[ADDED] Slicer behavior for thin walled sections

[mroek]

+1 from me too. @S3D: Please improve thin wall behaviour!

[bnorman]

I would very much like this feature. The "accuracy" argument against adding the option is somewhat flimsy. Certainly, for perfect mechanical reproduction, I understand why you might want features to gracefully disappear as they fall below the printable limit, but one might argue that this should happen when they fall below 1/2 the extrusion width so that thin features somewhat below the extrusion width are "rounded up".

Another perspective on accuracy, however, is that one might want to show the presence of features in a model even if they are somewhat distorted from true scale. Accurately representing the presence or absence of those features is sometimes more important than having them exactly to scale (and thus nonexistent).

In particular, I am trying to print a model of a part that has a mounting flange. The flange disappears in simplify3d, which is quite frustrating. It is much more important for my application that the flange is printed (at the sacrifice of perfect scaling).

[pipaev]

+1

[ServiceXp]

+10, How is this still not a feature yet?

[pixel3design]

That's EXACTLY the same problem Slic3r have.

Peoples don't understand that MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER. PERIOD.

If an extrusion does not fit into a wall or 3 perimeters don't fit in, CHANGE THE NOZZLE. You can't turn a screw with a sledge hammer. Why, for God sake, you want an 0.1 extrusion width with an 0.4 nozzle??? IT WON'T WORK. CHANGE THE NOZZLE AND STOP BLAMING SIMPLIFY3D TEAM.

[pipaev]

CHANGE THE NOZZLE AND STOP BLAMING SIMPLIFY3D TEAM.

Very interesting idea. But which nozzle should I use if I'm going to print 1mm thick detail with more then 1 perimeter?
My default nozzle is 0.3mm, I can print with width from 0.36mm to 0.8mm (I use 0.5mm width for my convenience).
If I use width 0.36mm then smallest thickness of part is:
1 perimeter - 1*0.36*2=0.72mm
2 perimeters - 2*0.36*2=1.44mm
3 perimeters - 3*0.36*2=2.16mm
If I use width 0.50mm then smallest thickness of part is:
1 perimeter - 1*0.5*2=1.0mm
2 perimeters - 2*0.5*2=2.0mm
3 perimeters - 3*0.5*2=3.0mm

1. I can't use 1 perimeter for mechanical parts as you know. My parts are complex.
2. I can't calculate thickness everytime for fine tuning of extrusion width. It's software's purpose to tune extrusion width with thickness that is demanded.
3. If my printer is skipping on the table because it's printing thin wall gap fill it's no good for mechanics.
4. I think it's not a Nobel Prize level of problem.
5. It's not a free software to close eyes and not to hear user's opinion (Autodesk don't hear anyway if you know what I mean).

[pixel3design]

Very interesting idea. But which nozzle should I use if I'm going to print 1mm thick detail with more then 1 perimeter?
My default nozzle is 0.3mm, I can print with width from 0.36mm to 0.8mm (I use 0.5mm width for my convenience).
If I use width 0.36mm then smallest thickness of part is:
1 perimeter - 1*0.36*2=0.72mm
2 perimeters - 2*0.36*2=1.44mm
3 perimeters - 3*0.36*2=2.16mm
If I use width 0.36mm then smallest thickness of part is:
1 perimeter - 1*0.5*2=1.0mm
2 perimeters - 2*0.5*2=2.0mm
3 perimeters - 3*0.5*2=3.0mm

1. I can't use 1 perimeter for mechanical parts as you know. My parts are complex.
2. I can't calculate thickness everytime for fine tuning of extrusion width. It's software's purpose to tune extrusion width with thickness that is demanded.
3. If my printer is skipping on the table because it's printing thin wall gap fill it's no good for mechanics.
4. I think it's not a Nobel Prize level of problem.
5. It's not a free software to close eyes and not to hear user's opinion (Autodesk don't hear anyway if you know what I mean).

