2+ Color Customizable Keychains with 1 Extruder Multicolor with No AMS

2 Color Keychains with 1 Extruder

Allows printing two (or more) color keychains with a single extruder.

This model and method allows you to print a multi color, but still flat, keychain with a single extruder.

The trick here is breaking the model into multiple prints that are printed one at a time. This first set up steps we'll call “beginner mode” using my pre-existing model and just two colors.

1. Use the attached F3D file as a starting place (I'll include instructions on making your own later)
2. Edit the second sketch to be whatever you want!
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   2. Less intricate designs and bold text work better unless using a .2mm nozzle.
3. Export the entire design to your slicer by choosing it from the top of the tree before clicking OK.
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4. In the slicer, move the model so that it will not interfere with any ABL between prints!
5. Inside the slicer, split the model to objects
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6. Choose the design objects from the right hand panel (this will be your first color) and choose merge
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   2. If you are doing more than two colors, you can repeat this step for other colors.
7. Use the eye symbol to hide the top main part of the keychain.
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8. Slice the first model.
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9. Save the gcode file for your first print
   1. If you include a skirt, you will need to either remove it between prints, or set the skirt offset to be outside of the final keychain. Brims will not work here.
10. Change the hidden model from the merged object to the main body (or the second color of multiple)
11. Add some Z lift under the Filament tab. I usually go with .6mm below .6mm.
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12. Slice the second model. Make sure you have supports turned off.
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13. Export the gcode for the second print.
14. Send the first print to the printer!
15. Once it's finished (it should only take a few moments) remove the skirt if you included it.
16. Change from your design color to your main color.
17. Send the second print to the printer and watch the magic happen!

That's it! It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Below are some more advanced steps.

Advanced Option 1: Change the first sketch to be something other than round. In the pictures, you can see an example of one that I made that wasn't just a circle.

Advanced Option 2: Add another sketch on the opposite side of the keychain as the original design. Extrude it up .6-.8mm. When you slice the second part, add a color change before the top 3-4 layers to add a design on both sides (see picture 3).

Advanced Option 3: Instead of just two prints, divide the design on your keychain into two or more parts in the slicer and make each color its own print. Make sure to remove the skirt after each print before starting the next print, and make sure that all but the very first print have Z-Hop enabled.

Advanced Option 3: Instead of using two completely separate prints, use Notepad++ or another text editor to combine gcodes. I copied the second gcode after my “start_print” macro (or starting gcode for Marlin) until (and including) my “end_print” macro. Then I opened up the first gcode file, found where the “end_print” macro was, replaced it with the M600 command, and pasted in the entire second gcode. Just make sure you only have one start_print (or starting gcode in Marlin) and one end_print (or ending gcode in Marlin) and that in the middle, all you have is the M600 command. Additional information in the file before start_print and after end_print can be left as is and not copied. Only try this method if you are comfortable with editing gcode files and keep your hand on the stop button the first time just in case.

A brief summation of the steps for creating the model:

1. Start with a sketch that is the overall shape of your keychain with a hole in it and extrude it to about 2mm.
2. Make a new sketch on the bottom of the current sketch for your design. Use SVGs, Text, or just generic sketch tools to generate the design.
3. Extrude the elements of that sketch .4mm up into the first body, but set the action to new body instead of cut (the default).
   1. Optionally, then create a selection set of all the new bodies it created from the extrude.
4. Use the combine bodies option to cut the new bodies out of the first body, but make sure you select keep tools so you don't lose your design.
5. From here, you can jump to step 1 of the beginner steps, or move to Advanced Option 2.

Have fun and Happy Printing!!!