AFC-Klipper-Add-On Slicer / Print_Start Setup

Slicer Setup for AFC-Klipper Add-On

Configuring your slicer

The recommended slicer for AFC is OrcaSlicer. Other slicers such as PrusaSlicer or SuperSlicer may be used, and the configuration of options within them is similar but naming or options may be slightly different.

Updating printer settings in Orca

For the printer you are adding BoxTurtle to, first go to the Printer settings, Multimaterial tab and ensure settings are configured as per the below screenshot.

Also, on the Extruder 1 setting page - reduce Retraction while switching material length from the default of 2 to 0.

Adding additional filaments/extruders

Increase the number of filaments to match your BoxTurtle's lane count.

Updating the Machine G-code settings

• Set Machine start G-code appropriately for your printer, specifically adding the TOOL={initial_tool} to your PRINT_START macro.

Note

More information about the PRINT_START macro will be covered in the next section, so keep this in mind!

M104 S0 ; Stops OrcaSlicer from sending temperature waits separately
M140 S0 ; Stops OrcaSlicer from sending temperature waits separately
PRINT_START EXTRUDER=[nozzle_temperature_initial_layer] BED=[bed_temperature_initial_layer_single] TOOL={initial_tool}

• Set Change Filament G-Code to the below value. Remove any other custom code here, e.g. extruder moves.

T[next_extruder] PURGE_LENGTH=[flush_length]
;FLUSH_START
;EXTERNAL_PURGE {flush_length}
;FLUSH_END

Changes when using PrusaSlicer

For the most part, many of the above settings are also applicable to other Slic3r derivatives such as PrusaSlicer or SuperSlicer. Below are a list of some of the deviations. Reth also created a very good summary of the overview of tuning changes for PrusaSlicer in this video.

• Instead of 'Change Filament G-Code', update the 'Tool Change G-Code' in printer settings to the below.

T[next_extruder]

• Under each extruder in printer settings, change the default value of 'Retraction when tool is disabled' from 10mm to 0.5mm.

Additional Slicer configuration - pre-OrcaSlicer 2.2.0

Configuring per-material filament ramming is no longer required as of the official OrcaSlicer 2.2.0 release ( PR #6934). If you are on an earlier version than that (including betas/release candidates) you will need to make the following additional changes to your slicer configurations.

Material Settings

Ramming Settings

Because the AFC-Klipper-Add-On handles any tip forming in the extension, we need to disable these specific settings in the slicer software. Below is a screenshot for OrcaSlicer, but most Slic3r-based slicers have a similar dialog/setting.

Other slicers

PrusaSlicer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilxtHVNhsM4

Print Start Macro for AFC-Klipper Add-On

Updating your PRINT_START macro

Info

Please note this is just an example macro to show how to incorporate the initial tool into your 
print start macro.

Please adjust it to match your printer setup. A good starting point for a PRINT_START macro is jontek2's "A Better PRINT_START macro"

Add the TOOL parameter we added to the Machine start G-Code earlier to your PRINT_START macro.

[gcode_macro PRINT_START]
gcode:
  {% set BED_TEMP = params.BED|default(60)|float %}
  {% set EXTRUDER_TEMP = params.EXTRUDER|default(195)|float %}
  {% set S_EXTRUDER_TEMP = 150|float %}
  {% set initial_tool = params.TOOL|default("0")|int %}

  G90 ; use absolute coordinates
  M83 ; extruder relative mode

  G28 # Home Printer
  # Do any other leveling such as QGL here

  AFC_PARK

  M140 S{BED_TEMP} # Set bed temp
  M109 S{EXTRUDER_TEMP} # wait for extruder temp
  T{initial_tool} #Load Initial Tool

  M104 S{S_EXTRUDER_TEMP} # set standby extruder temp
  M190 S{BED_TEMP} # wait for bed temp

  G28 Z

  # Bedmesh or load bedmesh

  AFC_PARK
  M109 S{EXTRUDER_TEMP} ; wait for extruder temp

  # Add any pre print prime/purge line here
  # Start Print

If you are modifying an existing macro:

• Add the following to the top of the PRINT_START macro just under the gcode: line

  {% set BED_TEMP = params.BED|default(60)|float %}
  {% set EXTRUDER_TEMP = params.EXTRUDER|default(195)|float %}
  {% set S_EXTRUDER_TEMP = 150|float %}
  {% set initial_tool = params.TOOL|default("0")|int %}

• Home the printer using G28
• Set hotend to extrusion temperature M104 S{EXTRUDER_TEMP}
• Load the first filament to be used with T{initial_tool}
• Move to park position with AFC_PARK
• Lower the hotend to standby temperature with M104 S{S_EXTRUDER_TEMP}
• Perform any other necessary pre-flight tasks (e.g., heat soak, re-homing Z, bed meshing, prime/purge line, etc)