@T3P3Tony,

thanks for the quick and detailed reply.

I will try to do it like suggested, it could happen I come back to you with some question during the implementation.

Regards
Sascha

Hey @dc42,

we have a couple of tools (actually 5, could be more in the future) that are planned to print different materials that (due to their melting temperature as an example) can not be printed in the same extruder/hotend.

Also, in the IDEX system we plan to print different configurations of materials at the same time, like 316L and Al2O3 or 316L and 17-4PH, and so on.

The idea is to have a specific tool for every filament and change the tool together with the filament if we want to print it. The tools have a 3-point (e3d alike) mounting with a single screw securing so they can easily be swapped by hand without using tools.

So in the system we have a couple of parameters that need to be changed every time we swap the tools, like X,Y and Z offset compared to a 'calibration' tool and e-steps as there are diffrent types of extruder gears mounted for .175 and 2.85mm

I know when swapping tools the can-bus needs a reset. Is there a possibility to check for what tool is present in the system and call a specific gcode doing the settings for the respective tools or do we need to do this in the slicer?

Sorry for my noob questions. Duet3 and tools are new to me from the user perspective.

Best regards
Sascha

Hi there,

We are running a Duet3 6HC controlled IDEX printer, each printhead is equipped with a 1LC toolboard.

We are using the machine for production in an industrial environment (machine building for pharmaceutical companies) and do mostly print metal FFF parts for sinter based AM. Our plan is to exchange printheads regularly, depending on the material we print (316L, 17-4PH, Inconel, Hastelloy, Al2O3 ceramics, just to name some) or (as an idea) to have another printhead for every material we print.

Due to differences in the demands of the filament regarding extruder and hotend setup the printheads (actually 5) can be pretty diffrent from each other, with diffrent E-Steps for 1.75mm and 2.85mm filament as an example.

As we don't want to go into the configuration of the printer and reboot every time we switch between the tools I am searching for hints and tips what we can probably do in order to get a overall better workflow.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Best regards
Sascha