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Smart startpoints for layer

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 6:11 am
by BramV
Once your machine is calibrated and the printing material temperature etc. has been set correctly there is always one issue that prevents perfect prints; the start points of the layers.
Right now there are:
-random
-fast
-closest to custom point

The last one could be useful in some cases to pick a starting point for layers that have the least amount of quality issues, but it's only one custom point for a whole model, so mostly it's not that useful. What we need is SMART start points. For each island and each layer therein, S3D should pick the 'best' point to start. In my experience:

-the best start point would be a concave corner (pointing inwards) on flat non-overhanging surface. There is the least chance that you'll notice the start-end point of the layer
-the WORST start would be a convex (pointing outwards) corner on a STEEP OVERHANG. That is just horrible, the start and end point of the layer line usually don't even connect at all then, no matter what temperature, speed or extrusion multiplier you use.

I think it should be easy enough to look at all the points on a perimeter, and score them to how well they would serve as a start point for the layer. Then, pick the one with the highest score, if the SMART STARTPOINT is selected by the user.

Really hope you can implement this, would really improve how well models will look. I would say this would also be the default way of picking starting points.

thanks for reading!

Re: [REQUEST] Smart startpoints for layer

Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 8:58 am
by krosstoph
+1

Re: [REQUEST] Smart startpoints for layer

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:54 pm
by markvr4
+1

I love simplify3d! But smart seams / start points, like those found in slic3r, would make a big improvement in print quality for many models. Here is an excerpt from the slic3r manual. Doesn't have to be exactly like it, but these options can make for some really nice prints:


Nearest - This will try to choose a concave non-overhang vertex so that the seam is hidden in the inside of the concave angle. If no concave non-overhang vertices are available, it will choose a convex non-overhang vertex. If none are available, it will choose a non-overhang vertex. The choice among the candidates is operated so that the start point is the nearest to the previous extruder position. So this option will optimize for short travels.

Re: [REQUEST] Smart startpoints for layer

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 3:31 pm
by AbeFM
+1. Perhaps a bit of work to implement, but it would help.

Re: [REQUEST] Smart startpoints for layer

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 10:52 am
by diemanvanstaal
+1 Definitely the biggest shortcoming of S3D for me.

Re: [REQUEST] Smart startpoints for layer

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:28 am
by smeagollum
This is a very good request indeed, to have this implemented in S3d would be very nice!

Re: [REQUEST] Smart startpoints for layer

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 3:53 am
by docmortal
Yes please !! Slic3er is so much better at hiding seams!

Re: [REQUEST] Smart startpoints for layer

Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 11:46 am
by upsm
++

Re: [REQUEST] Smart startpoints for layer

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 2:26 am
by mchiriciuc
+1
Definitely the biggest shortcoming of S3D for me too.
Without this you ruin a close to perfect printing experience. Please, please, add this.

Re: [REQUEST] Smart startpoints for layer

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 1:33 pm
by S3D-Jake
Thanks for the great ideas all around! I've forwarded this excellent feedback to our development team. I'll also stick around and monitor this thread for any other ideas about start point options.