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Toolchanger Overview

Toolchanger support is currently in beta

Toolchanger support in AFC is still in active development. While functional, you may encounter bugs or rough edges. If you run into issues, please reach out first in the Armored Turtle Discord for help and discussion. If the issue is confirmed, please also report it on the AFC-Klipper-Add-On GitHub so it can be tracked and resolved.

AFC supports toolchanger setups, allowing AFC to manage filament loading, unloading, and tool selection across multiple toolheads. This guide covers the three supported lane-to-toolhead connection modes and explains how to configure each one.

In a toolchanger setup, AFC coordinates with an external toolchanger system to handle both the physical tool swap and the filament state for each toolhead. Currently AFC natively supports klipper-toolchanger for the physical tool swap operation but can also work alongside other non-klipper-toolchanger setups using custom macros. Tool swap handling is planned to move into AFC directly in a future release, at which point klipper-toolchanger and other external toolchanger systems will continue to be supported.

Before configuring AFC, your toolchanger system must be fully installed and verified working independently. If using klipper-toolchanger, this includes confirming that SELECT_TOOL, UNSELECT_TOOL, tool offsets, and any docking macros are all operating correctly. If you are not using klipper-toolchanger, ensure that any custom tool selection and deselection macros are already set up and working before introducing AFC. AFC layers on top of an existing working toolchanger system; attempting to configure AFC before the toolchanger is functional will make troubleshooting significantly more difficult.

Each toolhead in your system is represented by an [AFC_extruder] section. Depending on how filament reaches that toolhead, lanes are configured in one of three modes. The examples throughout this guide are based on an HTLF unit with the following layout:

  • lane1 → extruder (direct)
  • lane2 → extruder1 (direct)
  • lane3 + lane4 → extruder2 (hub)
  • extruder3 + extruder4 → standalone (no unit lane)
Mode Description
Direct A single lane connects directly to a dedicated toolhead with no hub in between. Toolhead loading is triggered manually or via a toolchange.
Direct Load Same as direct, but AFC automatically loads filament to the toolhead when a spool is inserted into the lane.
Hub Two or more lanes from a unit share a single toolhead via a hub.
Standalone A toolchanger toolhead has no AFC unit/lane attached; filament is loaded manually once filament is inserted and toolhead sensor is triggered.