Gaps between processes

[dbvanhorn]

I am printing an object with four processes, adjusting layer thickness and temperature so as to speed up the print while maintaining quality where I need it.

Looking at the sides of the print, I see what looks like delamination between layers, right where I am switching processes. Is there a way to minimize this?

I'm less than 24 hours with Simplify, and other than this, I'd say "so far, so good".

[brian442]

Did you check the Simplify3D preview to see if the gap is present there? Do you have a photo of the print where the gap is happening?

[dbvanhorn]

The layers of each process are sequential if that's what you mean.

I am still experimenting, I've had this software for less than 24 hours at this point. I did see a youtube video where someone was showing this multi-process feature, and he had the same issue. He didn't indicate what if anything could be done about it.

So far, the biggest weakness I see is the inability to manage filament types easily. I don't print with a lot of different materials, but in Matter Control I could save settings for "Inland PLA Black" or whatever.

One small feature I miss is having Matter Control text me when the print is done. But that's relatively minor.

The multi-process was my big reason for trying this. I have parts where I need high detail in a certain vertical range, and I don't in other ranges, which seems to be pretty much exactly what they were thinking of with this feature. Even if I only used it to customize the first few layers for better bed adhesion with ABS, it would be worth it to me.

[brian442]

I don't print with a lot of different materials, but in Matter Control I could save settings for "Inland PLA Black" or whatever.

You can do the same thing in S3D. Just click the "+" button beside the list of materials to add a new one and then you can change your settings. If you ever want to see what's being changed for each material, you can even go to File > Export FFF Profile, open that file in a text editor, and see all of the exact changes at the bottom in the <autoConfigureMaterial> sections.

There's a video about the basics here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFynhtvPBPQ

[blackbird2016]

I had this, too.
Reason seems to be that the software ist just splitting your model whre you tell to do.
But sometimes depending on the layer-height it can not "fill" untill the desired height.
Say your 1st process is just 1mm high and your layer height 0,4mm it
will draw 2 layers and leave a gap of 0,2mm until starting the 2nd process.

This is easy to solve but needs some legwork, though.
The gap is easy to see in the print preview. (even a 0,1mm gap)
Just scroll down the print-process to the last layer of the process beneath the gap.
In the above example you could see a z-value (lower left corner of the preview) of 0,8mm.
Go back to your process settings and edit the end-point in process 1 from 1to 0,8 manually.
Same for the start-point of process 2.
This at least for me works pretty well....

[dbvanhorn]

Ok, I will try that next time. It does seem like something that should be handled automatically though.

[blackbird2016]

You are right!
I would be glad, it would be a real seamless transition as announced.
Iam just doing some experiments for the moment and
making the transition "by hand" from 02mm over a few layers with 0,17mm to 0,15mm.
It as such is working well, skipping the step between by software would be a charm, though...

In an other thread someone whished the layer thickness not to set by layer but per mm
which would be of help here, though...

[arhi]

making the transition "by hand" from 02mm over a few layers with 0,17mm to 0,15mm.
It as such is working well, skipping the step between by software would be a charm, though...

That's why "mesh modifiers" are bit easier to work with but looks like s3d is going in right direction visualizing processes. if at one time they create a "visual process editor" where you can stack/move/resize processes directly on the part then top/bottom of the process could "snap" to the proper layer's ..

would be cool to have a "snap" option now (snap to lower or snap to upper position selector would be cool) so you select start/stop of the process and it snaps to proper layer automagically so when you change the layer height you don't have to go and modify start/stop for all the layers too

[S3D-Jason]

Ok, I will try that next time. It does seem like something that should be handled automatically though.

Just to let everyone know, Version 4.0.1 will now handle these transitions automatically, so even if you setup a print as described above, there will be no gaps between processes. That makes it much easier to setup prints using whatever layer heights you want and allowing the software to automatically ensure a smooth transition.

Thank you for making the great suggestion!

[sk8rjess]

I'm glad to know this is going to be implemented on the next release. Is there an ETA for this?