Prusa Slicer. An upgrade in itself!?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Prusa Slicer. An upgrade in itself!?

Posted: 10/28/2019 4:43:57 PM EDT

I have always used Simplify 3D, but I quit upgrades when they went to a paid model.

Since I have a Prusa Mini on the way, I decided to download and setup Prusa Slicer for my current printer.

Upgrade in itself!!!!!!!

The print quality and time have increased dramatically (to my eye anyway, wife doesn't see a difference

). I sat and watched an entire 3D Benchy print out, and how it handles all movements, just everything about it is awesome.

If your not using Prusa Slicer, give it a try! Plus its free

Heads up: for making multiple filament and printing profiles, just change the settings to what you want and when you go to save it, save it under the name that you want. That one took a few minutes to figure out...

Posted: 10/28/2019 5:30:26 PM EDT

[#1]

It has a lot ot offer. I use the add modifier a lot. To make a part of an infill 100% or to only add or suppress support to an area.

PrusaSlicer 2.1 Release! Undo/redo, perspective camera and more!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwjxpCGny08

Posted: 10/28/2019 5:56:17 PM EDT

[#2]

.5mm nozzle, .2mm layer height.

Not only are the results great, it is printing at speeds I never could get to before without major ringing. I'm not honestly sure if my steppers drivers can hold the glass bed running that fast! I do see some minor layer shifting... Have to slow it down until I build my MK52 heatbed upgrade.

Posted: 10/29/2019 11:31:18 AM EDT

[#3]

I'll give it a try next print. I have just the one in mind, I am getting a line on a perfectly level layer even with retraction and Z-hop enabled.

I am using Cura and only now getting in to the deeper settings, like printing the first layer at 50% speed.

Either way, it's really impressive how well these slicers determine infill and supports.

Posted: 10/29/2019 1:04:26 PM EDT

[#4]

It's always interesting how different slicers approach problems.

Slice a smaller (<1.5" diameter) cylinder in Cura and the same in PE, and compare the print quality. I'd probably switch to PE if it were easier to use with my printer, but I have to hack the gcode files to make it work.

Posted: 10/29/2019 1:07:47 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
I'll give it a try next print. I have just the one in mind, I am getting a line on a perfectly level layer even with retraction and Z-hop enabled.

I am using Cura and only now getting in to the deeper settings, like printing the first layer at 50% speed.

Either way, it's really impressive how well these slicers determine infill and supports.

View Quote

Pic?

Posted: 10/29/2019 2:20:28 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
I'll give it a try next print. I have just the one in mind, I am getting a line on a perfectly level layer even with retraction and Z-hop enabled.

I am using Cura and only now getting in to the deeper settings, like printing the first layer at 50% speed.

Either way, it's really impressive how well these slicers determine infill and supports.

View Quote

I’m having the same problem.

Posted: 10/29/2019 7:49:43 PM EDT

[#7]

Here is an example right off the bed. I wonder if I have to calibrate my extruder or do some kind of retraction settings? Can't tell if it's the nozzle dragging, it is a raised line on the flat plane in the transitions to the other build areas.

Attached File

Posted: 10/30/2019 12:36:33 AM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Here is an example right off the bed. I wonder if I have to calibrate my extruder or do some kind of retraction settings? Can't tell if it's the nozzle dragging, it is a raised line on the flat plane in the transitions to the other build areas.

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/238402/HanSolo_jpg-1141931.JPG

View Quote

I fixed it. In Cura printer settings select "Z Hop When Retracted" only, then search for Combing, and you can turn it off so it will Z hop every time, or Z hope on the top layers and whatnot. If you turn it off, the printing time almost doubles.

Posted: 10/30/2019 10:11:35 AM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:

I fixed it. In Cura printer settings select "Z Hop When Retracted" only, then search for Combing, and you can turn it off so it will Z hop every time, or Z hope on the top layers and whatnot. If you turn it off, the printing time almost doubles.

View Quote

@combat_camera

Yes! Thanks for that. I am just getting in to the fine tuning of the settings in Cura. I'll see about enabling Z-hop on the top layers only, I did some prints with it on and it significantly increased print time.

I am also trying some settings to print the first couple layers slower for better adhesion. (Got a new Creality glass bed coming in as well, my adhesion and bed level has always been iffy on the stock bed.)

I'll run a couple calibration tests on both slicers to check out the difference.

Posted: 10/30/2019 11:07:49 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:

@combat_camera

Yes! Thanks for that. I am just getting in to the fine tuning of the settings in Cura. I'll see about enabling Z-hop on the top layers only, I did some prints with it on and it significantly increased print time.

I am also trying some settings to print the first couple layers slower for better adhesion. (Got a new Creality glass bed coming in as well, my adhesion and bed level has always been iffy on the stock bed.)

I'll run a couple calibration tests on both slicers to check out the difference.

View Quote

@testify4

Awesome sauce!

For the first layer, I'm still playing with the settings (offset is one of them). I have the glass, but the sensor I'm using is a pretty crappy one, and it won't detect the bed with the glass on it. I have the bed temperature set at 55F and the extruder at 190F for PLA, and so far I had good luck using painters tape.