Get more from your slicer using variables and conditional gcode

If you are drowning in multiple slicer profiles to handle various 3D printing combinations, you might be able to streamline using variables. Variables allow us to have a single set of gcode, but substitute in the values required for that specific print.
In this video, we work through several examples and compare the capabilities of PrusaSlicer, SuperSlicer and Cura. We also cover conditional gcode to support multi material printing from a single printer profile.

0:00 Introduction

0:35 What are variables?

2:31 Example 1 - Print progress by layer

4:19 Cura limitations

5:45 Example 2 - Print progress by height

7:03 Example 3 - Start gcode temperatures

8:21 What is conditional gcode?

8:51 Conditional gcode scenario - Automatic hot end heating on IDEX

10:00 Dummy material for unused extruder

10:36 Syntax for conditional gcode in PrusaSlicer/SuperSlicer

12:34 Max() function example

13:23 Conclusion

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[RogerGarrett]

Excellent video. I like that you assume the user has no experience with computer programming and therefore explain everything in detail.

[anthonycastillo]

I"VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS, My initial bed temp and nozzle temp would not work, but this was LITTERALLY the only video that addressed variables. Thanks Teaching tech guy (I forget your name)

[chrisBruner]

A whole area of slicing I didn't know about. Thanks for the video.

[MCsCreations]

Fascinating stuff! Thanks, Michael!
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[dmax]

This guide is amazing, especially for super slicer. Thanks a million. I had trouble finding this level of info on my own. Great video.

[rossbeazley]

This was perfect, i've applied this empty material trick and conditional gcode to my upgraded idex ender 3 - perfecta!

[RomanoPRODUCTION]

Michael, our vampire friendly youtuber in Australia. Thank you.

[Codyprince]

I learned so much from your channel while first learning the 3d printing basic stuff. Once I evolved to klipper and superslicer, I had to start looking else where. Love seeing you do advanced 3d printing stuff like this. Klipper and superslicer are defiantly the future. Theres too many people doing marlin and cura stuff. Keep up the good work.

[Piccyman]

Love the conditional code bit for the SV04, already added the script, thank you 😀

[LordBarrington]

For Cura it's the post processing script "Display Filename And Layer On LCD" has a checkbox to show maximum layer.

more user friendly than trying to remember specific gcode numbers

[RadTechDad]

This is awesome! There should be more videos like this!

[davtech]

Thank you! This was just what I needed.

[JarnoKai]

For Cura, the same Post Processing Plugin has a specific script called "Display Filename And Layer On LCD" which will do exactly what was achieved in this video - including the option for max layer number. It is obviously not as flexible as the video intended (no variable substitution), but at least that one specific use case is available on Cura.

[Dramaican]

Fantastic video. My use case will be for a custom IDEX printer that has brushes for cleaning the nozzles before priming the toolhead. Because PETG tends to stick to the nozzle too much, on an IDEX you get cleaner results if you clean the nozzles on the brush each time you change tool. I have seen that for E3D toolchangers they edit the toolchange macros, but that only works for RRF control boards. It is nice that there are free slicers offering this amount of control and customizability. Customizing the hardware of the machines (adding cleaning brushes) is a lot easier for most users than making custom slicer plugins/scripts or modifying firmware. At least for people with experience in design for 3d printing, that don't have much experience in coding.

[mururoa]

I sure hope this will be supported more by Cura.

[madddog]

well done. I needed this information !! 🙂

[Jynxx_]

I've done the exact same thing on my TLD3-Pro IDEX machine. I made an "extruder off" profile so I can print with the right extruder on a single material print and the left never heats at all. Trying to keep the usage close to the same on each extruder and .6 CHT nozzle. It's my largest printer(until my 350 Trident is finished) and CHT nozzles aren't cheap. Great informative video

[sebd]

Great video, so much can be done with this!!

[timchapman]

Another excellent video! Thank you! Please make a playlist that has all your videos that cover super slicer.

[stuart_fisher]

I've replied to a comment on this already, but I thought I'd mention it here too. I'm using Prusaslicer 2.6.0-Beta4 and I had to place the variables in square brackets ( [ ] )instead of curly brackets ( { } ) to get it to slice.