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Topic: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

I installed it last night but got caught up with homework so I didn't get a chance to test. The change log seemed promising for some issues I've experienced.

2 (edited by nickythegreek 2013-01-18 16:16:16)

Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

Awesome news, I will be  trying this out tonight.

Slic3r 0.9.8

New features:
acceleration control (advanced setting) to control behavior for perimeters and infill
customizable G-code to be executed on tool change ([previous_extruder] and [next_extruder] placeholders can be used, as well as nested placeholders like [temperature_[next_extruder]])
automatic detection of support material threshold angle (leave it to zero and Slic3r will check your layer height and extrusion width to detect unsupported overhangs)
experimental feature for vibration limiting (not needed in 99.9% of cases, might be handy with some shaky printers)
support for a Sailfish G-code flavor (I can't test this one, so please provide feedback)
Improvements:
plater will show vertical projection (with holes) of objects instead of their convex hull (limited to models with less than 2000 triangles for now - performance reasons)
gap fill is always disabled when fill density is zero; you can also set gap fill speed to zero to disable it
slight memory and time savings
automatic extrusion width defaults to way saner behavior when using low layer heights, avoiding infill to be too sparse

Changes:
cooling is enabled by default now

Bugfixes:
many (all?) spikes/blobs removed, causing not very smooth surfaces when high-res models were processed
wrong direction was detected for many bridges
infill every 'n' layers was stalling or generating tiny useless extrusions
the experimental inwards move that was recently introduced to avoid retracting on external perimeters was sometimes moving outwards (!) causing a little blob
some top/bottom solid shels were not treated as such
some holes were filled/bridged incorrectly
crash on Windows when username or STL/G-code paths contained non-ASCII characters
interface support material layers were clipped badly causing extrusions running into object perimeters
slow infill patterns were not working anymore
extra perimeters were not always applied when needed
custom layer-change G-code was applied before Z change
fixed regression causing inefficient infill paths
restart_extra_length didn't work correcty with negative values
retraction lift was not playing well with retract_extra_length in multi-extruder environments

3 (edited by nickythegreek 2013-01-18 22:37:15)

Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

Some interesting new additions in the config menus..

Print Settings > Infill > Advanced
Only retract when crossing perimeters: Disables retraction when travelling between infill paths inside the same island.
I'm going to check this little guy

Print Settings > Speed > Acceleration control (advanced)
Perimeters: This is the acceleration that will be used for perimeters. A high value like 9000 usually gives good results if your hardware is up to the job. Set zero to disable acceleration control for perimeters.
Infill: This is the acceleration that will be used for infill. Set zero to disable acceleration control for infill.
Default: This is the acceleration that will be reset to after the role-specific values are used (perimeter/infill). Set zero to prevent resetting of the acceleration at all.

Units: mm/s².

Anyone got some ideas on what kind of values are safe with the SD2 hardware?

Printer Settings > General > Advanced
Vibration limit: This experimental option will slow down those moves hitting the configured frequency limit. The purpose of limiting vibrations is to avoid mechanical resonance. Set zero to disable.

Unit: Hz.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

It went into testing today for me.

Some new stuff on there....

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

I'm running it right now. First print, the hot end holder came out nicer than when it was previously run. Top was finished nicely and no nodes into the center hole or around the edges. One corner has some open layers otherwise it's fine.

I'm running a 1/4" scale wooden barrel right now. I've run this one many times before and it's run real well. But when I ran two up, about 3" apart, I had lots and lots of nodes between them. I'll try and run that later. Today is the wife's birthday and I'm taking her out tonight for dinner and a show so I won't have the time to do the two up test.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

More input on the new Slic3r version. I ran the 1/4" scale wood barrel and it came out fantastic. Gone is the vertical depression where the final perimeter was started from the previous inner fill. The random start is excellent.
Also, on the previous printing of this part, all of them, there was a pointed hexidecimal at the top perimeter, very pronounced and would need to be sanded off. This is missing on the new print.

I'm running the two up right now. Nope, nodes are still there on the sides where the head leaves to go to the next part.

Is there a way to tell Scli3r to first print one part totally then print the next one and so on if you have many parts? I saw this is available on some printer units.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

That feature has been in Slic3r a while but I've never used it:

Print Settings > Output Options > Sequential Printing

Would love to hear how well it works.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

Seems like a great release to me as well...now if we could get the same from the RH team...

