New user, Several Problems

[steveho]

I think I'm going crazy. First my setup: Simplify3d as of a couple days ago (new user). Rigidbot dual extrusion.

I am trying to print an object with 3 colors. I am using the left extruder for the base with Black PLA. The right extruder is for the next layer White PLA, and back to the left extruder for RED PLA. The problems, I am running into I'm not sure if it's me or what.
1. I am not using the heated bed for this print. I am starting fresh with a File...New. I import 3 pieces of the model into the program. Then I align them and they stack nicely.
Next I add a Process1 for the first layer. Almost all the settings come up nicely for my printer, including extruder 1 at 200, extruder 2 at 200, and heated bed at 0. Repeat for Process2 and Process3 selecting the appropriate extruder for process2.
Then I save the factory, close and exit. Relaunch and open the factory. Now I find that the heated bed is at 60 for all 3 processes. I verified that they were all 0 before saving, and now they changed to 3.

Any help on that one?

2. So I try this same object in a different way. I have all 3 layers in 1 STL file. So I load this up. Then I specify Process1, 2, 3. Each process has an advanced "Start at mm" and "Stop at mm". SUGGESTION-> This should be START ON LAYER and STOP AFTER LAYER so you could specify start on layer 13 and stop after layer 13.
I specify process 1 to start at 0, and stop at 2.99mm
I specify process 2 to start at 3mm and stop at 3.99mm
I specify process 3 to start at 4mm and no stop.
When I go to print (after verifying that the heated bed is 0 on all three processes because it always changes to 60) one object it works fine. When I duplicate the object and have 2 objects, or 4 objects, they all print squashed. Overall height is around 4.9mm. They actually print at about 3.9mm. Everything is squished down.

Any help on this one? Is it me? Or am I running across bugs in the program? I bought this specifically for dual extrusion and I love the control it has over just about every parameter. It is so much better than Cura or Slicer, unless of course, it doesn't work correctly.

HELP!?

[KeyboardWarrior]

Can you post a factory file? That would help a ton in troubleshooting.

[steveho]

I've attached the factory file. I printed directly from usb. This is 1 stl file that I print in 3 processes. The resulting output is about 3.9mm, when it should be 4.4. Even the gcode says

; layer 27, Z = 4.4
M106 S255
; inner perimeter
G1 X74.856 Y38.606 F7200
G1 Z4.400 F1002

I'm not sure why it isn't printing full height. Each layer is squashed on the prior layer.
And some photos of the output. The black one with the single outline is printed from Cura. But the whole main reason that I'm switching from Cura to Simplify3d is that Cura loses fine lines. Hence no "TC" and the outer double outline disappears. They print in Simplify3d but I must have a setting wrong.


In the photo with 3 of them, the two red ones are printed from the same factory file. the one on the left is printed from SD and measures 3.19mm. The one on the right is printed directly through USB and measures 3.73mm. The black one in the center is also printed through Simplify3d, but I don't have that factory file. It is 4.45mm. So I know Simplify3D can print correctly, I'm just not sure what setting is making the most of them squashed.

all 3 simplify3d

Also, the printer display DOES show that it is printing at z:+004.4 even on the one that ends up being 3.19mm.

[steveho]

Cura in black, Simplify3D in red

cura vs simplify3d

All 3 printed with Simplify3D. Left printed via SD card, Right printed with USB. Middle, I don't remember.

simplify3d

simplify3d

[steveho]

calibration cube

And just to be sure that I'm not seeing things, I printed a 20x20x20 calibration cube. It measures:
x=20.10mm
y=20.15mm
z=19.84mm
So it's close.

I'm thinking there is something wrong with the "Start at___ mm" and "stop at ___mm" code? Or the way I am implementing it?

Help please.