[ADDED] size compensation "inset surface" feature

[MLWorx]

I really would like to habe a "fine tune" feature on this software as Slic3r and Kissslicer already have:

This "inset surface" is mainly to tune parts accuracy (I know that 3d printing is not very accurate...) but e.g. when printing the planetary gear set from Kickstarter this feature is VERY usefull.

Basically there are 2 ways of wrong dimensions on the standard 3D ptinters
1.) all dimensions of the model are e.g. 1% too small/large: can be solved via tuning the "steps per unit" in the firmware or by G92 X... and G92 Y...
2.) all dimension of the model are e.g. 0,1mm too wide: The printer extrudes a bit more material as it should, so you can simply adjust the flow rate.

On my printer I overextrude just a bit to get a perfect watertight solid surface on top but as mentioned every part is slightly (0,1mm) too large on every dimension. My RepRap is so perfectly tuned that I can ensure a perfect part accuracy but I really need this feature as it gives you the possibility to slightly adjust dimensions.

[jimc]

Just double click the model and increase its size 1%. The 1-2% the model is off is due to the plastic shrinking as it cools.

[MLWorx]

Just double click the model and increase its size 1%. The 1-2% the model is off is due to the plastic shrinking as it cools.

Sorry, but does NOT solve anything.

An example: You have a part where a 10mm dimension has to be accurate and the overall dimension is 150 * 150mm
If you scale from e.g. 10,1 to 10,0 you enter 99%, BUT you also scale the 150mm which is 148,5mm then!
If you have the "inset surface" (Kissslicer) or "XY size compensation" (SLic3r) you simple enter -0.05 and everything is fine.

There is a HUGE difference in absolute and relative size compensation!

relative: setting a scale factor or setting your steps ver unit at the firmware
abolute: adjust the extrusion width or enter a inset surface value

[MLWorx]

So: I have purchased a license even if there is no such feature

I would definitely need this "inset" feature for a customer who is willing to buy a printer and a licence, not only for myself.

[jimc]

I think i understand. So you dont want to scale by %. You want to do it by a specific measurement?

[dsegel]

I don't think the option in Slic3r does what you think it does. It actually scales the entire model in the X and Y planes by adding (or subtracting) 2 x whatever value you enter to the X and Y dimensions. It does change the outside dimensions as well, and messes up thoroughly if you enter too large a value. Try it with a 10mm cube and load the GCode into S3D to view the differences - look at the grid lines for reference (set them to something you know in Preferences). Don't know about KISSlicer, as I've never used it.

You can accomplish the same thing in S3D by just unchecking the "Uniform Scaling" checkbox and setting your X and Y scale values to whatever you want (1.05, 0.95, etc.). The way S3D does it actually makes more sense since you can control the actual percentage of growth/shrinkage without having to compute the value based on the object size. Slic3r doesn't give you the ability to scale each plane independently.

Finally, you can also just set the extrusion width or extrusion multiplier in your S3D process settings. Wouldn't that accomplish much the same thing as what you're talking about?

[MLWorx]

I don't think the option in Slic3r does what you think it does. It actually scales the entire model in the X and Y planes by adding (or subtracting) 2 x whatever value you enter to the X and Y dimensions.

Than's exactly what I'm talking about/want

It does change the outside dimensions as well, and messes up thoroughly if you enter too large a value. Try it with a 10mm cube and load the GCode into S3D to view the differences - look at the grid lines for reference (set them to something you know in Preferences). Don't know about KISSlicer, as I've never used it.

See attached picture: 40mm cube; entered 5mm in Slic3r: works perfect!
No one really wants to add a high value (yes I know you have to protect the user for himself... ) but its just for slight compensation.

You can accomplish the same thing in S3D by just unchecking the "Uniform Scaling" checkbox and setting your X and Y scale values to whatever you want (1.05, 0.95, etc.).

No. See above: absolute and relative compensation

The way S3D does it actually makes more sense since you can control the actual percentage of growth/shrinkage without having to compute the value based on the object size. Slic3r doesn't give you the ability to scale each plane independently.

It does not directyl but as you have to use a "controll programm" for the printer and as RepetierHost works well will Slic3r I can enter a seperate X,Y,Z value (see attached)

Finally, you can also just set the extrusion width or extrusion multiplier in your S3D process settings. Wouldn't that accomplish much the same thing as what you're talking about?

Correct: that's the only way of doing something like "inset surface" compensation.
But as I wrote on my first post I would prefer to do it via a comensation value as Kiss and Slic3r already have since several versions of their software

[ZeAllan]

Hi,

I just discovered this thread while trying to figure out if Simplify3D was able to do this. Thanks so far for saving me the money. :-/

However, I'd like to add to the feature request since my understanding of the functionality differs somewhat from the original: The XY size compensation doesn't just scale the object -- it scales the SOLID parts of the object. This is to say that adding a value with which to inset the surface not only reduces the overall size of the object by that value, but also enlarges holes by the same amount.

In the case of gears, the obvious use would be to ensure that neither teeth nor the center hole for the bolt become too large because of the roundness of the filament making the surface just that bit wider. Without this feature I can choose between redesigning the part (not always possible), scaling down the teeth and drilling the hole bigger, or just giving up.

Drilling the hole only works for round holes, but not for example if the gear was designed to fit the D-shaped shaft of a stepper motor like I'm trying to do. The amount of too-much-filament-at-the-edge varies with layer thickness, so redesigning the design for whatever situation turns up seems really ineffective.

In Slic3r 1.2.5 the XY Compensation feature seems to work for simple hole tests, but crashes consistently when applied to gears. The question for me now is, what software gets this working first?

[MLWorx]

I just discovered this thread while trying to figure out if Simplify3D was able to do this. Thanks so far for saving me the money. :-/
...
In Slic3r 1.2.5 the XY Compensation feature seems to work for simple hole tests, but crashes consistently when applied to gears. The question for me now is, what software gets this working first?

Use Kisslicer - its free (unless you decide to buy the PRO version which adds the feature of "infill ever n layers" for supports).
Kisslicer can also support small overhangs where Simplify fails too (see my other posts for this non-working feature)

The only negative thing on Kisslicer is that you cannot arrange stls on your printbed on your own.
I'll ask the Simplify guys to refund my money: don't need a $140 software which does not fullfill basic needs even open-source software offers.

[S3D-Jason]

This feature was added in Simplify3D version 2.2.2. Go to the Other tab and adjust the "Horizontal size compensation value".