<p>To print with 2 extruders simultaneously you need a firmware that supports that. Luckily, there is a firmware called Sailfish that is able to do that. The feature you are looking for is called <code>Ditto</code> printing.</p>

<p>Sailfish firmware is found <a href="http://www.sailfishfirmware.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-26T08:34:23.023Z
nice find with the firmware - did you used it? how it goes?
profesor79
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-26T16:00:24.860Z
@profesor79 I'm in the middle of adding another extruder, so I came across this firmware. I have not tried it yet, or don't know if I'll use it. Lots of people use it.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-26T06:43:59.013Z
2018-05-26T15:58:08.150Z
2018-05-26T15:58:08.150Z
0scar
<p>That depends what you want to achieve.
If you want to get a clone of your thing then - 0scar answer is a go for it.</p>

<p>In early days, I was thinking that this could speed up my printing, if both extrudes could work simultaneously - a piece here, a piece there on the same layer. But then I realized that this will be a good source of oozing (even with retraction a nozzle can touch already printed area by another nozzle) so my printout could get material drops.</p>

<p>Moreover, in most cases, we don't want to have one color printout scratched by another nozzle as that also decreases quality and visual outlook of printed thing.</p>

<p>From hardware point - there could be more strain on the CPU to drive next stepper (depends on the solution) and that can lead to slower printing alltogether.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-26T08:33:50.610Z
2018-05-26T08:33:50.610Z
profesor79
<p>If you want a ditto printing is not mandatory to have a specific firmware (or g-code), you only need to add extruder to your end effector and - because of electrical power requirements - add further stepper driver for further stepper motor. 
Please note that the maximum footprint of your printed object is less than the extruders distance, for obvious physical reasons, therefore is not that common to see, the typical dual extruder goal is to use different filament/color.
Of course, you have to achieve a notable calibration skill, and of course you have to modify the electronics of your printer (but this can be done quite easily, you only have to share the enable/step/dir signals with all the stepper driver).
This has been already done with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&amp;v=DeVeyUas5vU" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MPCNC project</a>.</p>

<p>Otherwise, if you want something more flexible, there are commercial printers with independent extruder. <a href="https://www.lpfrg.com/en/benefits-of-independent-dual-extruders/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This one, for example</a></p>

<p>Edit: i can't comment your answer yet, but can you describe your current 3d printer setup? Because if you have the two hot ends that are only few mm apart it makes little sense to ditto-print something.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-29T14:50:39.033Z
2018-05-29T15:49:23.027Z
2018-05-29T15:49:23.027Z
theGarz
<p>I am using 2 extruders. Is it possible to use them both at the same time.
Now I can use one at a time but not both at the same time.
Is there a gcode that supports this action?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-20T12:06:21.247Z
Does any of the answers helped you to get an answer on your question or helped you come to your own conclusions then please do vote and accept an answer. This helps us reduce the [unaswered questions list](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/unanswered). Found an other answer (then the already posted) yourself? Please add that answer (and accept after 48 hours) to share your experience with the community. If you have not been able to address the problem please update your question.
0scar
<extruder>
I want to use my 2 extruders simultaneously
Ron
# I want to use my 2 extruders simultaneously

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-26)

I am using 2 extruders. Is it possible to use them both at the same time.
Now I can use one at a time but not both at the same time.
Is there a gcode that supports this action?

**Tags:** extruder
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Does any of the answers helped you to get an answer on your question or helped you come to your own conclusions then please do vote and accept an answer. This helps us reduce the [unaswered questions list](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/unanswered). Found an other answer (then the already posted) yourself? Please add that answer (and accept after 48 hours) to share your experience with the community. If you have not been able to address the problem please update your question.  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-05-26. Score: 3

To print with 2 extruders simultaneously you need a firmware that supports that. Luckily, there is a firmware called Sailfish that is able to do that. The feature you are looking for is called `Ditto` printing.

Sailfish firmware is found [here](http://www.sailfishfirmware.com)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: nice find with the firmware - did you used it? how it goes?  
> **username_1**: @profesor79 I'm in the middle of adding another extruder, so I came across this firmware. I have not tried it yet, or don't know if I'll use it. Lots of people use it.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-05-26. Score: 1

That depends what you want to achieve.
If you want to get a clone of your thing then - 0scar answer is a go for it.

In early days, I was thinking that this could speed up my printing, if both extrudes could work simultaneously - a piece here, a piece there on the same layer. But then I realized that this will be a good source of oozing (even with retraction a nozzle can touch already printed area by another nozzle) so my printout could get material drops.

Moreover, in most cases, we don't want to have one color printout scratched by another nozzle as that also decreases quality and visual outlook of printed thing.

From hardware point - there could be more strain on the CPU to drive next stepper (depends on the solution) and that can lead to slower printing alltogether.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-05-29. Score: 0

If you want a ditto printing is not mandatory to have a specific firmware (or g-code), you only need to add extruder to your end effector and - because of electrical power requirements - add further stepper driver for further stepper motor.
Please note that the maximum footprint of your printed object is less than the extruders distance, for obvious physical reasons, therefore is not that common to see, the typical dual extruder goal is to use different filament/color.
Of course, you have to achieve a notable calibration skill, and of course you have to modify the electronics of your printer (but this can be done quite easily, you only have to share the enable/step/dir signals with all the stepper driver).
This has been already done with the [MPCNC project](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=DeVeyUas5vU).

Otherwise, if you want something more flexible, there are commercial printers with independent extruder. [This one, for example](https://www.lpfrg.com/en/benefits-of-independent-dual-extruders/)

Edit: i can't comment your answer yet, but can you describe your current 3d printer setup? Because if you have the two hot ends that are only few mm apart it makes little sense to ditto-print something.


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