simplify3d v3.0

Have questions or comments about Simplify3D, Slic3r, Cura, Reptier, etc? Or wondering about which CAD software to use...discuss it here...
jsc
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Re: simplify3d v3.0

Post by jsc » Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:14 pm

Zipped factory file, Jules :-)

I've successfully printed an entire plate of small parts, with two processes going (to turn off support for some), so it's not an obvious bug.

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Jules
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Re: simplify3d v3.0

Post by Jules » Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:49 pm

jsc wrote:Zipped factory file, Jules :-)

I've successfully printed an entire plate of small parts, with two processes going (to turn off support for some), so it's not an obvious bug.
That's it exactly - the first time it sliced the flower thing, then once I saw what had printed, I ran it again. On subsequent runs with the exact same settings, it created a perfect honeycomb. Then it went just fine for another couple of hours with different filaments, then I saw another weird looking slice job, reloaded it, and it came out fine in the next slice.

I'm a bit baffled. :?
PLA_eSun_PineGreen_V4.zip
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Last edited by Jules on Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Jules
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Re: simplify3d v3.0

Post by Jules » Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:58 pm

And before I take this over to the S3D forum, I'd like to wait a bit and see if anybody else sees it, or if I see it again once I get the printer fixed and can start running tests again. i'm sure they're dealing with enough right now.

rsilvers
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Re: simplify3d v3.0

Post by rsilvers » Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:03 pm

I have had three issues:

1. If I take a Solidworks STL and use the Import button, it will say that the object is too large for the build area. It will load it, but it will be invisible. It will then crash the program. However, if I load the same object by dragging it into the program, it will be fine. I assume this is a mm/inch issue but there is only a problem if loaded from the Import button.

2. I have had strange bridging connecting objects that should not be connected. If I go to the repair menu, it will complain about intersecting surfaces. SO maybe Solidworks is putting out bad STLs, but version 2.2.2 never had an issue with them.

3. I can't make each quality setting have its own print speed. I want higher quality settings to print more slowly. The program will not allow it.

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Jules
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Re: simplify3d v3.0

Post by Jules » Thu Jun 25, 2015 5:47 pm

Annnnnd........there is another difference. (Not sure if this is by design though, so I'll post it here first.) Formerly the Bed Leveling Wizard moved the nozzle into position and homed the Z, so that you could check your nozzle gap. Now it moves the nozzle into position and then actually drops the bed, so you have to hit the Home Z button to move it back up where it needs to be before you can check that particular spot.

I have to ask a question about how the Bed Leveling Wizard works - does it increase the number of movements that it makes depending on whether you have changed the overall level at a particular point? For instance, if you throw the right top corner out of alignment with the lower left, does it then move you to the lower left so you can adjust it? Or does it follow some sort of set pattern? (I could swear that some of the passes I've made with that thing lasted twice as long as others!)

It's entirely possible that some of the weird stuff that I am seeing with this new version might be because I never got to specify which printer I'm using when it first loaded. I might just un-install it and try re-installing to see if it changes anything. (i might as well run the wizard one more time.)

routr71
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Re: simplify3d v3.0

Post by routr71 » Fri Jun 26, 2015 11:49 am

Jules - I ran a few prints and the honeycomb is printing just fine for me. I wonder if what happened on your print is that the first few layers didn't stick well enough, which means that each subsequent honeycomb layer didn't have much to stick to. The extruder moves pretty quick while it's printing that, so if it isn't sticking well, the sharp corners in the honeycomb pattern will end up looking more like wavy ovals.

rsilvers - I don't think their previous 2.2 version had a self-intersecting surfaces check, so if it's finding errors, it's probably real. The previous version didn't alert you because it didn't have that option. Also, S3D allows you to change any setting you want for the various auto configure drop downs. For example, if you decide that support material settings should be coupled to the quality auto-configure option, then you can easily do that. In your case, just go to file -> export FFF profile, and then open the .fff file in a text editor. If you scroll down to the <autoConfigureQuality> section, you can see exactly what settings the software is changing when you use the quality drop down list to select Medium, High, etc. If you want to add printing speed so that it is controlled by the quality settings, than just add a <defaultSpeed>6000</defaultSpeed> or whatever value you want into each section. Note the speed should be in mm/min when editing these files by hand.

