Would you use dual extrusion for this? Or would you just print in color A until you hit the highest layer of the inlay, and then switch to color B to finish off the surface?
9 years, 7 months ago
A customer wants to inlay text into the surface of a 3D printed part; and he wants the text to be one color and the surface another color.
Would you use dual extrusion for this? Or would you just print in color A until you hit the highest layer of the inlay, and then switch to color B to finish off the surface?
Would you use dual extrusion for this? Or would you just print in color A until you hit the highest layer of the inlay, and then switch to color B to finish off the surface?
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I imagine this is text has a certain height and there is a body around the text which is a different color, going up to the same height. You'd need a dual extruder for that.
If the body up to the inlay can be the same color, and can be the other color above that, as you said, then you can do the switch method described. But the 2 options require different models for Slicing.
If you want to do a switch, in Repetier host you can look at the layers of gCode individually, and once you get to the layer you want to switch at, I'm hoping there is a command you can insert to trigger the pause automatically. Have the x move to the side and dwell.
Insert M226 in its own line where the layer changes, and then, for example, "G0 X2" to get the head out of the way.
Please test this on something basic first!
It would be "easier" with a dual. However, I sometimes prefer to do it this way, because it sometimes is easier, quicker, and works the first time.
Create 2 stls. Then edit the files that they have male and female parts that plug into each other. That way it is centered exactly where you want it, also stronger than dual extrusion. Print each one separate on the printer with appropriate colors.
One option as mentioned is to do it in dual extrusion.
A second is to do what Nathan suggested which would work with recessed letters that are colored at the bottom but not a real inlay.
A third option, if the letters are big enough is to print separately and assemble. A little tricky but doable.
...but here is a hammer and screwdriver option...
Print it with the inset text empty and then add a material like latex caulk or paint to fill in the letters. Just put it on and wipe off the excess (I use a water based latex caulk). This has worked on very tiny letters where the dual extrusion is not satisfactory.
I was under the impression that the customer was after recessed letters, but will find out.
If that's not the case, will refer to one of you guys.
But this video from Makerbot shows that everything can be done manually, as we already knew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-fVOgKWnGc