1 Topic by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-07-20 14:47:48)

  • scobo
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Topic: Repetier/stock print comparison

Thought I'd post this for the benefit of anyone wondering how much better print quality is with repetier firmware.
Both were printed with a wood based filament using the exact same settings (0.2mm layer height).
The models are 45mm in height.

                                         Repetier                                        stock
                                              v                                                v

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac28/scobodon/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-07/20150720_152454_zpsrrhkdtrd.jpg

It's pretty clear how much less visible the layers are with repetier.
Small details print better too, the ears didn't come out too well with stock but almost perfect with repetier.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

2 Reply by Dominick

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Re: Repetier/stock print comparison

Haha, another smack in XYZ Printing's face

Da Vinci 2.0 with Repetier Firmware (Printing in ABS/PLA/Exotics)
12 Years PC Experience
16 years old

3 Reply by scobo

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Re: Repetier/stock print comparison

Their hardware is pretty good for the money but the software is poor.
If they spent as much time improving the stock firmware/software as they do trying to lock the printers down, folk maybe wouldn't need to flash them.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

4 Reply by Weekend Avenger

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Re: Repetier/stock print comparison

Ok, but I have to ask something that maybe should have been obvious to me and I missed it...

Were both of these done with the same slicer? Since you have Simplify3d, I'm guessing that they were both sliced with that, but decided I should ask.

The reason I'm asking is if it was done with the same slicer, I'd think the majority of the gains on repetier would be from "tuning" most specifically from no longer over driving the stepper motors. By the look of the banding I'd also guess that repetier was doing a better job of holding the temperature steady on the hotend. If memory serves that is one of the tricks that can be used on the wood filaments to change the darkness of the printed object to simulate "wood grain".

In any case, thanks for uploading this. At some point I should probably do the firmware mod, but the whole idea of getting it recalibrated never sounded very fun.

5 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-07-23 10:31:56)

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Re: Repetier/stock print comparison

You're right about the temperature trick with wood based filament. Basically, the hotter the temp, the darker it prints.
But that's not really banding you can see in my print, it's just the way the light affected the photo. Both were printed at exactly the same temp with the same gcode file and yes, sliced with Simplify3d.
S3D certainly improves print quality without flashing repetier but there is still a further improvement tp be gained by flashing.
Another benefit is how much quieter the printer is with repetier. Something my wife's very pleased about. big_smile. As you say, probably due to being better tuned.
It's also very handy being able to adjust things like extruder/bed temperatures, flow rate and print speed on the fly.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs

6 Reply by olvrtw (edited by olvrtw 2015-07-30 14:49:00)

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Re: Repetier/stock print comparison

You sure the print quality is not improved because you had to do bed leveling and some other calibrations with repetier?

And also most likely layer width probably is a big factor...

7 Reply by scobo (edited by scobo 2015-07-31 07:51:08)

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Re: Repetier/stock print comparison

olvrtw wrote:

You sure the print quality is not improved because you had to do bed leveling and some other calibrations with repetier?

And also most likely layer width probably is a big factor...

See my OP, exact same gcode file was used with both prints so layer height was the same on both.
I've had my Davinci for a year now and been running stock firmware for most of that.
In that time, I must have levelled the bed dozens of times using the same method but I've never had print quality as good as with repetier.
I'm no expert in the mechanics of 3d printers but I'd say the improvement in quality is probably down to repetier firmware doing a better job of controlling the steppers, temperatures and things like extrusion width/speed.
Carl here on the forum might be able to give a more detailed technical explanation than this.

P.S. The only calibrating I had to do after flashing was the bed.

Davinci 1.0 with repetier firmware & E3D V6 Lite
Anycubic Photon DLP printer, Einscan-S 3D scanner
Simplify3d, 123D Design, Meshmixer
http://www.thingiverse.com/scobo/designs