[FIXED] Slicer losing thin walls/details

[Legobusier]

Hi All, first post here - new user.

I am an architect attempting to do models for clients. Bought a FlashForge Creator Pro - works reasonably well for most objects out of the box using Makerbot's Desktop app. After looking for more advanced support options (editable supports, etc) I came across S3D and thought I found what I needed....however I have noticed that this slicer tends to not even attempt to print many thin walled items (windows, doors, etc) in our models despite many hours of experimentation....whereas the Makerbot Desktop slicer keeps these details right out of the box. I did a little experimenting with Slic3r and had similar results to the S3D slicer.

I have read that the software essentially throws out what it deems as "too thin", but again Makerbot handles these items just fine....I am hoping that someone here can tell me what I am doing wrong and point me to a setting somewhere that may rectify this for us. The only thing I have been able to find that works to get the details from the slicer routine is to change the Extrusion with (in Manual mode) down to something VERY low, like .1 (my nozzle diameter is .4), but I have not had a successful print doing this...Argh....

Any suggestions on getting some of this fine detail to print from S3D? I hate to go back to Makerbot Desktop...

Thanks,
Chris

[jimc]

Your machine can only print so small and its determined by the nozzle size. Makerware might go ahead and slice it but that doesnt mean your printer can print it. If its sliced your printer will put a line there but it willl be way out of spec. If the feature is .1 and your nozzle is .4 then the printed feature will still be .4......actually a little bigger. Probably around .48 or so. If your printing alot of tiny items then you might try getting a smaller nozzle for your printer. .25 is common but you wont find one .1 if thats what you require.

[Legobusier]

Thanks for the response jimc...

The issue is that Makerbot actually DOES do a decent job printing these items, while S3D just discards the data without trying....I would certainly prefer to be able to override the settings in S3D realizing that the print may fail....as it stands now I have no option but to use MB...frustrating...

[Merle Fyshwick]

Hi Legobusier

I was thinking the same thing as you, and though this reply is six months late, maybe it will help somebody else. I was able to get S3D to print the details (even if they're thicker in real life than in the STL) by decreasing the Extrusion Width to 0.2mm, and the Extrusion Multiplier to 1.5. I guess the reason a 0.4mm nozzle won't print properly at the 0.2mm nozzle extrusion rate is that the molten filament isn't extruded far enough to stick to the layer beneath.

It also seems silly that S3D still prints the supports for details that it has deemed too fine.

[jbresner]

Whoa! It works!

I was trying to print this piece with S3D and it was not doing it. I changed the settings as described and it looks like the print is coming out perfectly. Thanks Merle!

[jbresner]

Ok, spoke too soon. The thin walls are printing with more detail BUT they're not attached (http://screencast.com/t/5ZSKu58iOVS)

Any other thoughts on how to fix this?

[mmcginnis9272]

I'm having the same issue. I have been using Cura and it has issues as well. But, I can get Cura to generate thin areas that are aroung 13% thinner than S3D. I can print the cura files just fine. So, I would hope that S3D could do at least as good.

[MichaelHerron]

It is important--and one of the key features of simplify--for it to maintain the integrity of the designed part. If the slicing parameters are such that it cannot create a feature of the designed size, it should tell you. It does this in the preview. Its somewhat disheartening to not notice that it is ignoring the features you desire until AFTER its printed, but the preview should show you exactly what it is going to try to print.

For a great many users, the cosmetic appearance of the finished part is more important than the dimensional accuracy.
Perhaps this is a good time to request this as a feature? A checkbox for preserving thin features might be useful for these users?

My recommendation is this--if you have control over the design, design features compatible with your printer. If you have a .4mm nozzle, keep your wall thickness and other feature sizes a multiple of this. It may mean you have 2 designs--a printed version and a molded or machined version.
If you don't have control of the design, you may be stuck with Makerbot software for such parts.

[CleverCoder]

Wow.. this is the third issue I've found (I think) with S3D. I'm starting to second-guess my purchase. I'm trying to print the 0.5mm calibration cube. I have a FlashForge Creator Pro, with a 0.4mm nozzle. In the preview, the object doesn't even appear. I have to set the nozzle width to 0.2 and extrusion width to "auto" (or manually something around 0.2mm) for it to appear in the preview. This makes no sense to me. Single wall thickness.

Something funky is going on with their calculations. I can print this model in RepG with no problems. I think I might have to use some different slicers for awhile. This problem, plus the issues with bridging edges (perimeters) running at faster "perimeter" speeds, and the bugs with USB printing on Windows 10 (all other slicers work) is a serious issue.

Simplify3D... please fix these issues..

[RomeFallsAgain]

Odd...I just ran into this problem today myself.

A thin wall that is .36mm in thickness shows just fine in the model, but when I slice it and preview the printing model, the thin walls are simply ignored.