Cookie Monster Hitch Cover

prusaprinters

<p>Let everyone around you know your priorities! &nbsp;COOKIES!!! &nbsp;</p><p>This is a fun way to add some color to your empty trailer hitch receiver. &nbsp;Final dimension is about 5.5" x 5.5" at 100% scale. &nbsp;The part is printed using three different filaments (black, white, blue [pick your own combo for even more fun!]) to make a seamless first layer. &nbsp;Several models are provided to make this work:</p><ul><li>Cookie Monster Hitch Bodies fused (all individual parts combined into a single part)</li><li>Cookie Monster Hitch Bodies (separate stl files to allow for easy printing in different colors)<ul><li>Black (facial outline)</li><li>White (eyes)</li><li>Blue (fur)</li></ul></li><li>Hitch Mount attachment (combined with the face to make an easy attachment to the receiver)</li><li>Hitch mounts (receiver components for most trailer hitches)<ul><li>1.25 inch</li><li>2 inch</li></ul></li><li>Pins<ul><li>Small 75mm (fix the 1.25 inch hitch mount to the receiver)</li><li>Large 65mm (connect the face to the hitch mount)</li><li>Large 85mm (fix the 2 inch hitch mount to the receiver)</li></ul></li></ul><p><i>The “Hitch Mount Attachment” is already included in the fused model and not specifically needed for this print job. &nbsp;It is handy to then use on any future hitch covers you would like to create on your own! Either embed it to another part in the slicer or create a cavity in your part and glue it in. :)&nbsp;</i></p><p>Printing instructions:</p><p>Load the fused bodies and the three different color models into your slicer. &nbsp;Merge these so they all align then save this as a project. &nbsp;Doing so will make the following steps much easier.</p><p>If you have a multi-material printer you're all set! &nbsp;If you have a single extruder that manages one color at a time then read on.</p><p>Thanks to CHEP for the idea on color inlays. &nbsp;See his explanation here:&nbsp;</p><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sla-vIsvh4"></oembed></figure><p>Create the individual print files by deleting what you don't want to print. &nbsp;To make the inlays on the front, lower each of the color parts to be only one layer height tall, as each part is 12mm tall. &nbsp;For me that was lowering by 11.8mm for a 0.2mm height. &nbsp;Make sure that brims/skirts are off. &nbsp;The trick here is to enable Z-hop when retracted and that you choose a value greater than the layer height you plan to print at, I chose 0.6mm to me safe.</p><p>Once you have the four gcode files saved (Black, White, Blue, and Fused) open them in a text editor like Notepad++. &nbsp;Here you will edit the gcode to modify the following sections:</p><ul><li>Preprint<ul><li>Leave untouched for the first color part</li><li>For subsequent files, remove the lines that refer to homing axes and resetting extrusion</li><li>Original (ABL, material purge, etc.)</li></ul></li></ul><pre><code class="language-gcode">M140 S60 M105 M190 S60 M104 S210 M105 M109 S210 M82 ;absolute extrusion mode G28 ; home all axes G29 ; Autolevel M500 ; commit mesh to EEPROM M117 Purge extruder G92 E0 ; reset extruder G1 Z1.0 F3000 ; move z up little to prevent scratching of surface G1 X2 Y20 Z0.3 F5000.0 ; move to start-line position G1 X2 Y200.0 Z0.3 F1500.0 E15 ; draw 1st line G1 X2 Y200.0 Z0.4 F5000.0 ; move up a little G1 X2 Y20 Z0.4 F1500.0 E30 ; draw 2nd line G92 E0 ; reset extruder G1 Z1.0 F3000 ; move z up little to prevent scratching of surface G92 E0 G92 E0 G1 F3600 E-3</code></pre><ul><li>&nbsp;<ul><li>Modified (leaving only the temperature settings and extrusion mode). Note that it can help to leave in the material purge section.</li></ul></li></ul><pre><code class="language-gcode">M140 S60 M105 M190 S60 M104 S210 M105 M109 S210 M82 ;absolute extrusion mode</code></pre><ul><li>Layers<ul><li>If you didn't lower the color sections to have only one layer you can remove all the layers after the first. &nbsp;Leave the post-print code for now.</li><li>For the fused model you can either move the model up by one layer (floating) or delete the first layer in the gcode.</li></ul></li><li>Post print<ul><li>For everything but the final part, modify the gcode ending code to remove the temperature changes, motors turning off, or anything else that changes the condition.<ul><li>Original end code (this may be different for your printer/slicer) followed by modified gcode (here the print head moves up and to the front to allow for easier filament change)</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><pre><code class="language-gcode">M140 S0 M107 G91; relative positioning G1 Z1.0 F3000 ; move z up little to prevent scratching of print G90; absolute positioning G1 X0 Y200 F1000 ; prepare for part removal M104 S0; turn off extruder M140 S0 ; turn off bed G1 X0 Y300 F1000 ; prepare for part removal M84 ; disable motors M106 S0 ; turn off fan M82 ;absolute extrusion mode M104 S0</code></pre><ul><li>Modified gcode (here the print head moves up and to the front to allow for easier filament change)</li></ul><pre><code class="language-gcode">G91; relative positioning G1 Z10.0 F3000 ; move z up little to prevent scratching of print G90; absolute positioning G1 X0 Y0 F1000 ; prepare for filament change</code></pre><p>&nbsp;</p><p>With those four files you're set to print! &nbsp;Have fun, then when you're done, have a cookie!</p>