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

What are you wishing was different/improved with RH?  I'm quite happy, and he/they are very responsive if you make suggestions.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

RH will usually update soon after a new Slic3r to include it. Probably any day now.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

I would like the to Heat the bed and wait before the extruder heats and waits in the top of program code.
Also to have the name of the stl model in the g-code

12 (edited by jefferysanders 2013-01-20 22:13:59)

Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

There's plenty room for interface improvements...e.g. kill job being right next to pause = fail...not loading my slic3r configs properly on several different systems...graphic updating fails for me most of the time.  I have a top of the line system that I personally take great pride in keeping maintained and secure, I run a PC repair/consulting CO daily...business is quickly slowing due to technology changes [tablets, cloud powered thin clients, powerful gaming devices, integrated TVs] so I'm looking @ 3D printing as my next lily pad for 10-15 years; things should run like clockwork...especially on my main system a i7 3930k, 16gb ram, w/680 Sli, Samsung 512 raid 0...(most of that power is either being used for video/3D rendering or streaming games at full quality 1080p [I still have to use another PC w/ dedicated hardware to actually broadcast and keep the quality very high]). All 3 systems that I have used RH on have had random crashes w/ RH running only, config loading issues, and failures to update the live-view.   I would say the most reliable is the i7/650M - m14x R2 laptop...which was a steal @ 350$ from the dell outlet w/ coupon stacking and assoc discounts (I'm not a AW or Dell Fanboy, but they damn near gave me that rig)...regardless I still get crashes...so this is why I would like to look into working on the project personally....no doubt I could fix the interface to make it more user-friendly and ascetically pleasing...I would also like the ability to add the live view in full screen on a second monitor...I could go on for days lol.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

I have found RH to be very responsive to my suggestions.  Have you suggested any of these improvements or reported these problems?

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

lawsy wrote:

That feature has been in Slic3r a while but I've never used it:

Print Settings > Output Options > Sequential Printing

Would love to hear how well it works.

Lawsy, yes I see that now. Only thing is the distance that's needed between parts. Obviously needed because the the bottom of the extruder but limits the number of parts that I can put on the bed. It would speed up the heatup process over doing individual parts. If I get a chance tomorrow I'll put four small parts, one in each corner to see how it works. thanks.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

Being using 0.9.8 without issue so far.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

I am trying to lead the software while waiting for my machine to show up, but I have had slic3r crash when skeinforge worked on the same object.  I recreated the object and tried again and skeinforge worked and Slic3r 0.98 failed with garage results.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

lotw_1 wrote:

I am trying to lead the software while waiting for my machine to show up, but I have had slic3r crash when skeinforge worked on the same object.  I recreated the object and tried again and skeinforge worked and Slic3r 0.98 failed with garage results.


You should go on irc and report this to get it fixed if an issue.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

i switch to slic3r 0.9.8 x64 (new as they were no x64 version before..) and all is good for the moment...

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

Tesla wrote:
lotw_1 wrote:

I am trying to lead the software while waiting for my machine to show up, but I have had slic3r crash when skeinforge worked on the same object.  I recreated the object and tried again and skeinforge worked and Slic3r 0.98 failed with garage results.


You should go on irc and report this to get it fixed if an issue.

I found the issue, you have to be really careful with the infill section.  If settings are wrong it will either cause the program to crash or make your mesh a mess and go to home position with some lines.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

Is it giving warnings about intersecting surfaces, holes, etc?

It's important to remember that any time you see this in any slicer, the stl is not manifold and errors follow should not be blamed on the software.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

Lawsy, As far as I can tell that feature, print seperate, doesn't work. I set two small parts at far corners and turned that feature on. When it started it laid down the skirt in turn on each part and also the base layer. I killed it after a bit as I knew waht the results would be.

I also pritned Ian's fan housing. I did have to re-orientate the holder. Both turned out fantastic in .2mm and natual ABS. Very little cleaning or sanding. Only issed I see right now is my hot end has a plastic square on it so I will have to cut notches in the inset in the holder for it to fit into. Otherwise it looks like it will work OK. Haven't tried to fit it as I'm running other jobs. I did also try the Thumbscrew.STL print but evidenlty 193C is too hot as I had a lot of melt on the angles so I killed it.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

Just finished a 6 up print of a scale wooden barrel. Each piece is 1/2" dia. by 3/4" tall and about 1/4" each way between two rows of three.

NOPE, not as good as when done individually. Sides are rougher all the way around not just on sides where the extruder move off or on to the piece. Rounds appear more octagonal. Not good enough to use as casting masters.

I did two up and they looked OK. They were done with the X axis. The six up where more with the Y axis. I'll try 3 up tomorrow and line them up in the X axis direction and see how they come out.

No slop in the X or Y axis as I did Ian's Hot End fan duct and mount. Those came out with nice smooth rounds and real good holes.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

FYI : new version of  repetier-host   v 0.83 with  slicr3  v 0.9.8

http://www.repetier.com/download/

SD3, E3D hotend,linear bearing on x/y axis',pillow block bearing on y conneting rod, ball bearngs on front y axis, fan on y stepper motor.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

Thanks for the link. I was repeatedly refreshing the github download page to no avail, no doubt you've saved me a few days.

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Re: Anyone try the new version of Slic3r?

Will our ini config load ok in the new repetier? Looking forward to trying it out this weekend.