Top/Bottom Solid Layers in printing a range of a part

[20181105ok]

The way of S3D deaing with "Top/Bottom Solid Layers" seems to be confusing.

For example, a solid cylinder is of the height 100mm. Both Top/Bottom Solid Layers are set to 1, and Primary Layer Height is set to 1mm

● Process A printing height 0~100mm gives a cylinder with a top solid layer and a bottom solid layer.

● Process B printing height 30~70mm ALSO gives a cylinder with a top solid layer and a bottom solid layer.

In my understanding, Process B should give a cylinder without top/bottom solid layers. In fact I observed this did happen in some sophisticated models.

Could you kindly share your opinion about this? Thank you!

[dkightley]

My first thoughts are that you are using the layer modification in the wrong way.

As far as I am aware, it is designed so you can use one process from layer A to B, and a second process to take over from B to C......and not one process from A to D and a second process from B to C.

To achieve what yo want, you will need to duplicate your first process and run as follows:

process 1 from zero to 30mm; process 2 from 30mm to 70mm; copy of process 1 from 70mm to 100mm.


The alternative is that you are using an old version of S3D that didn't exclude the top/bottom layers on transfer from one profile to the other. The solution here would be to upgrade your software to the current version.

[20181105ok]

Hi @dkightley Thank you for your response! I'm very sorry fot ambinguity in my original post!

I simply used Tools > Variable Settings Wizard to cut a single process to three ones, for the bottom/middle/top ranges of the single cylinder.

In some cases new solid layers would be added onto the cutting plane, and in other cases not.

In my understanding, the two cutting planes are simply intetior of the part and no solid layers should be added there, no matter when I print only the bottom reange, or only middle range or combinations. It seems to be a liitle confusing.

Thanks again!

[dkightley]

Then the last paragraph of my post applies...

The alternative is that you are using an old version of S3D that didn't exclude the top/bottom layers on transfer from one profile to the other. The solution here would be to upgrade your software to the current version.

[horst.w]

I don't think so, Doug.


The processes, related to a single object, cuts it in 3 parts. Thats ok!

Each part = process has independent Bottom and Top layers settings. This is needed when printing Solid Layers (such as bottom or top layers) only starting for process 2 or 3.

For the example it needs to set:

- process 1: bottom layers 1 ... x, NO top layers
- process 2: NO bottom and NO top layers
- process 3: NO bottom and Top layers 1 ... x
so you reach the cylinder to print with only one times Bottom and one times Top layers.

Be sure, this solution of S3D is very helpful to vary prints, I use this options very often. To include it in the automatical settings is not possible. May be the standard should have the settings as described and users who want to vary must change the settings, but I'm very sure there are a lot of model where it is unwanted. S3D can't solve it for all users in the right way.

horst.w
GER

I have attached a cylinder with 3 levels of diameter. Please try out
- to cover all surfaces
- to cover only the top surface
- to cover only the first storey
always with 3 layers bottom and no tops, 3 layers bottom and 3 layer tops, also with only tops. You will realize the differences.

Zylinderstaffel.stl

(101.59 KiB) Downloaded 119 times

[dkightley]

I'm sorry. I see no issues with top/bottom layers using the variable settings wizard! As far as I am concerned, everything is working as expected.

In some cases new solid layers would be added onto the cutting plane, and in other cases not.

If this is the case, then show examples...

In my understanding, the two cutting planes are simply intetior of the part and no solid layers should be added there, no matter when I print only the bottom reange, or only middle range or combinations. It seems to be a liitle confusing.

Your understanding is correct. If you print just the lower part of the model,...which seems a silly thing to do..... then it will obey the rules of the lower profile

For the example it needs to set:

- process 1: bottom layers 1 ... x, NO top layers
- process 2: NO bottom and NO top layers
- process 3: NO bottom and Top layers 1 ... x
so you reach the cylinder to print with only one times Bottom and one times Top layers.

There is no need to set the top of the lower profile and the bottom of the upper profile in a join to zero layers to prevent the top/bottom layers printing at the interface

[20181105ok]

Hi @horst.w @dkightley Thank you both for your detailed comments!

For the example it needs to set:

- process 1: bottom layers 1 ... x, NO top layers
- process 2: NO bottom and NO top layers
- process 3: NO bottom and Top layers 1 ... x
so you reach the cylinder to print with only one times Bottom and one times Top layers.

So far, I also do it this way. It seems to the most reliable practice.

If this is the case, then show examples...

I just ran into the problem in some regions of some sophisticated parts, in which some top solid layers lie on the same height along with some bottom solid layers. And in some cases my general understanding seems not to work. I would try to extract an example next when I run into it again.

Thanks again!