1

I’m having trouble with Makerbot version 3.8.0.377

I want to print an object using the left extruder but no matter what I do it tries to make it print with the right.

I select the object and designate it to be printed with the left extruder which highlights the object in red. I then preview it and even though it is still red the software talks about a right material estimate and when I export the print file and go to print it tries to use the right extruder.

I’ve tried everything I can think of without success. I’ve been happily printing all day and then this has suddenly happened for no apparent reason.

I only use the left extruder as the right one is broken.

If anyone has any tips for me I would be very grateful as I’m at my wits end.

Many Thanks.

1 Like
2

I’m having similar issues.

Everything works fine using the right extruder, but if I try to print with two materials or using only the left extruder it won’t work. The printer heats up the right extruder, never the left, and extrudes an initial line.

I found that using the selecting one of the standard presets and restoring defaults seems to work but whenever I add a new setting or duplicate one of the default presets this issues occurs.

I’ve modified my printer to have a cooling fan for printing in PLA so I need to have a custom setting and edit the text file directly in order to use the fan.

Is there an archive of older versions of Makerbot desktop so I can test this with an older version?

Any suggestions or help would be very appreciated.

3

I have the same issue. Worked ok in 3.5, but updated to 3.8, and left extruder won’t work on my Replicator. Have you tried updating the printer’s firmware? I still have to try it when I get the chance.

4

I have been pulling my hair out over this same problem with my company’s Replicator 2X. I had created a custom preset for PLA in the left nozzle and couldn’t figure out why it kept trying to preheat the right nozzle instead. After reading what Tantor said below, I deleted my preset and edited one of the stock presets for PLA. Boom. Printing from the left extruder in PLA achieved. I too would like to get access to archival versions of firmware as well as MakerWare to work around this problem. In the meantime, I’ll avoid creating my own presets.

5

Exactly the same issue, and there are other posts with this in, it seems Makerbot doesn’t want to fix this!