SOLVED Use color mixing ratios when manually extruding
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Hello,
I built a clay printer which re-purposes the color mixing feature as a way of using two synchronized steppers within one tool. I can print things quite well, using the odd mixing ratio of 1:200. Basically I have a tool comprised of an extremely slow moving syringe plunger and an extremely fast moving auger which helps dispense material.
However, when I am performing a manual extrusion, such as when loading, unloading material the extruders no longer use the color mixing ratio and so the advancing of the material is not as controlled or controllable as it is when printing.
How can I use a color mixing ratio with the manual extrude function?
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@tom_lauerman Not sure that I fully understand the question but if you use DWC to manually extruder, the "mix" button should work. Working from memory here but IIRC the individual drive buttons do what they imply, the "All" button will extruder the same amount from every drive, but the "mix" button will apply the mixing ratio for the selected tool.
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@deckingman Yes you are understanding the problem correctly, thanks! When I select "mix" I don't get the ratio I am looking for, perhaps I can specify a mixing ratio for the "mix" button? That would solve my problem indeed.
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@tom_lauerman said in Use color mixing ratios when manually extruding:
@deckingman Yes you are understanding the problem correctly, thanks! When I select "mix" I don't get the ratio I am looking for, perhaps I can specify a mixing ratio for the "mix" button? That would solve my problem indeed.
TBH, it's long time since I used it but IIRC, the "Mix" button should respect the mixing ratio for the tool that is selected. Alternatively, if you set the mixing ratio for a tool, then enter Tn to select that tool, followed by G1 Ennn, that too should respect the mixing ratio. Is that not happening?
Edit. If it is (i.e. G1 Ennn works as expected) then you could write a couple of macros to load and unload using those commands (a negative "E" amount will unload).
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@deckingman Thanks again, I will try these suggestions. It is possible that "mix" is using the right ratio but I don't recognize it as I have to adjust the feedrate. I think one of the solutions you have suggested will work for me, many thanks again.
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@tom_lauerman said in Use color mixing ratios when manually extruding:
@deckingman Thanks again, I will try these suggestions. It is possible that "mix" is using the right ratio but I don't recognize it as I have to adjust the feedrate. I think one of the solutions you have suggested will work for me, many thanks again.
I just did a quick edit while you were typing so you might not have seen it.
Yet another edit - yes you'll likely need to specify a feedrate too.
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I see, excellent, I'll get to work and report back.
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@deckingman OK, great- "mix" works really well as long as I have an appropriate feedrate selected. Thanks for pointing out this thing that was right in front of my nose the whole time!
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@tom_lauerman No worries - glad you got it sorted. Can you now mark this as solved.
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@deckingman I'm kind of a noob still, how do I mark it as solved?
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@tom_lauerman I'm using my phone right now so it's difficult to cut and paste links. There is a sticky at the top of each category that gives guidance for creating new topics which includes how to mark a post as solved. Another way is simply to edit your first post and add the word "Solved" to the title.
It just makes life a little easier for those who help others if there are a few less topics to read through.
