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How do you dual-extrude in MatterControl?
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 11:35 pm
by 626Pilot
I'm using MC 1.5.0, build 1.5.0.6404 on Linux. (The latest.) I have Extruder Count set to 2, and I have an object loaded with one mesh on one extruder and another mesh on the other. The slicer seems to understand that there are two extruders. However, unlike the screenshot, there is only one MATERIAL dropdown. I can't tell it which material to use in the second extruder!
This is the example on MC's site:
On my screen, instead of two dropdowns for material, there is only one.
Re: How do you dual-extrude in MatterControl?
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 4:20 am
by Renha
That's because of "Share Temperature" option that's under Printer tab of Settings screen. Don't ask why, I don't know

Re: How do you dual-extrude in MatterControl?
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 6:52 am
by 626Pilot
That fixed it. Thank you.
I have a new problem. I have both STLs loaded and aligned properly, each assigned its own extruder.
I go to Layer View, click Generate, and it shows me G-code of only the first STL I loaded. The second is not there, and it even draws support where the 2nd one would be, indicating that it's ignoring the second mesh. Why is it doing this?
Re: How do you dual-extrude in MatterControl?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 1:10 am
by gestalt73
Hey 626Pilot,
When you're running through the gcode in layer view, do you see the prime tower used at all before using extruder 2?
I'm not running a 2 model, but just using extruder 2 for support, and although it's generating the prime tower just fine, it's not priming before switching extruders, only for each layer, which is not the desired outcome.
Re: How do you dual-extrude in MatterControl?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 1:13 am
by 626Pilot
It draws the footprint of a prime tower, but nothing above it.
The way they do configuration is so bizarre. You have to turn on everything you want to be able to edit, one at a time. The first two dropdowns always reset after you pick an option from the third, so you have to do all this extra clicking.
Re: How do you dual-extrude in MatterControl?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 1:18 am
by gestalt73
Yeah, in my case it's immediately switching to extruder2 without using the prime tower. the end result is that the supports are mostly printed with ABS.
It's priming for every layer, but only using extruder 1 for priming. The it draws the object, then immediately draws support using extruder 2, then primes for the next layer.
I just cancelled the sample print. Very strange.
Re: How do you dual-extrude in MatterControl?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 3:36 am
by Renha
Looks like they are ignoring issues on github, but maybe we need to tell them anyway.
Re: How do you dual-extrude in MatterControl?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:26 am
by gestalt73
I think I remember how the prime tower was used last time I dinked with the Cyclops last year.
iirc, it used one diagonal half for extruder 1 and the other half for extruder 2, switching for each layer.
I've loaded up a couple of models now, and I'm not seeing that, it's filling the tower with extruder 1.
And I have 2 extruders defined, and have assigned support to extruder 2 in the Support Material page.
Re: How do you dual-extrude in MatterControl?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:16 pm
by gestalt73
Opened up a topic on their forum. Let's see if anyone has any advice.
http://forums.matterhackers.com/topic/1 ... extruder-1
Re: How do you dual-extrude in MatterControl?
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 12:37 pm
by Renha
I've virtually experimented (without real printing, just g-code viewer), and i can see that wipe shield isn't used for support! It is used for 2 materials, but not for third (which is support in my case). And strange thing is: after material1detail has ended, and only material2detail left in top part of composition, wipe shield is printed with material1!
I don't know if it is true for wipe tower or not, i prefer shield.
626Pilot, how's your progress?
EDIT: i have copied my comment to their forum