Material Catalogs

[CompoundCarl]

You can edit them from the GUI. It's really simple actually (this video explains it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFynhtvPBPQ)

You only need to edit the config files if you want to include new parameters as "material options". For example, if you decide you want the first layer speed to change for each material, you just need to add it to each <autoConfigureMaterial> section, since by default, those just control things like extruder settings, temperatures, and fan speeds. The nice thing about this is that you get complete freedom to decide which settings should be changed for material or quality or which should remain fixed and be part of the base profile.

[KC_703]

I do something similar through manipulation of the Autoconfigure Material and Quality lists. Some of the parameters need to be entered manually through a text editor to "jumpstart" the storage of the value.

My system evolves around the layer height because it is stored separate from all the other extruder parameters in the Quality sub-profiles. So I choose a LH, pick the appropriate Material subprofile and then the Quality subprofile.

The Autoconfigure Material maintains extruder tab parameters, and temperature tab parameters:

Code: Select all

 <autoConfigureMaterial name="ABS-BLACK-LH2">
    <extruder name="Primary Extruder">
      <toolheadNumber>0</toolheadNumber>
      <diameter>0.5</diameter>
      <autoWidth>1</autoWidth>
      <width>0.6</width>
      <extrusionMultiplier>0.92</extrusionMultiplier>
      <useRetract>1</useRetract>
      <retractionDistance>1.7</retractionDistance>
      <extraRestartDistance>0</extraRestartDistance>
      <retractionZLift>0</retractionZLift>
      <retractionSpeed>1800</retractionSpeed>
      <useCoasting>1</useCoasting>
      <coastingDistance>0.2</coastingDistance>
      <useWipe>0</useWipe>
      <wipeDistance>5</wipeDistance>
    </extruder>
    <temperatureController name="Primary Extruder">
      <temperatureNumber>0</temperatureNumber>
      <isHeatedBed>0</isHeatedBed>
      <relayBetweenLayers>0</relayBetweenLayers>
      <relayBetweenLoops>0</relayBetweenLoops>
      <stabilizeAtStartup>1</stabilizeAtStartup>
      <setpoint layer="1" temperature="245"/>
      <setpoint layer="10" temperature="243"/>
    </temperatureController>
    <temperatureController name="Heated Bed">
      <temperatureNumber>1</temperatureNumber>
      <isHeatedBed>1</isHeatedBed>
      <relayBetweenLayers>0</relayBetweenLayers>
      <relayBetweenLoops>0</relayBetweenLoops>
      <stabilizeAtStartup>0</stabilizeAtStartup>
      <setpoint layer="1" temperature="110"/>
      <setpoint layer="20" temperature="100"/>
      <setpoint layer="150" temperature="90"/>
    </temperatureController>
    <globalExtrusionMultiplier>0.91</globalExtrusionMultiplier>
    <fanSpeed>
 	<setpoint layer="1" speed="0"/>
    	<setpoint layer="2" speed="50"/>
    	<setpoint layer="4" speed="0"/>
    	<setpoint layer="10" speed="30"/>
    	<setpoint layer="35" speed="40"/>
    </fanSpeed>
  </autoConfigureMaterial>

The Autoconfigure Quality maintains the layer tab parameters and speed tab:

Code: Select all

 <autoConfigureQuality name="LH2-SPEED4800">
    <globalExtrusionMultiplier>0.92</globalExtrusionMultiplier>
    <layerHeight>0.2</layerHeight>
    <topSolidLayers>10</topSolidLayers>
    <bottomSolidLayers>10</bottomSolidLayers>
    <skirtLayers>1</skirtLayers>
    <skirtOutlines>5</skirtOutlines>
    <infillPercentage>20</infillPercentage>
    <supportInfillPercentage>25</supportInfillPercentage>
    <defaultSpeed>4800</defaultSpeed>
    <outlineUnderspeed>0.4</outlineUnderspeed>
    <solidInfillUnderspeed>0.8</solidInfillUnderspeed>
    <supportUnderspeed>1.1</supportUnderspeed>
    <rapidXYspeed>5400</rapidXYspeed>
  </autoConfigureQuality>

I haven't figured out all the "global" parameters, but in the quality profiles "globalExtrusionMultiplier" can be used successfully.

An old FFF is attached for further detail. Hope that helps with starting ideas...

[kelchm]

The way this works in Slic3r is wonderful compared to S3D. I really hope this functionality gets some attention in a future release.

[Hank2501]

Strongly agree!!!

To manage the different filaments is not a nice to have, it's a must have.

I just bought the software and I'm thinking about to giving it back. Slic3r do have its own faults. But a Software called Simplify3D should be simple to use, I guess. Sorry for the hard words.
I can live with inadequate or missing function in a free to use Software, but not in a payed software.
Sorry

[brian442]

They already support material catalogs in S3D. See this post: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4225&start=10#p21265

[Hank2501]

Really?
I pay 150 bugs and have to manipulate a config-file with a text-editor?
That's not a feature. That's a hack! Nothing official I guess.

[brian442]

Just to be clear, it's already included in the UI. Here's a video showing how to easily add and edit material or quality options:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFynhtvPBPQ

So 95% of the time, I just do everything from the UI and you never need to touch a text file. But sometimes I like to see a list of exactly what settings are changing for a specific configuration, so it can be useful to export the file like the link above explains. Also, by default I think S3D adjusts things like temperatures, extrusion amounts, fan speeds, etc for each material, but if you choose that you want to make a new setting controlled by the material as well, then just add it to the text file, re-import it, and after that you can do all of the editing from the UI. So even though you do almost everything from the UI, I still think it's useful to know a bit about the text files.

[Hank2501]

OK. You are right.
I was a little confused about my settings in slic3r. I mismatched some things.
You must know, i just switched to S3D and it's a little different. Sorry for the trouble.
I need some more experience with S3D, I guess.
But, I wonder. The setting about the filament properties for example, are a global variables. They don't chang while you are using different filament settings.

[kelchm]

I was really disappointed to see this wasn't on the list of new features for 4.0. Simplify3D is a great slicer, but it's downright painful to manage materials and quality profiles across multiple different printers. And no -- having to edit the XML is not an acceptable workaround.

Slic3r and Cura have nailed the way this should work, why can't Simplify3D?

[EvoOlli]

I would like to bump this up, because the Handling of Profiles / Printers / Materials in the current Version is not acceptable for a Slicer, which is so good in all the other areas. And manually editiing Files is not the way to go.
I think this need a complet rethink and reorganisation of handling of the FFF-Files, Materials and Print-Quality Profiles.


And: Please extend Count of the viewable Rows in the Profiles-Dropdown-Box. 10 Rows isn't enough and it's such a simple programming step to extend it to the bottom of the FFF-Settings Windows if there are a lot of Rows/Profiles inside.