Does anyone on this forum use an airwolf HDx printer with simplify3d, I would like some pointers or settings that have worked with nylon, I was told that there are users, but I haven't seen any using the airwolf yet.
thanks
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spineytoad
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 1:23 am
Re: airwolf3d HD2x
I am also interested in hearing from airwolf3d users. I am about to upgrade my HD to the dual head upgrade with .35 nozzles. I've been mostly using Slic3r and Cura so far but am looking forward to using simplify3D for future parts.
Re: airwolf3d HD2x
I have been using the HD since it came out and have found Simplify much better in detail than Cura, Slic3r, or MatterControl. I like the amount of control of even the smallest variable and how easy it is to find once you have gotten use to the screens. And the detail is second to none. For example, I have files that Cura and Slic3r produced gcode that were in the neighborhood of 2MB, took 15+ minutes to slice my model, and they printed "ok". However, Simplify produced a 15+MB file in under 15 seconds and the increase control/detail is extremely evident in my printed part.
However.... and this is a HUGE however... Simplify is not, IMHO, ready for dual extrusion. I upgraded the day the upgrade became available to the 2x and love the printer. NOTE: Leveling the two nozzles is a little tricky but a MUST in order to get successful prints. Simplify simply lacks several options that are essential for dual extrusion printing. For example, a purge wall (or wipe tower) is necessary to get filament flowing from the dormant nozzle before starting to print - otherwise you get a void in your part until the material (which had been retracted) starts to flow again.
Another necessity is the ability to be able to set a separate retraction setting for tool changes. If you only retract the "usual" amount (i.e. 7mm) when you change nozzles during printing, you will get an excessive amount of ooze. However, if you set the retraction to a large number (i.e. 20mm) during "normal" retractions, such as between layers, it wastes a lot of time during each retraction AND it starts causing grinding of your filament because the constant extrude/retract/extrude deep cycling messes with the melting cycle and the filament will clog in your nozzle. The only way to fix this once it starts is to stop the print, make sure the nozzle is at temp, and slowly extrude filament until the flow restarts. I have lost several prints to this effect.
These features (such as Wiper towers and ooze shields) can already be found in other software such as Cura. While I don't find Cura as capable in several regards as Simplify, it DOES handle the dual extruder issues such as those I've already mentioned. RIght now, I am forced to use Cura for dual extrusion gcode. I then load and run it thru Simplify.
This means that I don't get quite the level of detail that I know I would if I could use Simplify for the entire process. I am anxiously awaiting them to address these issues (and a few more minor ones) before I will be able to use Simplify for the dual extrusion prints.
However.... and this is a HUGE however... Simplify is not, IMHO, ready for dual extrusion. I upgraded the day the upgrade became available to the 2x and love the printer. NOTE: Leveling the two nozzles is a little tricky but a MUST in order to get successful prints. Simplify simply lacks several options that are essential for dual extrusion printing. For example, a purge wall (or wipe tower) is necessary to get filament flowing from the dormant nozzle before starting to print - otherwise you get a void in your part until the material (which had been retracted) starts to flow again.
Another necessity is the ability to be able to set a separate retraction setting for tool changes. If you only retract the "usual" amount (i.e. 7mm) when you change nozzles during printing, you will get an excessive amount of ooze. However, if you set the retraction to a large number (i.e. 20mm) during "normal" retractions, such as between layers, it wastes a lot of time during each retraction AND it starts causing grinding of your filament because the constant extrude/retract/extrude deep cycling messes with the melting cycle and the filament will clog in your nozzle. The only way to fix this once it starts is to stop the print, make sure the nozzle is at temp, and slowly extrude filament until the flow restarts. I have lost several prints to this effect.
These features (such as Wiper towers and ooze shields) can already be found in other software such as Cura. While I don't find Cura as capable in several regards as Simplify, it DOES handle the dual extruder issues such as those I've already mentioned. RIght now, I am forced to use Cura for dual extrusion gcode. I then load and run it thru Simplify.
