Simplify3D settings for the Original Prusa i3 printers  

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

OK, some good news, some bad news.
I have stabilized printing on my limited models in S3D without runaway lines, crashes, etc.
No post processing required.
I have tested this using firmware revs 137 and 138 with no problems whatsoever.
I am attaching the .fff file, Prusa I3 MK3 ModJA.fff, as a zip (.7z).
I this photo the black bottomed piece is done using firmware rev 137, the other 138. Both were well mannered and printed in 8 to 10 minutes; faster than Slic3rPE without a lot of fiddling. Increasing the speed on the fly worked ok.
The rough layers in the middle of the black bottom piece is because I was fiddling around on the fly with speed and fan settings.
Note: the speeds in the .fff attached here are a little too fast. I just knocked a 120mm piece off the bed. Turned down speeds to: 100mm/s,60%,80%,100%,20%; 70% 1st layer. Pretty quick at 34 minutes.

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

I just ran a print using the .fff file from 1/3/18: Prusa I3 MK3 v2.fff. Well behaved.

I messed with the speeds on the Speeds tab and on the Layers tab, some other stuff.
Remember this print was PETg. 3mm layers, Vase Mode and there are other things to consider depending on what you are printing, so tweaking is mandatory.
It took 17 minutes to print the piece shown.
Before I tweaked the speeds, even at .3mm, with 200m/s default printing speed, the print was going to take 56 minutes.
The culprits: Speed tab/Speed Override and Layers tab/ First Layer Speed.
Use firmware prusa3d_fw_3_1_1_rc3_b138.
No post processing required.

Attached: Prusa I3 MK3 v2 MOD.fff as a zip file.

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

I made two small prints with the same files, filament and settings to compare the posted settings for S3D and Prusa Control.

I used the Prusa Silver filament and Optimal layer height on both. The fox is 3cm high.

You can see the results on the image attached.

LEFT Side - Prusa Control
I was satisfied with the overall quality but I think there's a distortion on the part (like a wavy water effects) on the legs area.

RIGHT Side - Simplify 3D with posted settings
Despite the obvious defects, I think this part was closer to the 3D drawing with more refined shapes and geometry.

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

Can I ask what the difference is between these two post processing codes and whether I need to change the MK2 profile to P instead of S

Here is the one that is in my MK2 profile

{REPLACE "; outer perimeter\n" "; outer perimeter\nM204 S800\n"}

and here is the one for the MK3

{REPLACE "; outer perimeter\n" "; outer perimeter\nM204 P800\n"}

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

Can I ask what the difference is between these two post processing codes and whether I need to change the MK2 profile to P instead of S

Here is the one that is in my MK2 profile

{REPLACE "; outer perimeter\n" "; outer perimeter\nM204 S800\n"}

and here is the one for the MK3

{REPLACE "; outer perimeter\n" "; outer perimeter\nM204 P800\n"}

Probably not any difference. S is for "normal moves" and P is for "printing moves".
Personally, I am not convinced that it is necessary given that there are other ways to accomplish the same thing.

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

I made two small prints with the same files, filament and settings to compare the posted settings for S3D and Prusa Control.

I did not expect the files I posted to be used without any intervention on the users part. My primary motivation was to get S3D and the MK3 to work together without going off the rails. I have made many changes to the settings I posted. The settings were typically used on a vase mode test print which has no infill or top layers so does not properly work for an item with those things. That's why S3D allows you to save processes that are renamed from Process1.
I recently created a power supply cover for a Mean Well power supply using my MK3. It is one of the best prints I have ever done. Clean edges, cutouts and holes. It took awhile to get there. The first time I tried it using Slic3R with my MK3, the horizontal rectilinear layers were way to fast and I could not get clean smooth surfaces.
The settings are very different from the vase mode settings, thinner layers higher fan speed honeycomb infill, etc. The settings I posted were from vase mode usage.
It looks to me like your S3D print needs more fan and slower outline printing speed. You might also be over extruding or using a filament diameter that is not correct. Check extrusion multipliers on the process Extruder tab and the Machine Control Panel.
That recurring horizontal line looks like it might be an improper process Infill tab setting. There are also gap settings on the Advanced tab that may be affecting the print. I would mess with Thin Wall behavior and see if you get any improvement.
Under the Scripts tab I would delete all the post processing code, or at least comment it out (;) until you can determine if it actually helps.
I tend to prefer the settings I posted, Prusa I3 MK3 ModJA, but the version I now use has changed and will continue to change.
There is no magic bullet. Keep on testing and tweaking.

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

I made two small prints with the same files, filament and settings to compare the posted settings for S3D and Prusa Control.

I did not expect the files I posted to be used without any intervention on the users part. My primary motivation was to get S3D and the MK3 to work together without going off the rails. I have made many changes to the settings I posted. The settings were typically used on a vase mode test print which has no infill or top layers so does not properly work for an item with those things. That's why S3D allows you to save processes that are renamed from Process1.
I recently created a power supply cover for a Mean Well power supply using my MK3. It is one of the best prints I have ever done. Clean edges, cutouts and holes. It took awhile to get there. The first time I tried it using Slic3R with my MK3, the horizontal rectilinear layers were way to fast and I could not get clean smooth surfaces.
The settings are very different from the vase mode settings, thinner layers higher fan speed honeycomb infill, etc. The settings I posted were from vase mode usage.
It looks to me like your S3D print needs more fan and slower outline printing speed. You might also be over extruding or using a filament diameter that is not correct. Check extrusion multipliers on the process Extruder tab and the Machine Control Panel.
That recurring horizontal line looks like it might be an improper process Infill tab setting. There are also gap settings on the Advanced tab that may be affecting the print. I would mess with Thin Wall behavior and see if you get any improvement.
Under the Scripts tab I would delete all the post processing code, or at least comment it out (;) until you can determine if it actually helps.
I tend to prefer the settings I posted, Prusa I3 MK3 ModJA, but the version I now use has changed and will continue to change.
There is no magic bullet. Keep on testing and tweaking.