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Tim
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Re: simplify3d v3.0

Post by Tim » Fri Jun 26, 2015 2:13 pm

Jules wrote:I have to ask a question about how the Bed Leveling Wizard works
Many of us ignore the S3D bed leveling wizard entirely. The 3-point design of the bracket holding the glass plate and bed heater on the M2 makes it most convenient to just put the nozzle directly on top of each of those three points in sequence, and the adjustment of each one doesn't affect the position of the others. Although I haven't done it, it's probably worth writing a macro in S3D that will move the extruder to the first of these points (or maybe to the center position between the front and back points). All the points are separated by 5 and 10 cm, so it's really easy to manually jog to each one. I can't vouch for everyone's experience, but I seem to have a pretty flat and even glass plate, and if those three points are spot-on, the bed is as level as it's going to get.

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Tim
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Re: simplify3d v3.0

Post by Tim » Fri Jun 26, 2015 2:23 pm

routr71 wrote:Jules - I ran a few prints and the honeycomb is printing just fine for me. I wonder if what happened on your print is that the first few layers didn't stick well enough, which means that each subsequent honeycomb layer didn't have much to stick to. The extruder moves pretty quick while it's printing that, so if it isn't sticking well, the sharp corners in the honeycomb pattern will end up looking more like wavy ovals.
Look closely at the picture Jules posted. The one referred to as the "mandala pattern"---I'm pretty sure you can't get that by cutting corners. You get that by rotating the entire pattern. It may be a rare occurrance or triggered by some specific geometry, but it looks like a real error to me. Some of the automatically generated geometry in S3D is based on the absolute grid, so that you can get a different result on exactly the same part if it's in a different position from the previous slicing. The definitive question is whether or not that pattern rotation shows up in the gcode preview. That's the difference between a slicing artifact and a printing artifact.

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Jules
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Re: simplify3d v3.0

Post by Jules » Fri Jun 26, 2015 4:14 pm

Tim wrote:
routr71 wrote:Jules - I ran a few prints and the honeycomb is printing just fine for me. I wonder if what happened on your print is that the first few layers didn't stick well enough, which means that each subsequent honeycomb layer didn't have much to stick to. The extruder moves pretty quick while it's printing that, so if it isn't sticking well, the sharp corners in the honeycomb pattern will end up looking more like wavy ovals.
Look closely at the picture Jules posted. The one referred to as the "mandala pattern"---I'm pretty sure you can't get that by cutting corners. You get that by rotating the entire pattern. It may be a rare occurrance or triggered by some specific geometry, but it looks like a real error to me. Some of the automatically generated geometry in S3D is based on the absolute grid, so that you can get a different result on exactly the same part if it's in a different position from the previous slicing. The definitive question is whether or not that pattern rotation shows up in the gcode preview. That's the difference between a slicing artifact and a printing artifact.
The mandala wasn't a sticking problem, S3D actually sliced it that way. I thought that maybe something was wrong with the display, so I went ahead and printed it to see if it was going to do what was showing on the screen. It did. (Actually wouldn't mind duplicating that if it's possible - it's kind of cool.) But it hasn't duplicated that exact thing since. It did do one other funny slice, but I didn't print that one before I reloaded it to see if it would correct, which it did. that one looked a bit like it was trying to combine the Wavy pattern with the honeycomb. But in each case, it sliced the bottom layer(s?) in the chosen honeycomb pattern, then switched to something else. So I'm wondering if there isn't a specific "pattern by layer" artifact in the code somewhere.

I'll definitely be watching for it from now on, but it might not happen again. I was running the "offline/not logged in" version when those happened, and i've since gone to the Configuration menu and set it up for the M2. So if anyone else sees it, we can report it, but it might have gotten fixed in the configured versions.

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Jules
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Re: simplify3d v3.0

Post by Jules » Fri Jun 26, 2015 4:28 pm

Tim wrote:
Jules wrote:I have to ask a question about how the Bed Leveling Wizard works
Many of us ignore the S3D bed leveling wizard entirely. The 3-point design of the bracket holding the glass plate and bed heater on the M2 makes it most convenient to just put the nozzle directly on top of each of those three points in sequence, and the adjustment of each one doesn't affect the position of the others. Although I haven't done it, it's probably worth writing a macro in S3D that will move the extruder to the first of these points (or maybe to the center position between the front and back points). All the points are separated by 5 and 10 cm, so it's really easy to manually jog to each one. I can't vouch for everyone's experience, but I seem to have a pretty flat and even glass plate, and if those three points are spot-on, the bed is as level as it's going to get.
Yep! i finally had to abandon the Wizard, it was just taking too long, and all the running back and forth between the printer and the desk counted for one of my workout sessions yesterday! Chuckle!

Wait......what???....You mean you don't necessarily have to level it perfectly at the outer corners of the plate??? :shock: :shock: :shock:
(Excuse me please while I go shoot myself.)

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