This means that I don't get quite the level of detail that I know I would if I could use Simplify for the entire process. I am anxiously awaiting them to address these issues (and a few more minor ones) before I will be able to use Simplify for the dual extrusion prints.
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spineytoad
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 1:23 am
Re: airwolf3d HD2x
That's what I have been wondering, I notice the brim gets printed for both nozzles right over the top of the other brim, it seems to not take into account that there is another brim or skirt already on the build plate from the other nozzle. Mattercontrol seems to be stuck, they have been saying for quite a while that dual extrusion is on the way, but it is a no show as of yet. I also wonder if simplify3d is updating things, there update process is very slow, and no mention of a roadmap as far as I can tell. I don't like Cura much either, it seems to print the object ok. I have had issues with all of them in getting the top of a dome to print without leaving a lot of goupy material on the top or a lot of holes, have you any suggestions on that?
Re: airwolf3d HD2x
Sorry for the delay in response...
The "goopy" material is all about speed... Spend too long in one spot without proper cooling. This can be from two different problems. One is when you print too fast on small layers so you are laying molten material on top of molten material... In this case, slow down the speed by specifying a minimum layer time in the cooling section. OR... from going TOO slowly and spending too much time over the same area so heat can't escape so it can start melting the next layer down creating a similar condition to the above problem. So, also in the cooling section, when you specify minimum layer time you also need to specify a minimum speed so it won't "stall" over the same spot.
Holes are usually (not withstanding design issues like fast horizontal dimensional changes - i.e. overhangs) because I'm trying to move too quickly without appropriate extruder flow... I can usually fix this by changing my extrusion width, extruder flow %, OR by reducing the filament width in the program which will cause the program to extrude more plastic and, in turn, increase the extrusion width.
It takes a balancing act but I've been able to eliminate these problems almost entirely.
Hope this helps.
The "goopy" material is all about speed... Spend too long in one spot without proper cooling. This can be from two different problems. One is when you print too fast on small layers so you are laying molten material on top of molten material... In this case, slow down the speed by specifying a minimum layer time in the cooling section. OR... from going TOO slowly and spending too much time over the same area so heat can't escape so it can start melting the next layer down creating a similar condition to the above problem. So, also in the cooling section, when you specify minimum layer time you also need to specify a minimum speed so it won't "stall" over the same spot.
Holes are usually (not withstanding design issues like fast horizontal dimensional changes - i.e. overhangs) because I'm trying to move too quickly without appropriate extruder flow... I can usually fix this by changing my extrusion width, extruder flow %, OR by reducing the filament width in the program which will cause the program to extrude more plastic and, in turn, increase the extrusion width.
It takes a balancing act but I've been able to eliminate these problems almost entirely.
Hope this helps.
Re: airwolf3d HD2x
I hope this isn't highjacking the thread... but I was wondering if any of you would hd2x users would like to share a simplify3d profile? which one did you start with from the stock profiles? I got my hd2x in the mail today (yeah) but haven't started printing w/ s3d yet. Just got some demos up and running from the printer.
Anyhow, I've been using s3d for some time now but with a different printer.
Anyhow, I've been using s3d for some time now but with a different printer.
Re: airwolf3d HD2x
I'm moving from mattercontrol to s3d -
Does anyone have a profile for ABS they can share for an HDx? I'm in the middle of tweaking a profile to suit, but a jump start would be appreciated (even with an HD2x file would be useful).
Does anyone have a profile for ABS they can share for an HDx? I'm in the middle of tweaking a profile to suit, but a jump start would be appreciated (even with an HD2x file would be useful).
Re: airwolf3d HD2x
I started a topic on hd2x profiles. They work but could use additional tweaking. I should post my updates I guess, I have some pretty solid profiles working by now.
http://forum.simplify3d.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1542
http://forum.simplify3d.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1542
