Unusual request, pen plotting text problem? (Future Guide)

[Sunnetchi]

Hello everyone,

I have attached a pen to my 3d printer, after a lot of adjustment I can get it to write and draw (can provide detailed guide if interested) but my main problem is, due to the nature of how fonts need to be closed loop, the 3d printer makes the letters hollow.

I got over that problem by increasing my extruder diameter to exactly the size of the letter thicknesses so the walls of the text overlap and it looks pretty good but each letter gets drawn twice (even when "merge all outline into a single model" option is checked).

I was hoping there is a way to fix this problem, get S3D to draw things once if they overlap? I have tried many things such as single line fonts but can't turn that into a model where S3D can understand (looks garbled in STL format).

I will provide a guide if there is interest for what I did so far, if we brainstorm and find a solution I am sure many will benefit from it.


Thank you in advance

[andrewk72]

I would try making it so that your extrusion width is exactly half the width of the letters. That's probably the easiest way to get it to print correctly since the perimeters are always going to be a single closed loop.

[Sunnetchi]

I already did that as I mentioned in my post, and it does print correctly and looks good. My main problem is, each letter gets drawn over twice, over itself, so they look thicker and sometimes not precise enough so looks bad. The option "merge outlines" doesn't seem to make a difference. It would be great if I could simply get it draw each letter only once

[andrewk72]

That either means your extrusion width is too big or the letter are too small. Why don't you just attach your factory file on here so that others can look at it?

[Sunnetchi]

Well here it is, i increment width by 1mm at a time and going over a certain amount just makes the text (or parts of it) disappear. I don't know why it doesnt merge and just go over it once. Any help would be appreciated

File attached.

[dkightley]

I don't think you are going to be able to achieve what you're wanting to do....

S3D will always "extrude" round all perimeters....even where there's a thin web of thickness equal to the extrusion width. It's just the way it works! You'll always get two extrusion paths down a thin walled section.

[DarthRevan]

Try measuring the width of your pen tip and setting extrusion width to that value. Then make the letters double that thickness.

[Sunnetchi]

I don't think you are going to be able to achieve what you're wanting to do....

S3D will always "extrude" round all perimeters....even where there's a thin web of thickness equal to the extrusion width. It's just the way it works! You'll always get two extrusion paths down a thin walled section.

What is the point of merge outline option then, isn't it supposed to do that when the walls overlap?

[dkightley]

What is the point of merge outline option then, isn't it supposed to do that when the walls overlap?

You're confusing the terminology being used for two totally different things.

The "merge outline" option flag will force the slicer to merge the outlines of the source 3D model prior to generating the tool path. As an example, if a shape has a hole through it, the "merge outline" will force the slicer to fill in the hole as it falls within the "outline" of the model itself.

What I referred to in my post is that where the resolved slice...including any effect of the "merge outline" option....forms a thin web that is narrower than two extrusion widths, the perimeter path will still be created...even though the paths may overlap. Note that the allowable overlap is defined by the "allow perimeter overlap" parameter....and should the web be less than what the parameter will allow, then the slicer will not produce a perimeter path at this point. This is an issue for some that is covered by an enhancement request.

[daduck748]

I don't think you are going to be able to achieve what you're wanting to do....

S3D will always "extrude" round all perimeters....even where there's a thin web of thickness equal to the extrusion width. It's just the way it works! You'll always get two extrusion paths down a thin walled section.

I think this feature is a good idea, PLOTTING. I don't see why it can't be done. Support structures are processed as single line strokes. Plot-lines could be processed the same way I would imagine.

I came across this feature request because I too am looking for a way to do some plotting on my 3D printer. I want to see if PCB can be made with a 3D printer. A 0.4mm nozzle should be able to print a trace relative accuracy. This would allow you to produce 15-16mil accurate PCB. What happens if you are able to print traces with a 0.2mm nozzle? Theoretically, you can produce 8mil traces!

Getting filament to stick to copper is another issue, but I would like to see a plotting feature in Simplfy3D for projects like these.