed to 100% and use a skirt for build adhesion.

Adding Support Blockers for Dual Colour

To achieve dual colour, we need to use support blockers:

1. Add Support Blockers:
   • Click on the model and add a support blocker.
   • Adjust the blocker to cover the part of the model you want in the second colour.
   • Ensure the blocker height and placement are correct for accurate colour division.
2. Configure Support Blockers:
   • Set the support blocker to “cutting mesh” and select the colour for each part.
   • Repeat the process for the second colour.

Prime Tower and Final Settings

1. Prime Tower:
   • Enable the Prime Tower to ensure clean colour transitions. Adjust its size based on the object size.
2. Slice the Model: Preview the sliced model to confirm the colours and Prime Tower placement.

Printing the Model

Before starting the print with your 3D Printer, make sure your printer is prepared:

1. Apply Glue: Use a good quality glue, like the one from AM, to ensure the print sticks to the bed.
2. Load Filament: Load the first colour completely and retract the second colour to a suitable position.
3. Clean the Nozzle: Ensure the nozzle is clean to avoid leftover plastic mixing with your print.

Starting the Print

1. Warm Up the Printer: Preheat the printer before starting.
2. Start the Print: Select the print file and start the print. Monitor the initial layers to ensure they adhere properly.

Post-Print Inspection

After the print is complete, inspect for common issues:

1. Stringing and Excess Plastic: Adjust retraction settings to prevent stringing between the model and Prime Tower.
2. Layer Gaps: Slow down the print speed if you notice gaps between layers, especially for darker colours like black.

Final Touches

1. Remove Excess Plastic: Use cutters to clean up any stringing or excess plastic.
2. Smooth Rough Edges: Sand down any rough edges for a cleaner finish.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully print dual-colour 3D models with clean transitions and minimal defects. Happy printing!

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