Cura Profile for FlashForge Creator Pro

I was able to get Cura 3.6, Cura 4.2.1, and Cura 4.4.1 working with my FlashForge Creator Pro 2016 for all single extruder prints. I haven't tried any other versions of Cura, but any versions between 3.6 and 4.4.1 will likely work as well. 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.

The Creator Pro printer profiles work flawlessly with Cura 4.2.1 & Cura 4.4.1, 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 with Cura 3.6 I have to start every print with a 380 mm to 600 mm skirt, 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.

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###Installation Instructions

1. Install Cura and launch it. Cura will prompt you to add a printer. Pick any one, the default Ultimaker S5 is fine.

2. Add the X3GWriter plugin from the Marketplace menu item. Quit Cura.

3. Find the location of the Cura configuration folder. This is dependant on your operating system, and for Cura 4.4.x it should be:
   Linux: ~/.local/share/cura/4.4
   MacOS: ~/Library/Application\ /cura/4.4
   Windows: C:\s\YOUR_NAME\AppData\Roaming\cura\4.4
   For Cura 3.6 or Cura 4.2.x, instead of a "4.4" folder look for "3.6" or "4.2", respectively.

4. Install the profile configuration files by extracting them from the Cura-Profile-Flashforge-Creator-Pro-V3.zip file into the Cura configuration folder specified above. The files must be extracted into the same folder names (definitions, extruders, & meshes) as they are located in the ZIP file.

5. Launch Cura and add the printer(s) by selecting from the menu "Preferences ==> Configure Cura... ==> Printers ==> Add ==> Add a non-networked printer". For Cura 3.6, scroll down in the "Other" section to the Flashforge printers. For Cura 4.2 & Cura 4.4, 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 s.

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###Technical Details

I followed the generic instructions at Adding new machine profiles to Cura. 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:
"machine_x3g_variant": "f",
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.

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).

Thanks to pvsleeper 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 Toylerrr for the STL of the build plate.

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.

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 https://github.com/eugr/Flashforge-for-Cura.

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.

Thingiverse requires an STL in any thing that's published, so I just included an STL made using the customizer for my 46 Room Signs Like "The Office" Logo.

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###ZIP File
The Cura-Profile-Flashforge-Creator-Pro-V3.zip file in the contains all the configuration files for both the left-extruder-only printer profile and the right-extruder-only printer profile.

definitions/flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly.def.json
definitions/flashforgecreatorpro_rightextruderonly.def.json
extruders/flashforgecreatorpro_rightextruderonly_extruder_1.def.json
extruders/flashforgecreatorpro_rightextruderonly_extruder_0.def.json
extruders/flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly_extruder_0.def.json
extruders/flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly_extruder_1.def.json
meshes/FlashForge_CreatorPro.stl

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###File contents and G-code

Shown below are the contents of the configuration files and the G-code for the left-extruder-only printer profile. This is for reference only as all required files are in the Cura-Profile-Flashforge-Creator-Pro-V3.zip file.

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#####definitions/flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly.def.json file

{
    "name": "FlashForge Creator Pro - Left Extruder",
    "version": 2,
    "inherits": "fdmprinter",
    "metadata": {
        "visible": true,
        "author": "Lyle",
        "manufacturer": "FlashForge",
        "platform": "FlashForge_CreatorPro.stl",
        "machine_x3g_variant": "f",
        "file_formats": "application/x3g",
        "platform_offset": [ 0, 0, 0],
        "machine_extruder_trains":
        {
            "0": "flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly_extruder_0",
            "1": "flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly_extruder_1"
        }
    },

