1 Topic by patternspace

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Topic: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

Hey everyone,

I'm part of a team developing software to make 3D printing easier to use. With our software, we hope to offer a database of quality 3D files, integrated optimum printer settings, a library to store files, a built in slicer program, and a community built around tutorials and FAQ's.

We are looking for feedback and BETA users. Please take our 3 minute survey and sign up for BETA!

http://bit.ly/3dprinting_survey

Thanks everyone,

Justin

2 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

patternspace wrote:

Hey everyone,

I'm part of a team developing software to make 3D printing easier to use. With our software, we hope to offer a database of quality 3D files, integrated optimum printer settings, a library to store files, a built in slicer program, and a community built around tutorials and FAQ's.

We are looking for feedback and BETA users. Please take our 3 minute survey and sign up for BETA!

http://bit.ly/3dprinting_survey

Thanks everyone,

Justin

Unless you plan to make the software free, I think Simpilfy3D has beat you to the punch. They pretty do and have everything you describe in place. I yhink the only way another company could beat them would be to offer their software for free or for a fraction of the 150 that S3D charges which I still feel is way too much even after using the software.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

3 Reply by patternspace

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

Thanks for the feedback!

S3D is a great piece of software and we are well aware of it. We agree that it is far too expensive.

We want to offer our software for a small monthly subscription.

As someone who has used the software, does it recommend printer settings for the items you wish to print?

4 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

patternspace wrote:

Thanks for the feedback!

S3D is a great piece of software and we are well aware of it. We agree that it is far too expensive.

We want to offer our software for a small monthly subscription.

As someone who has used the software, does it recommend printer settings for the items you wish to print?

It does not to my knowledge. There are other users here that have used it much longer than myself that may chime in.

For me coming from Cura Host I was disappointed in the interface. Many functions such as simple rotation are hidden. You have to double click the nodel to enable these functions. While in cura right on the preview window is a button that allows you to open the rotation controls. Not hidden but in plain sight as basic functions should be.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

5 Reply by Claghorn

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

I keep wanting a slicer where I can select regions of the model and say, "This needs to be strong, use 50% infill here" and other regions and say "This just needs to print fast, 10% infill is OK". I've never seen a slicer that can do that.

Claghorn's Website

6 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

Claghorn wrote:

I keep wanting a slicer where I can select regions of the model and say, "This needs to be strong, use 50% infill here" and other regions and say "This just needs to print fast, 10% infill is OK". I've never seen a slicer that can do that.

I believe I heard mention S3D can do that.

Printing since 2009 and still love it!
Anycubic 4MAX best $225 ever invested.
Voxelabs Proxima SLA. 6 inch 2k Mono LCD.
Anycubic Predator, massive Delta machine. 450 x 370 print envelope.

7 Reply by wire10ga (edited by wire10ga 2015-06-15 17:14:58)

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

carl_m1968 wrote:
Claghorn wrote:

I keep wanting a slicer where I can select regions of the model and say, "This needs to be strong, use 50% infill here" and other regions and say "This just needs to print fast, 10% infill is OK". I've never seen a slicer that can do that.

I believe I heard mention S3D can do that.

Yes it can do that by layers height not so much regions.

SD2 - Glass Bed, Fans on PCB and Y motor, Custom enclosure
Slicer - Simplify3D

wire10ga's Website

8 Reply by wire10ga (edited by wire10ga 2015-06-15 17:19:03)

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

patternspace wrote:

As someone who has used the software, does it recommend printer settings for the items you wish to print?

It does not gives setting based on the model, it gives settings based on speed and layer height though.

SD2 - Glass Bed, Fans on PCB and Y motor, Custom enclosure
Slicer - Simplify3D

wire10ga's Website

9 Reply by heartless

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

patternspace wrote:

We want to offer our software for a small monthly subscription.

you can count me out based on that...

I dont mind paying for good software, but 1) I want to at least try it before I buy it (ie: free trial for XX days**), and 2) I do NOT want to have to keep paying for it - one time fee and done. period.

