1 Topic by webhaus

  • webhaus
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Topic: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

Lets see what you are getting for a surface finish on your Davinci machines that are still using the stock firmware.  I'd just like to see what I should be expecting from this. 

I'm using a Davinci 1.0a with 1.0.6 firmware, but I'm using Simplify 3D to run it.  I've experienced some surface finish flaws, or wierd problems with simplify 3D that aren't as noticable when using XYZware

My straight vertical faces are doing OK now that the simplify3d support guy told me to turn off speed overrides on the cooling tab, but when I run into curved surfaces, or something that's just slightly off from vertical, i'm getting big steps, where it will put down a few layers, then jump over, repeating that pattern.

Curving top surface...
http://soliforum.com/i/?UwU7QdE.jpg

This surface is about 3-4 degrees off of vertical.  Notice the cylinder in the bottom corner has pretty even layers, where the flat area across the left side of the photo has steps where each layer seems to be in a different plane, but in a repeating pattern kinda way.  Don't pay attention to the cylinder in the middle, it's supposed to be wavy like that, but the flat area is supposed to be flat.
http://soliforum.com/i/?Ve78mBF.jpg

Davinci 1.0a grey
Stock firmware 1.0.6
Simplify 3d, Solidworks 2015
Side mounted cooling and fume extractor.

webhaus's Website

2 Reply by batmaster

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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

Did you find a solution to this?

3 Reply by webhaus

  • webhaus
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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

batmaster wrote:

Did you find a solution to this?

No., I was hoping others would post pictures of their typical surface finishes, so I would have something to compare to.

I found somewhere that the z axis banding could have something to do with power fluctuations to the hot end when the heated bed is being cycled on and off to control the bed temperature.   The change in hot end temperature would cause some expansion/contraction in the layers causing some z banding as the part is built.  Someone said that happens because the power supply isn't powerful enough for the printer, but that doesn't explain why repetier can print withoit having those issues.

Davinci 1.0a grey
Stock firmware 1.0.6
Simplify 3d, Solidworks 2015
Side mounted cooling and fume extractor.

webhaus's Website

4 Reply by carl_m1968 (edited by carl_m1968 2015-06-18 03:19:44)

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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

webhaus wrote:
batmaster wrote:

Did you find a solution to this?

No., I was hoping others would post pictures of their typical surface finishes, so I would have something to compare to.

I found somewhere that the z axis banding could have something to do with power fluctuations to the hot end when the heated bed is being cycled on and off to control the bed temperature.   The change in hot end temperature would cause some expansion/contraction in the layers causing some z banding as the part is built.  Someone said that happens because the power supply isn't powerful enough for the printer, but that doesn't explain why repetier can print withoit having those issues.


Well I am going to ask the obvious here then. Why not just use Repetier all the time then? It is more than capable of doing most of the stuff that S3d can do. If you want more control say per layer than you can switch Cura Host. They have a plug in that gives you per layer control.. Both are free by the way.


Honestly I can't really tell what I am seeing in your pictures. They are really too close up and I am not sure which part I am looking at in each. Is one sideways compared to the other?

How many perimeters are you using and what is your infill percentage. To me that looks like the joints where the infill is meeting the exterior wall. Your wall appears thin enough that it distorts at each joint form the heat when the infill meets the perimeter.

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 dazee

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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

Here you are, stock firmware and stock software.
http://www.dazee.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_dragon_detail1.jpg

Without cleanup, just the edges are ragged where the extruder lifts off for next layer.

http://www.dazee.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_dragon_detail2.jpg
Just a little ridging, but nothing that a quick touch up won't get rid of.

Mine is printer an .1mm layers, yours looks to be set thicker?

6 Reply by webhaus

  • webhaus
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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

dazee wrote:

Here you are, stock firmware and stock software.
http://www.dazee.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_dragon_detail1.jpg

Without cleanup, just the edges are ragged where the extruder lifts off for next layer.

http://www.dazee.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_dragon_detail2.jpg
Just a little ridging, but nothing that a quick touch up won't get rid of.

Mine is printer an .1mm layers, yours looks to be set thicker?

