Provide a clearer separation between printer, filament, and build settings.
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2020 8:21 am
I find the current settings dialogs very unintuitive, and overly try to flatten the data. I don't know which settings apply to which options. For example, when I chose a new material, which settings change in the panels below? Where I have figured it out, I think, settings like print speed as it relates to material and retraction are tied to a whole profile, which means I leaves me making and maintaining several distinct yet highly repetitive profiles.
For instance, I find it very difficult to build a library of material characteristics for the various spools of filament I have. I also have a multi-extruder printer, and I want to be able to easily chose different pairings (PLA/PVA, ABS/HIPS) as well as empty extruders (PLA/Nothing), but keep the second extruder heated etc.
As it stands right now, I pretty much have to build a separate profile for each material combination. I can't figure out how to user specific filament characteristics in different combinations, with different additions (depending on multi/single material for instance and ooze shields).
My preference would be to have:
A separate printer settings list (build volume, number of extruders, nozzle and extruder characteristics, etc.) .
A materials settings list - retraction, default temp, wipe/coast, etc, (e.g. Overture PETG, etc.)
A build specifications list (infill, wall counts, etc.)
I love Simplify3D generally, but this is where I find Cura is significantly more powerful and far more intuitive. I have settings for printers, materials, and then the build process itself based on defaults from the other two sets of settings.
For instance, I find it very difficult to build a library of material characteristics for the various spools of filament I have. I also have a multi-extruder printer, and I want to be able to easily chose different pairings (PLA/PVA, ABS/HIPS) as well as empty extruders (PLA/Nothing), but keep the second extruder heated etc.
As it stands right now, I pretty much have to build a separate profile for each material combination. I can't figure out how to user specific filament characteristics in different combinations, with different additions (depending on multi/single material for instance and ooze shields).
My preference would be to have:
A separate printer settings list (build volume, number of extruders, nozzle and extruder characteristics, etc.) .
A materials settings list - retraction, default temp, wipe/coast, etc, (e.g. Overture PETG, etc.)
A build specifications list (infill, wall counts, etc.)
I love Simplify3D generally, but this is where I find Cura is significantly more powerful and far more intuitive. I have settings for printers, materials, and then the build process itself based on defaults from the other two sets of settings.