Any open source software available for colour mixing of 3 or more colours? I know Repetier is working on a solution - [github.com] - Anyone else?

I got my 3 colour hotend on a delta working - now for colour mixing.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/2014 12:53AM by Xabbax.

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You only learn when you change your mind.
[www.deltaprinter.co.za]

Two more items printed with the all metal 3 feed hotend.

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You only learn when you change your mind.
[www.deltaprinter.co.za]

Some images to see how to make your own hotend.

With the latest release of Repetier-Host V1.0.3 it is easier to handle different colours in a print

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You only learn when you change your mind.
[www.deltaprinter.co.za]

Wow. This has got to be the way forward. So light and compact.

Questions:

- are there no PTFE liners in the tubes?
- I assume you are using 1.75mm filament, are the stainless tubes 2mm id?
- are the tubes a press fit in the hot end?
- I can't see what the central tube does. You are using 3 colours, right? Looks like 2 stage heating element. Is it soldered to the brass fittings on the other tubes or just heated by contact?

I'm guessing, but it looks like the feed tubes are water-cooled, the central tube is the cooling water intake or output, with that tube going off at a 90 degree angle from it being the other water line. (look at the clear tubes attached to the head in the pictures of the machine printing, they appear to be full of water)

This thing is absolutely brilliant by the way, I love it and would like to see more.

Yes. I think you are right Feign. Water cooled it is. Maybe silver soldered together?

I want one.

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dave3d
Wow. This has got to be the way forward. So light and compact.

Questions:

- are there no PTFE liners in the tubes?
- I assume you are using 1.75mm filament, are the stainless tubes 2mm id?
- are the tubes a press fit in the hot end?
- I can't see what the central tube does. You are using 3 colours, right? Looks like 2 stage heating element. Is it soldered to the brass fittings on the other tubes or just heated by contact?

All metal no plastic - copper, brass, 2mm ID stainless steel tubing for 1.75 mm filament , silver soldered together.
The central copper tubing is for the water outlet and the other copper tube is the side inlet for the cold water.
The heater element and thermistor are the standard for hotends in use by most hotend manufacturers

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You only learn when you change your mind.
[www.deltaprinter.co.za]

Quote
Feign


This thing is absolutely brilliant by the way, I love it and would like to see more.

More pictures on my website

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You only learn when you change your mind.
[www.deltaprinter.co.za]

Thanks Xabbax. I visited your website.

I like the welding nozzles idea. Couple of further questions:-

- what is the centre hole in the heating block for?
- is the water cooling by natural convection or forced circulation with a pump? If so what kind have you used?

I would like to build one. I have tried twin nozzles with a Bowden setup on my OrdBot. The problem was getting them level. Your nozzle would eliminate that.

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dave3d
Thanks Xabbax. I visited your website.

I like the welding nozzles idea. Couple of further questions:-

- what is the centre hole in the heating block for?
- is the water cooling by natural convection or forced circulation with a pump? If so what kind have you used?

I would like to build one. I have tried twin nozzles with a Bowden setup on my OrdBot. The problem was getting them level. Your nozzle would eliminate that.

The centre hole is to line up the nozzle for soldering ( I use the carbon core of a AA battery(I think) to keep the nozzle tube in place while soldering)
The carbon core also keeps the stainless tubes from going in to deep in the hole while soldering
It is also used to keep in place a plastic print which allows one to drill the angled holes in the copper.
The holes in the plastic are lined with stainless tubes
I can post the openscad code if you need it.


I may use the centre hole in future to add a mechanical mixer but for now I close the top with silver solder when I do the soldering.

The water cooling is by natural convection and you do not need a lot of water or any extra cooler- a small tank will do ( I use a small plastic pill bottle)

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You only learn when you change your mind.
[www.deltaprinter.co.za]

Thanks Xabbax. Yes, can you post the OpenScad code. That would be useful.
The tubes look to be at about 45 deg. Is that right?

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dave3d
Thanks Xabbax. Yes, can you post the OpenScad code. That would be useful.
The tubes look to be at about 45 deg. Is that right?

30 deg from vertical

3tubesinblock.scad

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You only learn when you change your mind.
[www.deltaprinter.co.za]

Thanks for sharing all your hard work, Xabbax.

.SCAD and .STL files are available on the website for mounting the hotend.

[deltaprinter.co.za]

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You only learn when you change your mind.
[www.deltaprinter.co.za]

I definitely like the new mounting bracket, that looks stylish. As for the whole printer... Either a glass tower printer, or water cooled extruder, or hanging, counterweight suspended Bowden extruders, or triple feed extruder would have been enough to make this printer look unique. Having all four of those things in one printer is downright bizarre looking.

And I don't mean that in a bad way.