Simplify3D Settings and Profiles  

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

I've just posted an updated version of the Settings document: additional images and PDF bookmark / outline to allow quick access.

Same URL at:

http://www.BreathFlute.com/pdf/S3D_SettingsCG.pdf

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

I've cooked up two documents that may be useful for MK3 owners who use Simplify3D:

A collection of documentation on S3D Parameters and Settings from various sources (76 pages / 2.8 MB):

http://www.BreathFlute.com/pdf/S3D_SettingsCG.pdf

... and a detailed Comparison of twelve MK3 S3D profiles from various sources (including S3D and Jo Průša) (21 pages / 0.3 MB):

http://www.BreathFlute.com/pdf/S3D_ProfilesCG.pdf

These are my working documents to try to get a handle on the myriad options that S3D offers ... and to get away from the cycle of
while (1) {
"Let's try this / that";
Print for C * G * sqr(Z) + 0.017 hours;
"Hm … that did something … but not exactly what I expected / hoped / yearned for …"
}

I hope this is useful! … feedback always welcome …

Hi Clint,

First, you're awesome ! You did a really great and usefull job sharing those informations. It's golden ! So thank you.

I'm surprise nobody has said anything about it 🙁

Since I'm interested with PLA 100um S3D as well, I've tried almost all of those profiles. They all have something great and also somthing not so great wich is really hard to pick one and try to make it mine.

I'm curious, did you find what you wanted in one of those profiles ? Did you tune one or use it as it was ?

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

Thanks Geoffrey!

>I'm surprise nobody has said anything about it 🙁

I suspect most folks aren't up for the tedious process of understanding and selecting the right settings for each of the 200+ parameters ...

I've posted the closest thing I have to a core profile, together with a document that describes how it differs from the 20180412 S3D official Pi3Mk3 profile, and why I changed the settings that I did. I'm now working in CorkFill with a 0.60 nozzle, but this Breath Flute core profile is appropriate for PLA extruded at 0.40.

I've also just posted an updated (and expanded) Settings document, which you should fetch as well. It's expanded (now 96 pages) and I've changed some of the short IDs I use for the settings.

There is actually one change I think should be made, but has not yet been done: Based on experience with stringing and a comment in one of Tom Sanladerer's videos, I would change SpXY from 4800 to 12000. Apparently, the firmware will limit the XY movement speed to an appropriate value ...

Updated Settings Document: http://www.BreathFlute.com/pdf/S3D_SettingsCG.pdf

My current core Pi3Mk3 profile for PLA extruded at 0.40: http://www.BreathFlute.com/zip/S3D_Pi3Mk3_CG_BF_20180504.zip .

Thoughts and comments are always welcome!

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

some good stuff in there. for the price they should really have animations built into the settings page for every option "(

noticed an interesting bit on retraction:

Only retract when crossing open spaces: This is enabled by default for most profiles,
since you really only need to do a retraction if you are crossing
over an open space, since you would be crossing perimeters and be at risk for stringing.

Force retraction between layers: Forces a retraction from layer to layer. This is recommended.

I've always been of the understanding that the fewer retractions, the better in most cases. If the second setting overrides the first, when is it beneficial to use it instead?

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

Hello Clint,

Thanks for the documents. You put a lot of effort in this. I think the reason why there is a small resonance is the scientific approach. You're describing each setting/option and the result/consequences of it.
Most people are going the other way. They have an issue and looking for options how to solve it. This is how the Simplify3d support page is structured.

My suggestion would be to use a different format for the document. Maybe different fonts, more spacing, better indexing. It's very hard to read.

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

... the scientific approach. You're describing each setting/option and the result/consequences of it.

My suggestion would be to use a different format for the document. Maybe different fonts, more spacing, better indexing. It's very hard to read.

Nikolai - Thank you for your honest feedback!

My personal approach is rather methodical ... some would say plodding. The document is an expression of that approach, and it has worked wonderfully for me.

I think that the array of "Addressing Common Print Problems" web sits now available are incredibly helpful - especially for print problems that involve adjusting one or two settings. However, for a major change in material model requirements - the "adopt a generic or recommended profile and then fix the problems" approach may lead to long series of marginally improving prints.

