TLDR: 3D Chameleon is a (now) open source 4 filament AMS that can be used with many different printer models. Getting it to work well on an AnkerMake M5 using Orca Slicer (and in a compact space) took quite a bit of tinkering. Bottom line, It Works! Finally!
I've been tinkering different solutions for this for about a year calendar time, but not all at once.
Background: This printer is in my garage, and is subject to the variations of the weather, particularly humidity. The shelf I have it on has limited vertical clearance, so I had to make allowances for that. Even with those allowances, I’ll lose some height in the models I can print until I can move the shelf.
Besides the vertical clearance, I need to keep a fairly well sealed pathway from the filament storage through printing. The long run drove a couple of material choices and style of 4-way splitter I used.
Printer specifics: I discovered that movement of Y-5 was possible, so setting the pushbutton outside the printable plate area was possible.
I also discovered that even after ‘fully’ retracting filament after tip shaping, the extruder still held onto the filament, so adding a retraction during unloading assisted removal of the filament.
I use OrcaSlicer, and since the 3DC tool output is intended for PrusaSlicer, I had to adapt it for Orca.
I put custom g-code in the print startup to ‘Home’ the 3DC to have a consistent starting point.
I put custom g-code in the print end code to run tip-shaping, and then ‘Unload and Home’ so things would be ready for startup of the next print.
I also have isolated g-code files to run to exercise various function of the 3DC, including an isolated version of the end-of-print code to run if a print needs to be cancelled, to remove the current filament, and unload it to ensure a consistent starting point.
I went through several mounting design patterns attempting to have a workable/reliable configuration. Many were very difficult to do maintenance, load filament, etc. What I settled on are mounts that slide onto the filament spool arm, and the specific 3DC mount has a dovetail mount to make it easy to remove and replace it to do maintenance on the 3DC steppers and associated PTFE connections.
I also went through a few splitter designs and mounts, and settled on a printable 4-way with 10mm connectors mounted to the extruder cooling fan space. I actually did several mounts designed for several different splitters, including the shipped 3DC, the Bambu, and another printable splitter.
One of the material choices was to use 4mm OD 2.5mm ID clear/translucent PTFE instead of the 4mmx2mm tubing. The additional .5 reduced the overall friction along the PTFE line. Having a very short load/unload length also facilitates smooth operation and allowed the shaped tip to be a little larger.
I also upgraded the 3DC power supply. The shipped PS did not work correctly when power was lost, providing less than required power. Unplugging/replugging at the 3DC controller restored operation, but that was not a long-term solution, and I had a higher amp PS available to use.
STL Models: Some of these are wholly designed by me. Some (particularly the motor and board mounts) are based on Bill’s designs (which he has now happily open-sourced!)
Extruder Mounts:
M10 size 4-way square splitter
Bambu style splitter
M10 in-line splitter
3DC splitter
3DC Screen - 1.54” screen (upgrade)
Filament Sensor Mount
Screen Holder back
Screen Holder front
Slide-on Spool Arm mounts
Dove tail main 3DC slide holder
Small slide-on support
Slide-on controller mount (remix from Bill)
Controller cover (remix from Bill)
3DC mount with 10mm PTFE hold assistance (I had an issue where pressure would overcome the ‘slotted’ PTFE hold with the 2.5mmID PTFE tubes. (remix from Bill)
PTFE tube 4-way ‘holder’
Rear switch mount replacing the rear cover (remix from AnkerMake)
Rear switch holder
Other Related Models
Magnetic twist quick release
https://www.printables.com/model/380854-twist-quick-relase-ptfe-tube-connector
Filament 4to1 Adapter
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6246256
PTFE Disconnect Tool
https://www.printables.com/model/913982-bambu-a1-ams-disconnect-tool-for-ptfe-tubes
custom g-code
Tipshape, Home and Unload
Custom machine g-code for OrcaSlicer
The author remixed this model.
Too many to mention. Basically, the controller mount area and stepper mount area were cut down and used as parts in mount models.