Well... Let's see...
1. You are right. Thinwall of 1 perimeter is not a good thing for mechanical parts. Unless you use a very thick extrusion, like Volcano (1mm or 1.2mm) nozzles. I can assure you that 1 perimeter at this level of extrusion is rigid and mechanical parts friendly.
2. You are right, but as you know as mechanical designer, you can't drill a 2mm hole with a 10mm drill bit. Live with it.
3. I was going to suggest it, but seems your printer is mounted on spheres... As I've done, print some rubber feets. Less noise and your printer will not walk anymore (despite feets), or indeed you can simply slowdown the infill movements and make thick extrusion = more stress reliable part.
4. Math is math. As point 2 - 1 = 1 not 2. If it doesn't fit, there's no voodoo magic you can apply. My only bit of help could come from Extrusion Multiply. (eg. Nozzle 0.35 - 3 shells - EW 0.35 - EM 0.95) . It should work...
5. Yeah it's not free. I switched from Slic3r to Simplify3D. From free to non free. And I do not regreat. Even if I can do with Slic3r MANY more things, like MODIFIERS (take a look at it, it's a really gorgeous feature).

Indeed I do not use just S3D for my job. In some cases I need MODIFIERS. So Slic3r come in help. It's something like the Process in S3D but IMHO is much more useful.

If you do design for work, don't stick with just a software. I've learned that I've not married any software. Just like a gigolò, I like to pick from here and there ^^.

Happy printing.

[pipaev]

It's not a claim but a feature request. I have no ability to buy different nozzle size because Picaso3D Designer printer has only one size and nozzle is differs from standard nozzles on the market. The only nozzle is 0.3mm with M6x0.8 thread. I ordered some nozzles and I'm going to polish it on my factory to make hole bigger for printing stronger walls. It's still not a solution of thin walls gap. I'll try Slic3r features by your advice, thank you.

[dkightley]

The subject of this thread has somewhat derailed......

For the benefit of anyone not having read the thread from the beginning:

There are two issues discussed in this thread:

1) Printing of thin webs that are less than the width of an extrusion -
Currently, S3D does not create an extrusion where a web has a width that is less than the extrusion width...with the intention is that the user's responsibility to spot the missing extrusion and modify the design to thicken up webs, etc so they print.

A number of users state that this is a bug...and say the slicer should print an extrusion at the minimum width irrespective as to whether the printed part is not resolved accurately. Other users say that this is the correct action...ie if it can't be printed correctly, don't print it!

As both views are valid, the suggested enhancement to the software is to have a flag to flip the functionality of the software between the functionality that satisfies the former user view and the functionality that satisfies the latter user view. As an addition, I would like to see a warning whenever the slicer cannot extrude due to the width being less than one extrusion width, or has extruded something wider than is should be.

2)Printing of thin webs or parts that are between one and about four filament widths..
Simplify3D does not make a very good job of filling in when a shape has a thickness between one and three or four filament widths.

The feature request here is for the deficiencies to be investigated and changes made that result in the ability of it being possible to achieve a more consistent fill.

[wfcook]

That's EXACTLY the same problem Slic3r have.

Peoples don't understand that MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER. PERIOD.

If an extrusion does not fit into a wall or 3 perimeters don't fit in, CHANGE THE NOZZLE. You can't turn a screw with a sledge hammer. Why, for God sake, you want an 0.1 extrusion width with an 0.4 nozzle??? IT WON'T WORK. CHANGE THE NOZZLE AND STOP BLAMING SIMPLIFY3D TEAM.

First, get off your high horse and stop shouting. You have no knowledge of what anybody else is printing or what their printer is capable of.

Second, nobody is blaming anybody. It is a feature request, and judging by the response, it is a feature request that a lot of people would like to see implemented.

Third, your proposed solution doesn't help. At all. I know, as I have tried it. Often, it removes the problem from one area of the print and transfers it to another are of the print. Your proposed 'solution' does not warrant all caps shouting, as it is totally useless.

I realize that calculating a variable extrusion width is a difficult problem, and I even realize that Slic3r doesn't do it correctly right now. I do find it annoying that I can't easily vary the extrusion width on different parts of the print (outer perimeter vs. inner perimeter, for example), and it would be flat-out fantastic if thin-wall prints on the order of one to 3 nozzle widths could be filled without vibrating the printer to death.