ThinTall M2 model 1st prints

[Tim]

Just for learning I opened up the tallthin that was sent to me from MG.

Here are the settings it shows. I assume that these are the only settings to be found in the gcode.
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The header doesn't match the header for tallhex.g found on the MakerGear Wiki page under "sample prints": (http://makergear.wdfiles.com/local--fil ... /tallhex.g). That one was sliced using slic3r. Sounds like this "tallthin" you refer to was sliced using Simplify3D, and is not posted on the Wiki site.

I looked at the tallhex.g gcode using Simplify3D as a gcode previewer, and I see that it is thick enough for three outer and three inner perimeters, with additional fill in between. So there is plenty of fill in the model, and it's definitely not a single-wall spiral vase slice.

3dprintingMD posted the gcode included in the SD card. Here is the Slic3r ini file that came on the SD card:

The only thing that stands out to me is that the fill density is 0.2, and tallhex.g is set to a fill density of 0.2, and they both are set to 3 perimeters. So if one weighs more than the other, it must be extruding more all the time, because all of the other settings look exactly the same. Both claim to be set to an extrusion multiplier of 1 (which is a bit too high, but we're looking for differences between the two gcode setups, and that's not one).

The only thing I can suggest is not to use a first layer height of 0.3 and a first layer extrusion width of 200%. I would usually suggest a 0.2mm first layer height and a first layer extrusion width of 100% (or default, which is value 0). Makes me wonder if the extrusion width is somehow not going back to normal after the first layer. You could figure that out from the gcode; it would require a little bit of calculation to determine whether both files are incrementing the E value by the same amount per X-Y movement distance.

[Quark]

Interesting. I'm not that keen into understanding the Gcode, but based on tool path, not including the first few layers, it only prints two walls, inside and outside, there is no fill that I can see the tool going to, despite the settings summary saying 30%. I've attached the tallthin.g code for reference.

This is my first 3d printer, 3 days old, just taking it easy step at a time. It hasn't been exactly smooth sailing, but just learning curve. Last night, I was printing a fan duct, and the extruder jammed up mid print. I panicked cause the extruder wasn't moving, and I was afraid to dismantle it, as per instructions and the big sheet of paper with the warning sign "please do NOT attempt to make any repairs or modifications to your machine before contacting MakerGear technical support." Luckily, I was able to just heat the head hotter, from 190 to 220, and the filament started to ooze out, and I was able to pull the extruder out, cut it and get it going again. Sorry, got off topic.

So, taking it one step at a time, the manual does say if the print doesn't come out like the sample, after slicing through Slic3r using their ini file, consult the MakerGear support page. This 3d printing thing, reminds me of golfing, you get all these crappy shots, all to just have that one beautiful shot that makes you want to do it again. LOL

[Jules]

Interesting. I'm not that keen into understanding the Gcode, but based on tool path, not including the first few layers, it only prints two walls, inside and outside, there is no fill that I can see the tool going to, despite the settings summary saying 30%. I've attached the tallthin.g code for reference.

The 30% fill will happen if you have walls that are spaced far apart enough to allow it. For the tallthin.g file, (as i recall), the thickness of the wall was only wide enough to accept two threads side by side if you have an extruded thread thickness of 0.4 mm or greater. If you reduce the width of the extrusion to 0.37 mm, you should start to see it do infill.

That's just a quirk of that particular file.

[Quark]

Hi Jules,

I think you are absolutely right there about the width and might be related to S3d, vs Slic3r. I haven't attempted to replicate the same print yet, as I was printing other items fine and tweaking and switching to PETG too. haha. but, my guess is that Slic3r is trying to do the infill, and I'd bet if I did 0% infill, I would get an very nice looking tallthin print. Also, found that S3D aligns the seams different than Slic3r. guess just quirks of the programs. One day, when I attempt this again, I'll post some results of the ideal Slic3r settings for it. Maybe MakerGear guys can update their shipped instructions and shipped .ini files to actually get it to print like the sample. Would save a bit of headache for the next new user.