Creator 1.0.4 Available Now

[Simplify3D]

We've been working hard over the weekend getting this update ready as soon as possible. Here's the list of changes for the new release

• Addressed bug that caused erratic movement when monitoring temperatures during an active build over USB
• Added custom macro buttons to Machine Control Panel that can be configured in the Firmware Configuration dialog
• Streamlined workflow to automatically go from Preview to Print
• Added automatic suggestion for G-Code filenames
• Corrected bug with .factory files so duplicate models and FFF processes are restored correctly
• Made it easier to do positive and negative custom moves in the Machine Control Panel
• Interface now remembers the last directory used and starts there when browsing for files
• Removed extra blank lines from G-Code files that were causing issues in some 3rd party programs

As always, the update is available using the instructions from your confirmation email.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and support as we put this together.

[slipshine]

This is much better on my M2. i am actually able to print something on my m2.
Working much better. Will let you know if there are any issues.

Initial note. The manual fillament extrude seems odd. you must set the amount you want to extrude in a positive or negative amount and then when you press the + or - next to it they both do the same thing.

[Sparky]

1. Can only run gcode via M2 SD card reader. Cannot run gcode via USB.
2. Add In's Convert Image to 3D V1.0.3 accepted only PNG import, but flipped image horizontally. V1.0.4 PNG import now completely locks up (Not Responding) when STL save file is named and Create is clicked. JPG files import, but when Create is clicked only a 1KB file is created, as with previous versions.

[Simplify3D]

slipshine - That custom distance box should really always be a positive value. For example you might enter 0.1mm. Then when you press the positive button it will send:

G91 ; relative mode
G1 X0.1 ; make positive jog move
G90 ; absolute mode

If you press negative it moves that distance in the opposite direction

G91 ; relative mode
G1 X-0.1 ; make negative jog move
G90 ; absolute mode

We are going to update the UI in the next release so that the textbox is limited to positive values only. Hopefully that will avoid some of the confusion.

And Sparky - Can you give some more information about why you can't run G-Code via USB? I've talked to several people who have had no issues with 1.0.4 and things have been working fine on all our test machines. About the Image to 3D add-in, please see this thread (http://forum.simplify3d.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=22).

[slipshine]

I have been working on this version all day.

I am using a Makergear M2 Factory built in Nov 2012 with Windows 64 bit

Currently printing through the USB with the monitor only and having 1 issue all day.
The part just stopped printing the only thing responsive on the interface was the e-stop.

The machine is acting like the simulator. Which is better than the previous version.

Observations\Bugs

If you stop a print and go to run it again. You have to search for your nc file as the software doesn't remember the directory you were working in.

If you go to export a .fff file it always goes to the install directory (c:\program files x86 \s3dcreator) which causes permission issues in wondows 7 so you must select where to save them.

Will the config files that we create be useable in future releases?

The software turns off the fan that is on the extruder on the m2. It should generally be left on.
The fan for the bed you can do what you want with.

On the Manual Interface:

1.The dial for jogging the axis does not have an arrow. It makes it easy to make a mistake and run your extruder in to your part.
2.There is no button to turn off the heated bed. Im using macro 3 (M140 S0 ; turn off bed)

3.There is no button to turn off the extruder. Im using macro 2 (M104 S0 ; turn off extruder)

4.The extruder control is a bit odd. You must set the value to be moved at a posotive or negative number. The + or – button seems to do the same thing. Makes changing colors difficult.

None of this is intended to be negative. I just want to give good feedback.

You may want to consider adding 2 seperate areas. One for bugs and the other for Requested features. Then this area can be for user questions. Just a thought.

[slipshine]

Thanks. I get the + - thing when I had it set to a negative number it was odd.

I also noticed that you can use the +- with any axis not just the extruder.
That will be helpfull as the jog wheel is a bit fussy. It would be nice if the distance to move
would change with the axis you selected. But that is for another day.

Keep up the work its getting better.

on my 3rd project now and the prints are looking good.

[Simplify3D]

We already added path remembering to all of the file operations for the next release. That should fix the Run button path and FFF settings paths. You will have to browse to the correct path ONCE though before it will start remembering.

The .fff config file format won't change, but there is a chance that we may add new settings or rename old ones. Usually this is very minor and we will try to make a point to mention it. Even if your config file is missing 5 settings or something like that, you can still import it into a new version and it will load all the remaining settings. So yes, they should be usable, but you might want to skim through your settings window after importing just to make sure everything carried over.

About the extruder fan, are you saying you want it to remain on even after a build is complete? You can easily change that by editing the ending G-Code, but if everyone is in agreement, we can update the default profile for the next release.

Right now there isn't a simple extruder off button, but you can always enter 0 into the extruder temperature textbox and press Set. If you don't set the temperature yourself very much (i.e. you are letting the profile do that for you), you could even leave 0 in that field and you now have an off button. And we are trying to find a better way to illustrate which direction to spin the jog wheel for positive or negative moves. Hopefully in time for the next release.

Good suggestion on multiple forums. I'll see what I can do.

[slipshine]

Good Job guys really.

Keep up the good work. I am hopeing to get in to more advanced features this week Ill let you know what I find.

[Sparky]

. . .
And Sparky - Can you give some more information about why you can't run G-Code via USB? I've talked to several people who have had no issues with 1.0.4 and things have been working fine on all our test machines. About the Image to 3D add-in, please see this thread (http://forum.simplify3d.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=22).

Thanks for the flipped image workaround, but I find flipping it in CAD more convenient than swapping machine axes.

V1.0.4, WIN7, WIN8, bracelet.g (MG sample file) gcode, as well as others, still will not execute via USB. That is extruder and bed temps are set manually (185, 60). When set points are reached, Machine Control Panel "Run," file selected from PC HD or SD. Upon selecting "Open," MCP logging in both Comm and Temp windows halts until after several minutes of machine inactivity, "Stop" is clicked. Logging then resumes immediately. Temps were maintained, but gcode never begins execution. I've had the same results consistently, numerous times on three PCs, but the only way gcode will run under S3D control is via M2's SD reader. It was noted that during M2's SD reader ops, MCP logging continued throughout.

The same file runs without issue, via USB, residing on the PC's drive(s), using Pronterface, so that would seem to rule out hardware problems. The last failure was on a new PC with a fresh S3D install. With the exception of a few extraneous movements, gcode via USB worked in V1.0.3.

[Simplify3D]

I responded to your other thread as well, but this sounds like the confirmation response from the firmware is not getting back to Creator. Can you please turn on verbose mode in the MCP and post the last few serial communications right before the machine stops printing?