Guide for Calibrating for Dimensional Accuracy

[Wisar]

Is there a guide for calibrating a printer for dimensional accuracy using Simplify3D? There is a good calibration guide and objects collection on Thingiverse but it puts everything in Skeinforge terms. There are a lot of individual entries on this forum but I was hoping for something that is a little more concise and to the point of dimensional accuracy. There is also an entry that indicated that they were able to call support and get assistance so it stands to reason that support has a guide!

The printer that I am most concerned with is a Wanhao Duplicator 4S (Makerbot Clone) and as you can see from the below image it is tuned for a pretty good level of cosmetic accuracy...just off a little dimensionally. Yes, I know, some over extrusion is a place to start!

[DarthRevan]

Is there a guide for calibrating a printer for dimensional accuracy using Simplify3D? There is a good calibration guide and objects collection on Thingiverse but it puts everything in Skeinforge terms. There are a lot of individual entries on this forum but I was hoping for something that is a little more concise and to the point of dimensional accuracy. There is also an entry that indicated that they were able to call support and get assistance so it stands to reason that support has a guide!

KeyboardWarrior has provided us all with a very helpful explanation on how to get better accuracy. Dimensional Accuracy in Simplify3D

[Wisar]

Hmmmm. I really don't know what to say. I had seen the "Horizontal Size Compensation" option and ignored it thinking that the "right" way to get better dimensional accuracy was to try and follow the various guides out there. I have been doing so, and at least I know that I am extruding the right amount of plastic! But I was still not accurate.

So, what the heck, this can't work can it? But it does...and for both of the calibration shapes that I have printed thus far. Am trying another one that will take a little longer to print and will be interested to see the result. Hmmmm. Thanks for the push.

[KC_703]

I'd start with calibrating your printer... check that a movement of 100mm in each axis is producing the proper results. Then check filament extrusion amounts. And finally tweak with S3Ds horizontal size.

[Wisar]

I'd start with calibrating your printer... check that a movement of 100mm in each axis is producing the proper results. Then check filament extrusion amounts. And finally tweak with S3Ds horizontal size.

I checked my Ultimaker for accuracy (extrusion and travel) and it seems to be ok will do the same for the Duplicator. The adjustment needed to get dimensional accuracy on the UM2 is -0.1mm. Is this good, bad, or indifferent?

Thanks,
Will

[KC_703]

That seems pretty good... anytime you can figure out what the an optimal spacing seems to be a "win".