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Topic: Alternative slicer walkthough please??

Would someone please post a walk-through that a 5 year old could follow on how to use a slicer that works well. XYZware crashes half the time when compiling and even when it does render my .3w file it has defects on some of the edges.

I know there are many posts about using alternative software, but I haven't found one yet that is tailored to my level of newbness. Sorry guys, but please help!

Included photo of 'fraying' as a result of the native slicer.

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Re: Alternative slicer walkthough please??

Perhaps, isntead of working with a .3w file, you can export your file as a .stl file? I've had good luck with them inside XYZware, though I haven't explored the alternatives yet to see what might work better.

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Re: Alternative slicer walkthough please??

I have no idea what slicers are available on Mac, but you need to specify that's what your using. Most of us are windows users, or you'll get a bunch of answers that won't help you.

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Re: Alternative slicer walkthough please??

I am about to have my first go at using slicer, I have been pretty successful at using XYZware to import my .stl and convert it to .3w for printing, but looking for better quality and more options.

Im curious, what slicer settings are you using?
Are these objects models of yours or from somewhere else?  On my custom model prints, I had to fuss with the geometry quite a bit in my 3D app until XYZware could properly slice the object.  The more simple the geometry, the better, Ive found.  If it is really complicated or jumbled, the slicer can make a mess out of it and leave pieces out.  One of the reasons I am interested in slicer, but Im still a newbie.

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Re: Alternative slicer walkthough please??

I had some of the same problems until I switched to Slic3r. This is roughly the same slicer that XYZ uses but it is more flixible. You input *.stl files and output *.gcode files. The gcode can be read directly by the XYZ printer. You do have to change the header in the gcode file to...

; filename = composition.3w
; machine = daVinciF10
; material = abs
; layer_height = 0.4
; total_layers = 30
; total_filament = 501.40
; extruder = 1
T0
G21
M107
M190 S90
M104 S210
M109 S210
G90
G92 E0
M82
G1 F1800.000 E-1.00000
G92 E0

Delete, in the original gcode file, down to (including the last G92 E0, about 18 lines) then paste the above header. This header is taken from the SD card on the motherboard.
I have also found that a program called nettfabb helps rendering your object to get rid of holes, etc.