I have an idea. I'm at work so I can't test it out.

[JohnnyRobot]

So, I've been thinking of ways that I can reduce my Infill percentage and adding structural integrity to my parts.

As some of you know. I use my M2 primarily to make flying machines. Tricopters, Quadcopters, Ya'know hand-cutters.

I have this idea that if I create 2 parts. One being the inverse of the other, I can create solid bodies within an infill... For example:

Part 1 - A cube with a through hole. To be printed at 50% infill. (top view)


Part 2 - A cylinder positioned exactly at the through hole. To be printed at 100% infill. (Top view)


IF I have the ability to print these 2 parts with different infill settings, the result could be something like this. (Top, mid-section view )


My question is, I'm not sure if I can print two parts with different infill settings. I've never tried it. The only time I print multiple parts I'm using the same FFF profile.

It makes sense to me that you wouldn't be able to change temperature between models.

Does anyone know if you can print 2 models at once with different infill settings?

[insta]

While not directly answering your question, you can trick the slicers into doing this already by adding several small (0.25mm) holes vertically through your entire model. This triggers the perimeters code which will make that area nice and solid.

[JohnnyRobot]

It Works!!!

It's kind of a pain to align the parts perfectly on the build plate. I'm not sure why, both of the parts were designed with the same origin point....

[benavery]

If they both have the same origin, then you should be able to position one of them manually, then open the position/size settings, and copy over the exact x/y/z Absolute Positioning settings from that part, to the other part.

[JohnnyRobot]

I tried that, it seems that S3D changes the reference points on import.

I had to go back and measure my CAD to do direct entry. there was an offset in the x direction of 20.1mm. Which is exactly the distance between the wall of the square, and the surface of the cylinder.

[Matt_Sharkey]

Slic3r's experimental builds have this feature but im not quite sure how to use it yet. You would load up a primary part, like the block and then a secondary modifier, like the cylinder. you would then tell slic3r that anywhere that the modifier item intersects the primary item, it follows a specified set of rules, like solid infill. I will find you the relevant link soon.

FOUND:

http://slic3r.org/blog

Tutorial: modifier meshes
Posted by Alessandro Ranellucci on 2014-11-08

The (currently) top most post on the page.

[JohnnyRobot]

Okay, see here's what I've discovered...

I created these pieces to be printed together as mentioned above.
The piece on the left is to be the 'frame structure'. Printed solid.
The piece on the right is to be filler material.


I created two FFF Profiles, and applied them to their assigned part.
SOLID


25% INFILL


When I clicked 'prepare to print' I chose select all...


The slicing ended up looking like this:


And the part... (Interrupted before final layers)


Here's the bottom surface:


Looking back, I wish I would have spent a little more time designing the part and adjusting print settings. My 3mm solid 'frame structure' ended up being 5mm, and the holes were too close to the outside edges.

I was just excited to see what I could do with this technique.

[jimc]

Do you have the random infill placement box checked? If so uncheck that.

[JohnnyRobot]

I do. What does that do?

[jimc]

Oh man yeah you dont want that on. Turn it off, do a print then look at the infill and youll know immediately what that does