simplify3d v3.0

[insta]

Not to be nosy but what did it cost to buy?

I think it was like 500 bucks. Not for the average hobbyist...

[lem]

you can have multiple versions on you machine that will all run

Hey, Jim. Thanks for that tip. Great way to check on problems with 3.0.

[wmgeorge]

it only asks you to login if you have internet access and your logged out. if i log out, shut down s3d, disconnect the network cable then restart it will not as to log back in. so you can run it no problem with no internet access. if there is nothing being sent back and forth then im not sure why its necessary to be logged in or out at all but whatever. either way it doesnt affect the operation of the software so i guess it really doesnt matter.

OK I logged in and downloaded the Zip file. Then unzipped and installed on my Inside laptop and it works fine. But the machine is out in the shop.... so I copied the Un-zipped install Folder took to shop copied onto that computer and installed and setup out there. But now every time I need to use it wants to call home, other words it requires a internet connection which I can only use out there as a cell phone hot spot.

So it can not be used without an active internet connection??

[jimc]

It should only need the connection 1 time which is for the intial install. I needs to register that machine as running s3d. Once thats done then no internet is required.

[kazolar]

So far, I really don't have much good to report about V3. The new infil patterns seem odd -- I tried a couple and the model came out worse than using the good-old rectalinear. The concentric pattern for first layers looked fun, but it omitted some lines -- (rounding errors, not sure, anyways -- seems might be useful for round things, but not for most things which are rectangular or in that family. The other infill -- I'd think were intended to improve object strength, but at 10% infill rectalinear is still best -- other patterns turn out sparse and unsatisfactory results.

The UI is the best part of the program, but the slicing is worse -- support structure problems.
Why not have support go all the way to the edge of a model, I have a box with a protrusion, I have the protrusion at the bottom, the support would be dead simple to cover the edge of the box, they don't so the perimeter is not supported (kinda obvious to have it support to the edge)
I tried tweaking the support parameter for overflow and it doesn't appear to fix it in all directions.
Prevent crossing seems to not work or is broken, I set the number to be 150mm so I'd hope the algorithm would take the head as far as possible to avoid crossing the print, but yet the head is still bumping into just laid down layer.

Worse result yet, I had 2 prints go for a long time 4 hrs+ and then shift, the belts are properly tensioned, no adhesion issues, everything else is perfect, bed is level. This was not an issue with version 2.2 -- I have octoprint controlling the printer, so not Simplify 3D.

So far it's a no go for me -- I'm going back to 2.2 -- I wish I could have the UI from 3.0, and engine from 2.2 or whatever is the proper combination -- I imported the profile from 2.2 that I've been using and made those adjustments with the hope of utilizing the new features, and alas, all the promise leaves me very disappointed. I wasted an overnight print, and 4 hours of printing today on junk gcode generated by V3 + I wasted a good bit of filament -- so much so that I had to order new roll from Amazon with Sunday delivery if I hope to finish my print any time soon.

[jimc]

I dont really know where to start with this one lol. obviously the infill patterns have been added but the infill is printed on every layer so its much stronger and solid. I never had an issue with rectilinear but the new ones are stronger and should not be more sparse at all. Remember you need to increase the % to get the same size because the infill is calculated by volume. Rectilinear is printed every other layer so 25% on that would need to be 50% on grid setting. As for your missed steps and failed prints. The slicer isnt the cause of that stuff. Only time the slicer is the cause is when the skip actually is visible in the print preview. This can be either from i extrusion, high acceleration or speed settings. How the support system works in v3.0 is no different that in 2.2. As a matter of fact it has not really changed since i started using it in version 1.1.4. Its pretty easy to get the support to reach the sides of the model if you adjust the grid and inflation distance. Im not saying v3 is completely bug free. There are a few minor ones but nothing big. All in all you should easily be getting better prints with it. It is sooo much nicer and they did an awesome job on it. I just think going back to v2.2 isnt your solution because the problems your having arent really version related.

[kazolar]

I made 3 prints which failed using the 3.0 features going back to 2.2 and they worked beautifully while as with 3.0 they shifted -- using the SAME profile, only differences were I ticked a few of the NEW feature boxes hoping to see improvements. I really don't see ANY reason to use the new version. I don't have the time or the extra filament to mess around with it -- 10% is 10% infill, if you are saying to get to the same level of strength on new patterns I need to increase to 50% -- that means I'm using more plastic to accomplish the same thing -- HUH? And the concentric pattern is absolutely messed up for the external fill pattern as the preview mode INDEED does show missed lines --- I see no use in it. The new features of not crossing lines DOESNT work how high do I need to set the maximum allowed detour factor to 150mm is enough to cross half the bed -- not enough? Retraction on travel feature doesn't seem to do any improvement, the support extra inflation distance plubmb doesn't work -- I said I tried it, and still the support doesn't get to the (or past the edge of the model -- a simple box with a protrusion at the bottom like I said) -- I really want to use the new version, the UI is better, but I wasted to much time and filament trying to make it work.

[jimc]

The inflation distance is in older versions as well. Are you saying it worked in older versions and not in 3.0 or it never really worked? Nothing is different in the new version on hiw the support system works. Its the same as it ever was. You have a grid size with inflation distance. If something is not getting supported then you need to use a smaller grid/support structure size and then bump up the inflation distance a little. As for the infill basically yes. If you use 10% then you need to up it to 20%. There is nothing wrong there. Thats completely correct. Solid infill printed every layer and rectilinear printed every other layer is not the same thing. Solid is for strength. You cant really compare the two. Rectilinear Is just 1000's of little bridges. New ones are printed solid for the strength. Rectilinear is still there in 3.0 if you like it. It has not changed. Concentric has always been part of s3d and always worked the way you described. Its an odd solid layer pattern that i never really liked myself. For that not to produce a small gap on a circular object then the area has to evenly fit all the extrusions so you need to adjust the extrusion width until the gap is gone. I cant really comment in the not crossing lines thing since i havent tried that one. I just dont understand your frustration because the things you are having trouble with are the same as in 2.2.2. Nothing is functionally different.

[kazolar]

Inflation distance is in the previous version and indeed it doesn't work, what I notice that if I manually add support to cover the edges, the they don't get sliced in the new version. I may give it another chance, but the point is the new features, and they don't work. Has a nicer UI, but has some real annoying features like when i have a profile selected, then proceed to created gcode and all my profiles are auto selected, not the one i picked, that was working in the old version. So what's the point? I don't recall seeing the other external fill pattern in the old version, it appears new or in a new location in v3. It is rather curios and doesn't appear to work. I may give it a shot, but again, I have to experiment again and waste time and filament to find what works, really for very few benefits.

[jsc]

kazolar, can you zip up a factory file that demonstrates your issues so we can see? I'm curious to see what triggers your issues.