There may be a small slice of the population that prefers to plod through all the settings, understand them (as best as we can), and try to get it close the first time. My documents are an expression of that approach ... they are really my own personal cache of info and notes that I though might be useful to that small segment of the community.

I recently switched from PLA to ColorFabb's nGen based on Eastman's Amphora AM3300. The number of detailed recommendations made by Eastman is significant (from Eastman's Amphora 3D Polymer Consumer Selector Guide document at https://www.eastman.com/Literature_Center/S/SPMBS4044.pdf ).

I spent an hour or two getting my Simply3D profile converted from PLA to work with ColorFabb nGen (you have to read all the comments, as some of the advice is hidden there). I was rewarded by a near-perfect print first time out, and tweaking beyond that was extremely minor ... They do recommend no fan till layer 4, then 60%. I've gone to stepping it up gradually to 60% by layer 10 ... otherwise there is a visible shift in print "translucence" (some ephemeral quality of what the print looks like) if you go directly from 0% to 60% fan.

So ... I'll be adding a big note at the top of my next release of this document to the effect of who might (and might not) benefit from the document ... maybe with pointers to the more popular "Addressing Common Print Problem" services.

Thanks again!

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

Hey Clint, I want to say thanks for putting those documents together, it must have taken quit a bit of your time, so it's great that you shared them. I found the explanation of all the settings to be very helpful, there were a few there that I hadn't thought to tweak.

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

... there were a few there that I hadn't thought to tweak.

Thanks!!

Doing this research (initially out of frustration ... "Why isn't there a manual?!?!") ... it's has been a huge learning experience ... Parameters, Settings, ideas, and techniques I never though of and would never have looked at ...

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

Thank you for this, and thank you even more for your core profile (PLA 0.4). It gives me a wonderful starting point from which to use the rest of your research to tweak and tinker.

I love having a wonderful starting point!

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

Is Simplified3d cloud based like Fushion360 or if you purchase the software can you save files only on your hardware if that's what you want? I've searched on the internet and so far I haven't found an answer.
I asked their support, but so far the two answers I have gotten are "you must connect to the internet to verify license". This didn't answer any questions on file location and no install guide talks about folder location.

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

It gets installed locally.

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

The Program is being installed locally. Your account is being used only for licensing and you can use it offline, once it was activated.
All your saved profiles and all your generated gcode files are being stored locally on your PC/MAC. So, you don't have all the cloud advantages like sharing, revision control and backups.
Hope that answers your question.

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

Thank you both.

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

I noticed you mentioned first layer height and speed issues. It's not the "best" solution but could you not just make a profile that's specifically for the first layer and then the next process continues the printing for your refined speed/quality settings?

It takes a bit of extra effort to make sure you have the first layer process to do layer 1 and then the process 2 to pick up the rest but I think that could be a viable work around.

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

... could you not just make a profile that's specifically for the first layer and then the next process continues the printing for your refined speed/quality settings?

Yep ... that would work I think, at the cost of additional complexity ... and makes it more irksome when swapping models.

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

Dear Clint,

you mentioned in one of your posts that you'd moved on to printing with Colorfabb's NGen. Would you mind sharing that profile as well? I absolutely love the profile you provided for PLA, especially since it uses much fewer retractions and Z-hops than the profiles in Slicer or PrusaControl. My extruder motor is now much cooler and will probably live much longer.

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

A+++ work clint.g !

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

Thank you Clint. You have made my life easier.
I think S3D handles support structures so well I don't have to build my own.
Bill Cogen
MK2.5, MK3, Rostock MAXv2 & v3

Re: Simplify3D Settings and Profiles

you mentioned in one of your posts that you'd moved on to printing with Colorfabb's NGen.

A+++ work clint.g !

I think S3D handles support structures so well I don't have to build my own.

I've just posted a major update to my package of S3D 4.0.1 profiles for the Mk3 with PLA and now ColorFabb's nGen. These are profiles I use heavily for the development of my open-source Breath Flute project ... however, the profiles are suitable for general use.

See the Slicer Settings section of this download page for the current release of "Clint's Simplify3D Profiles": Breath Flute Download Page