Cura Profile for FlashForge Creator Pro

prusaprinters

<p>I was able to get Cura versions 3.6, 4.2.1, 4.4.1, 4.8.0, 4.9.0, 4.10.0, 4.11.0, 4.12.0, and 4.12.1 working with my FlashForge Creator Pro 2016 for all single extruder prints.<em>I haven't tried any other versions of Cura, but any versions between 3.6 and 4.12.1 will likely work as well, as should subsequent versions.</em> This thing contains a ZIP file which has all the configuration files necessary to get Cura working on your Creator Pro. There are two printer profiles: a left-extruder-only profile and right-extruder-only profile.</p> <p>The Creator Pro printer profiles<strong>work flawlessly with Cura 4.2.1 &amp; subsequent versions</strong>, but with Cura 3.6 after the nozzle is primed at the front left of the build plate (from the start G-gode), nothing is extruded at the start of the print. So<strong>with Cura 3.6 I have to start every print with a 380 mm to 600 mm skirt</strong>, depending on the layer height and width, before any plastic is actually extruded. Once it starts extruding a continuous line in the skirt it works perfectly fine and normal for the rest of the print. A 0.4 mm width x 0.2 mm height extrusion needs a 600 mm skirt. It's a minor issue, but I'd recommend upgrading to a newer version anyways if you're still running Cura 3.6.</p> <hr/> <h3>Installation Instructions</h3> <ol> <li>Install Cura and launch it. Cura will prompt you to add a printer. Pick any one, the default Ultimaker S5 is fine.</li> <li>Add the X3GWriter plugin from the Marketplace menu item. Quit Cura.</li> <li>Find the location of the Cura configuration folder. This is dependant on your operating system, and for Cura 4.12.x it should be:</li> </ol> <p>Linux: ~/.local/share/cura/4.12</p> <p>MacOS: ~/Library/Application\ Support/cura/4.12</p> <p>Windows: C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\cura\4.12</p> <p>For other versions, instead of a "4.12" folder look for "3.6", "4.2", "4.4" etc. 4. Install the profile configuration files by extracting them from the Cura-Profile-Flashforge-Creator-Pro-V4.zip file into the Cura configuration folder specified above. The files must be extracted into the same folder names (definitions, extruders, &amp; meshes) as they are located in the ZIP file. 5. Launch Cura and add the printer(s) by selecting from the menu "Preferences ==&gt; Configure Cura... ==&gt; Printers ==&gt; Add ==&gt; Add a non-networked printer". For Cura 3.6, scroll down in the "Other" section to the Flashforge printers. For Cura 4.x, scroll down to "Flashforge" and expand it. There are two printers available to be added: one for the left extruder only and one for the right extruder only. Add whichever one(s) you plan on using. 6. Start slicing your models with the best slicer available. Extruder 1 is the right extruder and extruder 2 is the left extruder. Although it's not required, it's recommended that you disable the unused extruder so that the correct extruder is automatically assigned to all parts of the print: the model(s), brim, skirt, raft, and supports.</p> <hr/> <h3>Technical Details</h3> <p>I followed the generic instructions at <a href="https://github.com/Ultimaker/Cura/wiki/Adding-new-machine-profiles-to-Cura">Adding new machine profiles to Cura</a>. I created two printer profiles (one for the left extruder and one for the right extruder) for the FlashForge Creator Pro as Makerbot style G-code, with origin at center, relative extrusion enabled, and set the crucial parameter defined for X3GWriter in the printer definition files:</p> <p>"machine_x3g_variant": "fcp",</p> <p>Next I added the printers to Cura and set the start G-code to heat the bed and prime the nozzle and set the end G-code to turn the heaters off.</p> <p>Note that officially the build volume is 227 mm x 148 mm x 150 mm, but my Cura configuration has it set to 230 mm x 155 mm x 150 mm which is what looks to be the actual maximum build volume. However, Cura will only slice the mesh(es) if they are about 1.3 mm smaller than the build volume for in both the X and the Y dimensions, so effectively the build volume is about 228.7 mm x 153.7 mm x 150 mm. Of course, if you're printing a brim or skirt, you will need to allow space on the build plate for that also, so that will reduce the space available for your model(s).</p> <p>Thanks to <a href="/pvsleeper/about"><em>pvsleeper</em></a> for fixing the bed heating issue in the start G-code and for providing the improved start G-code which does a better job of priming the nozzle. Thanks to <a href="/Toylerrr/about"><em>Toylerrr</em></a> for the STL of the build plate.</p> <p>Note: I've only ever created single-extrusion prints with Cura as I had already removed the right extruder from my Creator Pro before getting Cura working with it. I have no idea what would be required to get dual-extrusion working: it might work with some minor changes, or it might be impossible to get working.</p> <p>2020-02-14 update: It looks like eugr has figured out how to get dual-extrusion working, so if you want to try it then have a look at <a href="https://github.com/eugr/Flashforge-for-Cura">https://github.com/eugr/Flashforge-for-Cura</a>.</p> <p>These instructions and configuration files may be helpful in getting Cura working with other FlashForge printers but some of the settings would have to be changed.</p> <p>2021-04-22 update: Cura-Profile-Flashforge-Creator-Pro-V4.zip: in order to be added in Cura 4.9, the manufacturer name in the printer definition files had to be changed from "FlashForge" to "Flashforge", presumably in order to exactly match the manufacture name in the Dreamer NX definition file which comes as a pre-configure printer in Cura 4.9.</p> <p><em>Thingiverse requires an STL in any thing that's published, so I just included an STL made using the customizer for my <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3321080">46 Room Signs Like "The Office" Logo</a>.</em></p> <hr/> <h3>ZIP File</h3> <p>The Cura-Profile-Flashforge-Creator-Pro-V4.zip file in the download contains all the configuration files for both the left-extruder-only printer profile and the right-extruder-only printer profile.</p> <p>definitions/flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly.def.json</p> <p>definitions/flashforgecreatorpro_rightextruderonly.def.json</p> <p>extruders/flashforgecreatorpro_rightextruderonly_extruder_1.def.json</p> <p>extruders/flashforgecreatorpro_rightextruderonly_extruder_0.def.json</p> <p>extruders/flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly_extruder_0.def.json</p> <p>extruders/flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly_extruder_1.def.json</p> <p>meshes/FlashForge_CreatorPro.stl</p> <hr/> <h3>Some of My Designs</h3> <p>Click an image below (opens in a new tab) or <a href="/Lyl3/designs">go to my designs page and see them all.</a></p> <p>If you see some thing that you like ,<strong>please click the Like button</strong> and turn that heart red .</p> Category: 3D Printer Accessories