1 Topic by thefairlyunkempt

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Topic: Trying to Print 0.1 mm resolution

I got the solidoodle 3 for the sole purpose of printing things at 0.1 mm, and I am having issues configuring it to do that. Primarily I believe the problem lies with repetier and the slicing tools, not the printer. I may be wrong though, this is my first experience with 3d printers.

I don't know how to upload photos, so bare with me as I describe the issues. I have attached screenshots of what I am describing.

The picture 'themodel.jpg' shows what I am trying to slice and print. It is 29mm high, 38mm wide, and 20mm deep.

First I use slic3r set to .1mm printing and the picture 'slic3r.jpg' shows what it comes up with. Not pretty. I even printed that anyway and it comes out exactly like that. The layer resolution is perfect, and as you can see when it nears the top the print is beautiful, but up until that point it is extremely boxy and lots of extra around the sides. I knew it would print support materials, but this is ridiculous.

Next I tried using skienforge, and the picture 'skienforge.jpg' shows what it comes up with. It will not print anything, just slowly runs along the path without extruding anything. I fear something is set wrong. However from the paths i can see they are correct and getting really good detail, but my printer fails to produce.

Is there any setting I am missing? So far i think i like skienforge better because it looks like it is capable of slicing at the level of detail I want, but i don't know what settings i should change.

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2 Reply by spapadim

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Re: Trying to Print 0.1 mm resolution

Can you slice at .3mm? Is mesh manifold (any complaints about edges/faces/holes in the RH log pane)?

3 Reply by thefairlyunkempt

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Re: Trying to Print 0.1 mm resolution

spapadim wrote:

Can you slice at .3mm? Is mesh manifold (any complaints about edges/faces/holes in the RH log pane)?

What am i looking for in the log? When i slice it using skienforge at .1mm im not seeing any complaints or error message.

Attached is what it looks like when sliced in skienforge at 3mm. I'm running a print of it right now.

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skienforge3.jpg
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4 Reply by thefairlyunkempt

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Re: Trying to Print 0.1 mm resolution

Ok so what skienforge is showing and what is coming out of my printer are not the same things.

What's being printed is sloppy and shoddy. As the print head runs over layers, the printbed is being shaken heavily. The printbed noticeably moves as the printhead tries to print a new layer, which is causing the print to appear sloppy i think.

5 Reply by spapadim (edited by spapadim 2013-08-02 14:42:37)

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Re: Trying to Print 0.1 mm resolution

Haven't used Skeinforge, but based on limited info, my first guess is non-manifoldness. Worth running it through http://www.netfabb.com/cloud/ though and see what happens. Or Can you post STL? Hard to tell anything from these screenshots.

For sloppiness, that should be a different issue. Again, hard to tell based on limited information, but could be over extrusion (my first guess), or steps/mm calibration, or something else. Have you gone through basic calibrations (althoug mine was pretty reasonable out of the box, but doesn't hurt to make sure) -- see stickies posts and wiki.

Edit: "out of the box": with the SD version of Repetier and Slic3r, that is (which has preconfigured profiles that are excellent starting points).

6 Reply by thefairlyunkempt

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Re: Trying to Print 0.1 mm resolution

netfabb appears to be down at the moment. I'll try it out. I have attached the STL file.

The sloppiness being over extrusion does make some sense. I would like to show my settings in skienforge, which ones would you like to know? If you can see how i have things set, i hope you can point out where my problem is.

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7 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Trying to Print 0.1 mm resolution

Solidoodle never made a Skeinforge profile that works with the version that installs with Repetier.  You can look here for how to alter the settings-  http://solidoodletips.wordpress.com/201 … nforge-50/

The STL needing fixing is my guess.

8 Reply by spapadim (edited by spapadim 2013-08-03 14:11:06)

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Re: Trying to Print 0.1 mm resolution

Just downloaded STL, apart from some non-oriented normals, it's fine, and slices fine (caveat: I'm using the latest version of Slic3r, I have uninstalled the SD version).

Edit: Attaching the output GCode I get (hand-edited to add calibrations for my own printer -- which, if calibration is your problem, will hopefully be close enough to produce decent results, although you may still have some issues).  Used 0.2mm with supports.  Perhaps worth a shot?  Load the .gcode file in RH and hit print.

Edit2: Changed attachment (previous was using a +5% flowrate & fan profile):  legs2.zip -- sorry.

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9 Reply by pirvan

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Re: Trying to Print 0.1 mm resolution

thefairlyunkempt wrote:

netfabb appears to be down at the moment. I'll try it out. I have attached the STL file.

The sloppiness being over extrusion does make some sense. I would like to show my settings in skienforge, which ones would you like to know? If you can see how i have things set, i hope you can point out where my problem is.

From what I can see in your image, it looks like you have support enabled.  The blockiness you see is the support material around the legs.

Here is the same STL with the support disabled, which is what is under all that support material:

http://www.soliforum.com/misc.php?action=pun_attachment&item=2915&download=0

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To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

10 Reply by spapadim (edited by spapadim 2013-08-05 13:41:08)

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Re: Trying to Print 0.1 mm resolution

My original impression was that the top is too blocky and front too straight, but now that I look again, pirvan may be right (the travel moves are also visualized, so a little hard to tell for sure). You can also try playing with the support angle threshold in Slic3r (e.g., to get rid of the support at the back of the model, which has a fairly reasonable slope -- I didn't do that in my slicing).

11 Reply by pirvan

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Re: Trying to Print 0.1 mm resolution

spapadim wrote:

My original impression was that the top is too blocky and front too straight, but now that I look again, pirvan may be right (the travel moves are also visualized, so a little hard to tell for sure). You can also try playing with the support angle threshold in Slic3r (e.g., to get rid of the support at the back of the model, which has a fairly reasonable slope -- I didn't do that in my slicing).

I've never been able to get the support to change in any meaningful ways by changing the thresold angle.  You can tell it to only put support on things that are 80° or higher and it will still do supports for anyting that overhands even as little a 5°.

As far as I'm concerned the threashold angle is buggy, unless someone can show me something different.  So for now, if I want support I enable it and I know I'll get something that will be pretty much wrapped in support material.  Kisslicer is better at it, but the latest versions don't deal very elegantly with "imperfect" models.  Slic3r is much more forgiving.

On some of the models that require very little support I started adding my own suppoort material from scratch.  If interested, you can read a bit more about this here:

http://www.soliforum.com/post/29113/#p29113

It seems to work pretty well, and can be easily removed.

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.