Thanks.. That looks good.  Mine was set to .2mm layers for both of the prints i showed in pictures.  I'll post zoomed out versions of my prints tomorrow.

@carl_m1968, I'm not using repetier because i'm using a 1.0a which can't be flashed back once i go that route.  I've heard of several people having issues with 1.0a and repetier, having to send their boards back to xyz to reflash.  I'd love to give it a try, but have too many jobs in progress right now to take the time and chance that something could go wrong.

Davinci 1.0a grey
Stock firmware 1.0.6
Simplify 3d, Solidworks 2015
Side mounted cooling and fume extractor.

webhaus's Website

7 Reply by carl_m1968

  • carl_m1968
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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

Actually if you used a color other than white you would be amazed at just how much of a difference it would make. White is the hardest color to print with regardless of brand. Try using natural and see ho your stock prints turn out.

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.

8 Reply by webhaus

  • webhaus
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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

carl_m1968 wrote:

Actually if you used a color other than white you would be amazed at just how much of a difference it would make. White is the hardest color to print with regardless of brand. Try using natural and see ho your stock prints turn out.

Thanks for the feedback..  I print in black, natural and white..  I agree that white isn't quite as good, but they all have some of the same print imperfections like the z banding and layer offsets.  My current project has me printing in white, and it photographs better, so those are the prints I took pictures of.

What's the best color/brand of filament you've run across?

Davinci 1.0a grey
Stock firmware 1.0.6
Simplify 3d, Solidworks 2015
Side mounted cooling and fume extractor.

webhaus's Website

9 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

webhaus wrote:
carl_m1968 wrote:

Actually if you used a color other than white you would be amazed at just how much of a difference it would make. White is the hardest color to print with regardless of brand. Try using natural and see ho your stock prints turn out.

Thanks for the feedback..  I print in black, natural and white..  I agree that white isn't quite as good, but they all have some of the same print imperfections like the z banding and layer offsets.  My current project has me printing in white, and it photographs better, so those are the prints I took pictures of.

What's the best color/brand of filament you've run across?

I almost exclusively use natural and I use Midland which is Microcenters house brand. Never had any issue. I also post process items that may be for sale or not for personal use. I use a filler then sand and then paint if it needs to be colored. I don't believe that a raw print should ever be a final product.

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.

10 Reply by dazee

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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

carl_m1968 wrote:

Actually if you used a color other than white you would be amazed at just how much of a difference it would make. White is the hardest color to print with regardless of brand. Try using natural and see ho your stock prints turn out.

This is interesting as I've been getting nice prints on the white.  I just ran out and currently seems white is out of stock, so have switched to XYZ red filament I had.  Will never buy red again.  The surface finish is so much poorer than I had with white.  Nothing that won't clean up with a small brush on a dremel.  But still, it gives an impression on what is used to make the red colour has affected the qualities of the ABS.

11 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

dazee wrote:
carl_m1968 wrote:

Actually if you used a color other than white you would be amazed at just how much of a difference it would make. White is the hardest color to print with regardless of brand. Try using natural and see ho your stock prints turn out.

This is interesting as I've been getting nice prints on the white.  I just ran out and currently seems white is out of stock, so have switched to XYZ red filament I had.  Will never buy red again.  The surface finish is so much poorer than I had with white.  Nothing that won't clean up with a small brush on a dremel.  But still, it gives an impression on what is used to make the red colour has affected the qualities of the ABS.

This is the case with all colors. The pigments will affect it in different ways. It may raise or lower the temp. It can affect the flow and thus the finish. I try to stay exclusively with natural as it had no pigments. I only use color if requested and I let customer know the finish may be different.

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.

12 Reply by dazee

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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

Thanks Carl, I will try getting some natural ABS.  I have a reel of natural PLA, but am of course still waiting for Japan upgrade option for the extruder to use it smile

13 Reply by dazee

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Re: Surface finish with stock firmware, examples

Tried Natural now and looks good, although you would be hard pressed at least in the prints I have done to see a difference between white and natural quality.

One I have found though is now that the red makes an excellent choice if you need to use supports.  It is a good contrast and this seeming extra brittleness appears to break free of the main model easier.