New simplify3d user questions

[jkhoopster86]

Hello all,

I have had my TAZ 5 since last December and have taken the plunge and bought simplify3d since I heard so many good things about it. I had a few questions since I switched over from CURA that came with my TAZ5.

1. In cura there are simple buttons on the control screen to extrude 10mm filament, home X, home Z, home Y, raise Z axis 10mm etc. Is this hidden somewhere in simplify3d? Particularly the extrude 10mm function would be useful since before every print i tell it to do that.

2. I heard at great length how easy simplify3d supports are to remove and that was a big feature I was looking forward to. My supports that are a single column (maybe a square centimeter or so) are easy to remove. Larger sections are still very difficult and require pliers/time/making a mess. Is there a setting that may help with that?

3. I have been using a raft for some complex prints and I find that it is very difficult to separate my print after it is finished. Usually the bottom 2 layers rip off easily and the 3rd layer actually attached to the print will come off only in strings and with lots of effort. I upped the distance from print setting from the default of 0.14mm to 0.2mm and have seen no difference.

If anyone can help with these issues that would be greatly appreciated.

[andrewk72]

1) go to Tools > Machine Control Panel. All the homing and jogging stuff is on the Jog Controls tab. You can use the Extrude options to extruder 1, 10, or 100mm of filament

2) there's several settings that control that. Click "Edit process settings", go to the Support tab, then increase in horizontal offset (for example, add 0.1mm to whatever value you have there). If it still needs more help separating, you could also add 1 to the upper separation layers.

3) personally, I would stop using a raft right now and start using a brim. It works MUCH better and is faster and cheaper

[jkhoopster86]

I initially tried using a brim and have been using brims with cura for quite some time. My problem with the brim is the nozzle would jump around to different sections of the brim and each one would leave a little of the initial extruded plastic sticking up like a cow lick when it started a new line. This would then be caught on the nozzle and pull up the previously laid down part of the brim when it got back around to it. Perhaps I should slow down my initial layer to minimize this?

[andrewk72]

Yea, slowing down the first layer should help. It's also very important to make sure that the first layer position is correct. For example, if the nozzle is starting too high above the bed, that will also cause the brim to peel away easily. So slow down the speed and perhaps also reduce the Z-axis global offset on the G-Code tab.

[razster]

Sounds like you just need to adjust the fisrt layer position, try changing the z-axis offset, they talk about it more here