I have a limited income, and trying to budget in another monthly payment is not something I am able/willing to do. I save a little here and there and when I can afford to, I buy.

I realize that a lot of software companies are moving to the monthly subscription, cloud based programming, but this is not something I am even remotely interested in.

(** part of the reason I do not have S3D is that there is no trial, you either take their word for it & buy, or you don't. I would think they would sell a lot more if they offered a free trial - even 10 days would be enough. I recently bought a 3d modeling program based on a 14 day trial. I was able to do what I wanted to do with it (modify an existing stl file) & that was enough to convince me to buy it.)

SD4 #1 & #2 - Lawsy carriages, E3D v6, Rumba controller board, mirror bed plate, X motor fan, upgraded PSU & Mica bed heater
SD4 #3 - in the works ~ Folgertech FT-5, rev 1
Printit Industries Beta Tester - Horizon H1

10 Reply by patternspace

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

Very good feedback for us. Thank you for sharing!

11 Reply by justsomeguy

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

If I rent your software and buy into the whole process, I end up basically renting my own printer from you.  You might consider a multi-license model.  Sell a basic package that comes with upgrades for a set period of time and offer value added services for a monthly fee.  If I walk away I can still run my printer on the version I currently have but am no longer eligible for upgrades and lose whatever value added web services you have.  You could also offer a subscription model for those who want it.  If you are subscription only I will not even bother to look at it.

12 Reply by ysb

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

carl_m1968 wrote:
Claghorn wrote:

I keep wanting a slicer where I can select regions of the model and say, "This needs to be strong, use 50% infill here" and other regions and say "This just needs to print fast, 10% infill is OK". I've never seen a slicer that can do that.

I believe I heard mention S3D can do that.


slic3r can do that easy.. ( http://slic3r.org/blog  modifier meshes )

and for the software : 'monthly subscription' for a slicer ? really ?.... not even in dream i will accept that ...

Find all my 3D printable models here
Game of ropes 2 online..Adult only

ysb's Website

13 Reply by Claghorn

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

ysb wrote:

slic3r can do that easy.. ( http://slic3r.org/blog  modifier meshes )

Never saw that before, Thanks! I suspect though, that I need a newer version of slic3r (which I can't run at the moment because I haven't upgraded fedora 22 yet to get the new mono slic3r needs).

Claghorn's Website

14 Reply by TheBaron

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

Monthly subscription is a no go. Perhaps paid remote support and configuration hand-holding, but if I pay for something I want to actually own it.

SD3 w/ RUMBA (8825s), merlin hot end (in pieces). Ender3 w/ silent board for PLA printing. Ender5 w/ silent board, e3d v6, new z lead screw, and glass bed. DiY Kossel w/ smoothieboard (in pieces). Vellman Vertex (in pieces)
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15 Reply by MyMultiExtruder

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Re: We're Developing Software to Make 3D Printers Easier to Use

I would never ever do subscription.

I would do 30 day free trials before buying.
I would do small purchases of extra features for 30 days to try them out before buying (like $5)

Things I could use in a slicer:
-5 nozzle compatibility
-Ability to choose how to slice a grid (like rectilinear infill) I can't find any that will let me choose how the lines are sliced per section. It will draw super weak boxes instead of steady criss cross lines. Choosing the "grain" direction of the slice could provide strength improvements, instead of relying strictly on positioning. Maybe certain parts need to be printed in certain directions. That would be a nice feature. For simplicity, maybe showing a few options of how to slice this part/section, and you could choose the one you like.
-Ability to set different variations of infills, and different speeds for certain areas.
-Ability to set a "small part" setting to a certain area of a print, where it will leave the part for a few seconds to allow it to cool and then come back to it. Ability to set the amount of time is a bonus!
-Added options for multi extruders to eliminate color blending, streaking, bleeding, whatever you want to call it. Allow them to be customized, since different temps, filaments and printers will have different needs in that area.

I hope this helps

RoVa3D with five nozzles (first nozzle down, four to go)
Slic3r and Pronterface
Filastruder and Filawinder - soon enough
Current hurdles - humidity, offsets