Uploaded August 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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The ability to print multi-color prints on any FDM 3d printer is well within everyone's reach. While some 3d printers support the Marlin M600 command which automates changing filament many do not. This video walks the viewer step by step through the process of producing a multi-color 3d print on any 3d printer by using a standard slicer feature and Octoprint.

If you have wanted to produce multi-color 3d prints on the Creality Ender, Monoprice 3d Printers, Anet ET4, or ET5 or most standard FDM 3d printers this video is a must-watch.

Cura 4.6 is used to demonstrate this technique but it will work equally well on PrusaSlicer, Simplify 3d, or other slicers.

This video covers the following content:

05:05 Octoprint Templates
06:14 Multi-color Print Steps
07:02 Octoprint Setup
08:56 Gcode CMD Trapping
10:00 Custom Gcode
13:49 Cura Setup
15:37 Demo

To discuss this video with other viewers and to post pictures of your own multi-color prints head over to forum.drvax.com

A link to the Cura plugin for multi-color prints which is an alternative approach to solving this problem if you are printing from an SD card:

thingiverse.com/thing:2077884

The following g-code was demonstrated in this video (this g-code is a slightly modified version of the g-code example on the Octoprint web site).

; ***** g-code entered into the Octoprint pause section *****
{% if pause_position.x is not none %}
; play some tone to remind us something is happening
M300 S440 P200
M300 S660 P250
M300 S880 P300
; relative XYZ
G91
; relative E
M83
; retract filament, move Z slightly upwards
G1 Z+10 E-5 F4500
; absolute E
M82
; absolute XYZ
G90
; move to a safe rest position, adjust as necessary
G1 X0 Y0
; make sure position steppers stay powered on to lock position
M17 Z X Y
; unlock the extruder stepper so we can use the dial
M84 E
{% endif %}

; ***** G-code entered into the Octoprint resume section *****
{% if pause_position.x is not none %}
; relative extruder
M83
; prime nozzle
; retract filament just a bit
G1 E-5 F4500
; now extrude it the same amount
G1 E5 F4500
; absolute E
M82
; absolute XYZ
G90
; reset E
G92 E{{ pause_position.e }}
; move back to pause position XYZ
G1 X{{ pause_position.x }} Y{{ pause_position.y }} Z{{ pause_position.z }} F4500
; reset to feed rate before pause if available
{% if pause_position.f is not none %}G1 F{{ pause_position.f }}{% endif %}
{% endif %}

Link to the Octoprint web site:

octoprint.org

If you use Octoprint please support the project with a donation.

Let's continue to learn together. Irv

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I have reviewed the following printers or similar printers:

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These are some of the tools I use for 3d printing day-to-day:

➡︎ kit.co/makewithtech/basic-3d-printing-tools

I have reviewed or used the following 3d printer upgrades:

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Here are the 3d printer filaments I use to evaluate prints, software, and techniques:

➡︎ kit.co/makewithtech/3d-printing-filament-i-use-at-drvax

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➡︎ kit.co/makewithtech/software-and-electronic-kits

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➡︎ kit.co/makewithtech/drvax-woodworking-tools-and-supplies

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