    "overrides": {
        "infill_sparse_density": { "default_value": 15 },
        "machine_extruder_count": { "default_value": 2 },
        "machine_heated_bed": { "default_value": true },
        "machine_center_is_zero": { "default_value": true },
        "machine_height": { "default_value": 150 },
        "machine_gcode_flavor": { "default_value": "Makerbot" },
        "machine_depth": { "default_value": 155 },
        "machine_width": { "default_value": 230 },
        "machine_name": { "default_value": "FlashForge Creator Pro - Left Extruder" },
        "relative_extrusion": { "default_value": true, "value": true },
        "machine_start_gcode": {"default_value": "; **** FlashForge Creator Pro PRINTER start.gcode for using left extruder only ****\nM83 ; relative extrusion mode\nM73 P0 ; enable build progress\nG162 X Y F3000 ; home XY maximum\nG161 Z F1200 ; home Z minimum\nG92 Z-5 ; set Z to -5\nG1 Z0 ; move Z to 0\nG161 Z F100 ; home Z slowly\nM132 X Y Z A B ; recall home offsets\nM135 T0 ; load right extruder offsets\nG1 X-110 Y-70 Z30 F9000 ; move to wait position left hand side of the table\nG130 X20 Y20 Z20 A20 B20 ; lower stepper Vrefs while heating\nM127; disable fan\nM140 S{material_bed_temperature} T0 ; set bed temperature\nM134 T0 ; stabilize bed temperature\nM104 S{material_print_temperature_layer_0} T1 ; set left extruder temperature\nM133 T1 ; stabilize left extruder temperature\nG130 X127 Y127 Z40 A127 B127 ; default stepper Vrefs\nG92 A0 B0 ; zero extruders\nG1 Z0.4 ; position nozzle\nM135 T1 ; left tool\nG1 X-140 Y-70 F9000 ; reposition nozzle\nG1 X-100 Y-70 E25 F300 ; purge nozzle\nG1 X-110 Y-70 Z0.15 F1200 ; slow wipe\nG1 X-100 Y-70 Z0.5 F1200 ; lift\nG92 A0 B0 ; zero extruders\nM73 P1 ;@body (notify GPX body has started)\n; **** end of start.gcode ****\n" },
        "machine_end_gcode": {"default_value": "; **** FlashForge Creator Pro PRINTER end.gcode ****\nM73 P100 ; end build progress\nG1 Z150 F1000 ; send Z axis to bottom of machine\nM140 S0 T0 ; cool down HBP\nM104 S0 T0 ; cool down right extruder\nM104 S0 T1 ; cool down left extruder\nM127 ; stop blower fan\nG162 X Y F3000 ; home XY maximum\nM18 ; disable stepper\nM70 P3 ; We <3 Making Things!\nM72 P1 ; play Ta-Da song\n; **** end of end.gcode ****\n" }
    }
}

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#####extruders/flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly_extruder_0.def.json file

{
    "id": "flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly_extruder_0",
    "version": 2,
    "name": "Right Extruder",
    "inherits": "fdmextruder",
    "metadata": {
        "machine": "flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly",
        "position": "0"
    },

    "overrides": {
        "extruder_nr": {
            "default_value": 0,
            "maximum_value": "1"
        },
        "machine_nozzle_size": { "default_value": 0.4 },
        "material_diameter": { "default_value": 1.75 }
    }
}

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#####extruders/flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly_extruder_1.def.json file

{
    "id": "flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly_extruder_1",
    "version": 2,
    "name": "Left Extruder",
    "inherits": "fdmextruder",
    "metadata": {
        "machine": "flashforgecreatorpro_leftextruderonly",
        "position": "1"
    },

    "overrides": {
        "extruder_nr": {
            "default_value": 1,
            "maximum_value": "1"
        },
        "machine_nozzle_size": { "default_value": 0.4 },
        "material_diameter": { "default_value": 1.75 }
    }
}

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#####Printer Start G-code for Left Extruder

; **** FlashForge Creator Pro PRINTER start.gcode for using left extruder only ****
M83 ; relative extrusion mode
M73 P0 ; enable build progress
G162 X Y F3000 ; home XY maximum
G161 Z F1200 ; home Z minimum
G92 Z-5 ; set Z to -5
G1 Z0 ; move Z to 0
G161 Z F100 ; home Z slowly
M132 X Y Z A B ; recall home offsets
M135 T0 ; load right extruder offsets
G1 X-110 Y-70 Z30 F9000 ; move to wait position left hand side of the table
G130 X20 Y20 Z20 A20 B20 ; lower stepper Vrefs while heating
M127; disable fan
M140 S{material_bed_temperature} T0 ; set bed temperature
M134 T0 ; stabilize bed temperature
M104 S{material_print_temperature_layer_0} T1 ; set left extruder temperature
M133 T1 ; stabilize left extruder temperature
G130 X127 Y127 Z40 A127 B127 ; default stepper Vrefs
G92 A0 B0 ; zero extruders
G1 Z0.4 ; position nozzle
M135 T1 ; left tool
G1 X-140 Y-70 F9000 ; reposition nozzle
G1 X-100 Y-70 E25 F300 ; purge nozzle
G1 X-110 Y-70 Z0.15 F1200 ; slow wipe
G1 X-100 Y-70 Z0.5 F1200 ; lift
G92 A0 B0 ; zero extruders
M73 P1 ;@body (notify GPX body has started)
; **** end of start.gcode ****

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#####End G-code

; **** FlashForge Creator Pro end.gcode ****
M73 P100 ; end build progress
G1 Z150 F1000 ; send Z axis to bottom of machine
M140 S0 T0 ; cool down HBP
M104 S0 T0 ; cool down right extruder
M104 S0 T1 ; cool down left extruder
M127 ; stop blower fan
G162 X Y F3000 ; home XY maximum
M18 ; disable stepper
M70 P3 ; We <3 Making Things!
M72 P1 ; play Ta-Da song
; **** end of end.gcode ****

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