Using Simplify3D to print "spokes of a wheel"

[aromatase]

Dear Simplify3D Community,

I would like to set up the G-code to control the nozzle so it prints a small 1.5cm x 1.5cm disc, with radially directed grooves.

It's hard to describe, but in a sense I would like the printer to start on the periphery of the disc, then draw towards the centre of the disc, and then work its way "around the clock".

Naturally however, every slicing software seems to print in the typical X-Y direction, or has different infill patterns.

The disc is quite small (only 3-4mm thick), and its only the top printed layer, where it would be nice to be able to control how the plastic is laid down. Slowly, if possible so it does not cause "strings" of plastic.

Have a TEVO Taruntula, but might borrow a friends FormLabs 2 to get this higher resolution.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

If this requires manual editing of the G-code, can anyone recommend any programs?

Kind Regards,
Aromatase

[brian442]

Just create that exact shape in your CAD package, spokes and all. Then you should be able to slice it in S3D.

[aromatase]

Thank you Brian442, I do have the shape as an STL. My problem lies in how the software decides to slice it. Automatically infilling up to the surface. I would like the 3D printer to print in the direction of the red arrows. It instead prints zig-zags, and I lose all fine detail of the surface.

[Lorcoft]

I think this might be the kind of answer you are are looking for...

https://www.simplify3d.com/gold-box-of-wonders/


cheers;

Lorcoft.

[horst.w]

Thats Rectlinear Infill direction and is well when only 4 segments excist, because it follows the X and Y axis.
I have create an example with also only 4 single segments like a cake slice and gave each STL of them into a own process.
Each process is different from the other by the angle of the external infill angle offset ( 45, 135, 225, 315°)

The number of segments is free, for 12 segments you need 30° angle, beginning the first segment with an infill angle of 15°, 45, 75 a.s.o.
to join the spokes is to solve constructive in the CAD program.

Regards
horst.w, GER

[dkightley]

The "Box of Wonders" linked to above is essentially like the roof of a house...but very flat..and the "Lines" you see are actually the perimeters of subsequent layers. There's not special top surface infill involved at all.

To achieve the effect you are wanting, I think Horst is on to the solution. In fact, the way I would experiment to get this would be rather complex...but may work.

Create how ever many segments you want as spokes and but them together to form a solid cylinder so that the individual shapes overlap the adjacent segments by a very small amount...less than 0.1mm may work!

Now create one process to print all the segments together...and set the process to stop one or two layers from the top of the model. Hopefully, when printed, it will print all the segments together as one part.

Create a new process for each of the segments, each one starting where the single process left off...and set each process to have no perimeters and 100% infill. Set each process to have an infill angle that would result in extrusions parallel to the outside (as Horst suggests).

Printing the lot may result in something that resembles what you want....either that or it'll fail completely!!

[horst.w]

The secret of all is the angle for the External Infill Offset. The exemple shows that the X-axis is the 0° / 360° line related to the External Infill Offset.
I have generated now 4 of 12 segments and imported them as single STLs into S3D.

I started clockwise at 12 o'clock "Segment1, segment2 ..." and the infill angle begins with 360 - 15°= 345, followed from 345 - 30 = 315, 315 - 30 = 285 ... a.s.o.
The X - Y -position of the CAD model is identical to the X- Y-position of the imported STL in S3D; differences between them needs a little bit to play with.

H.

[gearsawe]

So which version are you wishing to print?
A

B

C

[coolhand2k]

Wow, very nice, How did you do that?