How to print last thre layers with different process?

[TMeyer]

Hi,

Is there any easy way to print the last three layers with a different process?
I need to give the last three layers a littlebit more temperature and more extrusion to get a better surface finish especially in the top layer.
I know I can use a second process for this but it is very complicated to find the right height in mm where the last three layers begin.

Is there any option to specify a process beginning from a certain layer instead from a height in mm?

Thanks...

[mikedehaan]

You can change the temperature by layer easy enough. The retraction settings however, would have to be by mm.

To adjust the temperature per layer, edit the process and go to the temperature tab. Select your extruder on the left. You should see the table to set your temperature points per layer on the bottom right of the screen.

Screenshot of the temperature screen

[mroek]

Unfortunately, not.

But it isn't all that difficult, first double-click the model in the Models pane on the left, and look in the "Change scaling" box at the right to see what the Z dimension is. Then you just multiply your layer height with the number of layers you want to print differently, and subtract that from the total height.

Example: The Z-dimension is 37.7 mm, and you are printing with a 0.2 mm layer height. You want to print the last three layers with a different process, so the first process needs to stop at: 37.7 - (0.2 x 3) = 37.1 mm. This is of course also where the second process starts.

This doesn't work if you are using a raft, though. In that case, there's some more maths to do, as you also will need to compensate for the raft.

[kabali16]

Temperature setpoints are easy to configure as mentioned. If you want nice and smooth solid layers, just lower the speed. You can use the Solid infill underspeed setting to control this (affects both top and bottom). This is general gives a very good finish.

[TMeyer]

Thanks to all, I know I can calculate this but as we in the post from mroek it is not a few click option.
The 'Temperature by layer' function I know already, but I not only want to change temperature may other settings as well - so I need a way to change processes by layer not by mm.
Many settings are done in layers not in mm so I wish to have an option that I can choose by layer.

May this can be done as new feature in one of the future releases.
But, to be honest, when S3D team has implemented any feature the users have requested here

[horst.w]

Hi TMeyer,

if you want to know the number of a certain layer it is very easy to realise!

Just start the PrintPreView, switch on the ViewByLayer and the number of the last layer is shown in the left window corner downside.
That is at first the last Top Layer, here no 278. Push the button with a klick and hold with the mouse and you can see the layers number at any point you wish to know, here e.g. no.139.

The line with the Layer- and Line-numbers is only shown on my laptop sreen, when I switch to full picture modus of the screen. Sometimes I must change between full picture and smaller screen modus and back, before this line is shown. But thats a problem of my laptop.

horst.w, GER

[shi]

But it isn't all that difficult,

True, but for the slicer, it would be trivial to make a change on a certain layer, given that it's the one generating the layers, so it makes little sense that this isn't at least an option.

if you want to know the number of a certain layer it is very easy to realise!

He wants the reverse of this, he knows which layer he wants the settings to change, but S3D only deals with mm (obviouisly, why would a slicer use layers for anything?).

But, to be honest, when S3D team has implemented any feature the users have requested here

Reading these forums (unfortunately only after purchasing), seemingly not very often...

[horst.w]

... that's right, but where is the problem?

I.
If the number of layer is known, he can read out the millimeters out of the gcode. Surely not very comfortable but very exactly.


II.
First going down to the layer as wished, then open CrossSectionView and also helpfull is showing the toolhead.
Going down with the CrossSection "Z" until the toolhead is disappeared.
That is the last layer obove the point we look for. Also easy to identify with the changing of the object-view when going lower with "Z"

The example shows this point between 27,81 mm and 27,71mm , also +/ - 0,1 mm true value. Thats enough I think.

#

H.

[shi]

Again, there are obviously dozens of complicated and rondabout ways to calculate a millimeter height to match a certain layer number, but it doesn't change the fact that allowing setting process end and start points to the nth layer instead of certain height would be a trivial feature to implement in a slicer and, indeed, my current slicer of choice for anything not requiring custom supports, Cura, has a free Plugin called TweakAtZ that allows setting the layer to change settings either in mm or layer number.
Unfortunately it only allows setting speed, flowrate and temperature, not infill % for instance, so if I need to have a variable density print or other advanced things like that I'll have to resort to S3D and a calculator.

[horst.w]

Sure, there is no doubt about this, but it doesn't help when S3D does not integrate features like this also as a measure-scale for the printtable. Only the grid isn't sufficient.
And the missed features were requested as long as I'm here since version 1.1 . Perhaps they are patented.

horst.w, GER