Sorry if I was not clear about which settings I used.
The file I used was the first one posted by J. Prusa. The one that started the post.

But I would like to thank you for your reply and I will use your advice to modify any future settings I will use.
You were able to troubleshoot my printing problems in ways that totally make sense and helped me understand the parameters involved on making my prints better.

I am currently testing a file sent to me by the Simplify 3D team. It worked really well, I just replied them with some feedback and I am waiting for an answer. Once everything is finished I will post the settings here.

You can check the results in the attached file.

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

[/quote]
I am currently testing a file sent to me by the Simplify 3D team. It worked really well, I just replied them with some feedback and I am waiting for an answer. Once everything is finished I will post the settings here.

You can check the results in the attached file.
[/quote]

Looks a lot better.
Looking forward to seeing the file S3D sent.

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

Very excited to give this a shot. With the MK3 this is my first time using Slic3r on a regular basis, and I find myself missing some of the S3D features. Are there any big advantages to using Slic3r with the MK3, other than it being free?

Thanks!

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

I asked Simplify3D to send me setting for MK3 and this is what i received.

Is somebody with deeper knowledge able to check this setting?

!!!!! I DID NOT TEST THIS FILE !!!!

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

I mentioned in a previous reply that I was testing the S3D team settings.

I've been printing some other stuff and I came to the conclusion that I am more satisfied using the S3D settings over Prusa Control.

When comparing similar prints from both, each has their pros and cons.
But it looks like S3D translates STLs file better to gcode as you can see in the picture attached.
When you add that to the fact that for me S3D has better support customization, faster path generation and a user interface that is a bit more polished. I will pick S3D for now.

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

Now I'm totally confused which file is which. Victor, the one you attached is dated Dec 26th. The one mac posted a couple posts back is dated Jan 8th. Which one is the correct one?

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

Now I'm totally confused which file is which. Victor, the one you attached is dated Dec 26th. The one mac posted a couple posts back is dated Jan 8th. Which one is the correct one?

I didn't notice that before.
They both came from the same source (S3D team)

But maybe since "Mac" spoke to them a few days after me, he might have gotten an updated file.
With that in mind, the pictures I posted are related to the file dated Dec 26th I attached.

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

I mentioned in a previous reply that I was testing the S3D team settings.

I've been printing some other stuff and I came to the conclusion that I am more satisfied using the S3D settings over Prusa Control.

When comparing similar prints from both, each has their pros and cons.
But it looks like S3D translates STLs file better to gcode as you can see in the picture attached.
When you add that to the fact that for me S3D has better support customization, faster path generation and a user interface that is a bit more polished. I will pick S3D for now.

It's kinda hard to compare them when one is at .15 and the other at .2 lol, but I wonder about the stair stepping on the left piece. Can you confirm the linear advance gcode setting? Should be M900 Ksomething, curious if there is any difference there. 🙂

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

But maybe since "Mac" spoke to them a few days after me, he might have gotten an updated file.
With that in mind, the pictures I posted are related to the file dated Dec 26th I attached.

I spoke with them few days back and did't noticed that "victor.d3" already used this file because I didn't read all posts before. Both files are exactly same.

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

It's kinda hard to compare them when one is at .15 and the other at .2 lol, but I wonder about the stair stepping on the left piece. Can you confirm the linear advance gcode setting? Should be M900 Ksomething, curious if there is any difference there. 🙂

I compared two different layer settings because;

S3D divide the settings as: 0.1mm/0.2mm/0.3mm
Prusa uses 0.05mm/0.1mm/0.15mm/0.2mm

Since I was trying to compare the standard/medium profile for both settings, I didn't change the layer height.
Edit: (Just noticed I could've used fast settings on Prusa Control, to make it equivalent to medium on S3D. My bad)

Just checked the Linear Advance gcode and the S3D team settings doesn't have it on the "starting script" text box, while J. Prusa settings does.

S3D Team
M115 U3.0.7 ; use the latest firmware version
G28 W ; home all axes without mesh bed leveling
G80 ; run mesh bed leveling routine
G1 Y-3.0 F1000.0 ; prepare to prime
G92 E0 ; reset extrusion distance
G1 X60.0 E9.0 F1000.0 ; priming
G1 X100.0 E12.5 F1000.0 ; priming

J. Prusa
G28 W ; home all without mesh bed level
G80 ; mesh bed leveling
G1 Y-3.0 F1000.0 ; go outside print area
G92 E0.0
G1 X60.0 E9.0 F1000.0 ; intro line
G1 X100.0 E12.5 F1000.0 ; intro line
G92 E0.0
M900 K30

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

I thought one of the most recent firmware updates Prusa disabled linear advance?

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

I tried the file. Worked well. I changed the layer to 0.17 and the fill to 95% all other settings untouched. The part is a mechanical part so needs to be solid.

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

Nice-looking print. Just out of curiosity why did you use a .17 layer height

Re: Simplify3D settings for MK3

Nice-looking print. Just out of curiosity why did you use a .17 layer height

Thanks. I've gotten into the habit of keeping my layer height at or below 50% of nozzle dia. I have another printer (Makergear M2E) that uses a 0.35 nozzle. I wanted to compare the Prusa print to my other printer (dimensions etc.) so i used the same layer height/fill rate to minimize input differences. I also use S3D as my slicer for the other printer. I like the parts I'm getting from my new MK3. I also love the metal build plate. Getting parts off the build plate has never been safer or easier.