Several objects sequentially

[Joymaker]

I often print small objects, and I find it very useful to print several of them sequentially. But it seems that sequential printing is the neglected stepchild of Simplify3d. I'm finding the following problems:

1. It asks me for a clearance height, I tell it more than the truth, and then separate my objects in Y, while my printheads are separated only in X, and I space my objects by far more than enough to give the truly needed clearance in any direction. However -- once the first object is complete, I'm finding that the print head descends on a direct path toward the beginning of the next object. Oops! Depending on the shape of the object just finished, that object is often captured and/or crushed under the descending head or gantry.

Suggestion: when finishing one of multiple objects, move the head horizontally only, until it has cleared the convex hull (as projected onto the XY plane) of the completed object, or has reached the starting point for the new object, which ever comes first. Then begin descent.

2. What if I would like to print multiple copies of the same thing sequentially using the exact same process? But no! I'll never get the dialog that allows me to ask for sequential printing, unless I have defined more than one process. Please incorporate this information into the process itself, instead of having this odd dialog to jump up in my face.

3. If I have defined more than one process, it asks me every single time whether to print concurrently or sequentially, and if sequentially, what the clearance height is. PLEASE CHANGE THIS! The choice of sequential printing should be embodied in the process information, and the clearance should be embodied in the machine information. Regardless of how exactly that works, my choice should be saved in the factory file, Please don't ask me to make it again every time! I'd like to build a factory file that can just make six of the same thing, no questions asked.

4. I have a two headed printer (Flashforge Creator Pro). I set up a situation with two processes to print two objects, the first with the left print head, the second with the right print head. I'll get two objects in two different colors, right? But it pops up this strange error message:

The selected process is not configured for the number of extruders you have chosen to use. Are you sure you want to continue?

What do you mean, dear program? One process is configured for one extruder, and the other process is configured for the other extruder. Where's the problem? And if I press on, it actually works fine.

Here's hoping that a lot of fresh thought will be put into sequential printing in the next release, to make it a first-class citizen instead of a neglected stepchild. It's a really useful feature for being able to setup a big job and walk away.

[RomeFallsAgain]

What version of Simplify 3D are you working with? Apple or PC?

It would be great to have a lot of things in S3D but I'm sure there's a limit to what they can do. Maybe in later versions.

As far as the heads descending into your objects, could you not add a segment of G-Code to do that after each object finishes?

For example, create a custom script to be inserted after the end of each object that tells the print head to raise (higher than the highest point on the previous row in the y axis, then when it reaches the origin for the next object, descend.

[jimc]

i use sequential printing all the time and i have never had a collision but i have a single head machine . it seems to work really well BUT you do make some good points and i like some of the improvement ideas. the clearance should be a setting in the gcode tab in the machine definition or in the preferences somewhere. having to set up a process for each model kinda sux too. if all the models can use the same profile then we should be able to apply that process to all of them

[arobg]

Joymaker, I have been struggling with these issues too. Thank you for explaining these issues so well. I hope your suggestions are implemented.

I often print small objects, and I find it very useful to print several of them sequentially. But it seems that sequential printing is the neglected stepchild of Simplify3d. ...