Trying to slice RC plane files in PrusaSlicer  

RE: Trying to slice RC plane files in PrusaSlicer

There was another thread with this issue - search for wing or plane or ?!?  and see if they ended up with any better ideas.  Detect-Thin-Wall and some other ideas were tossed around, but the design looked like it was modeled only for Cura.  Points in the part didn't even connect to other points, so parts floated, didn't weld, etc.  

ps: https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/prusaslicer/slicing-rc-plane-wing

RE: Trying to slice RC plane files in PrusaSlicer

I have updated https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/prusaslicer/slicing-rc-plane-wing

RE: Trying to slice RC plane files in PrusaSlicer

So it appears that Cura is the only slicer that can handle this type of design.

I have just finished printing the Icon A5 from Planeprint.com and it came in at a relatively lightweight 427gms all up for the print job. This is about half the weight of a similarly sized 3DLabPrint plane. Weight is everything in this hobby and we are continually looking for either lighter materials or methods of design/slice/print that yield lighter results. The real problem for me in using Cura, is that it has a nasty habit of inserting ridiculous numbers of travel moves that do nothing other than deposit a zit on the surface of the part. Worse still, these travel moves also result in the restart prime plastic being used up, which causes under-extrusion at the start of the layer. Specifying X,Y starting co-ordinates in a central position in the part can reduce the travel moves somewhat, but especially with complex parts, it doesn't eliminate them.

Most parts on the Icon A5 printed nicely on my Prusa Mk3S, but Engine pod 2 was terrible. It would be really nice if Prusaslicer could do the same as Cura in printing these single width internal structures, but do so without the unnecessary travel moves! Here is an example of the problem in engine pod 2.

RE: Trying to slice RC plane files in PrusaSlicer

I have been experimenting with these problems also. I have tried numerous ways to design aircraft parts and slice with prusaslic3r, Cura, simplify3d, etc. I don't really care which slicer I use what I really don't like is the extensive CAD work needed to trick the slicer into doing what I want. From my perspective the problem lies in the file type we are slicing. My experiments are leading to try and create a script file that will use arc matching of segments from surfaces. Have the cad program output model slices from formulas rather then triangular surfaces where we go from point to point. there is where the problem lies. If I set a surface to a width of .60 mm (.45 mm extrusion width) then create internal supports with a gap of 25 percent of extrusion width and increase the number of triangles to very high rate I can mostly get Prusaslicer to work except for small radius areas. You can get Simplify 3d to work but the resulting STL with numerous errors and the amount of time spent in CAD is kinda of ridiculous in my opinion. If someone has spent the time to make a model that slices in Cura or Simplify3d at this time the best option is to use that slicer. Aerofred has some models that come with gcode files ready to print on a MK2 but they also work on a MK3 from personal experience.

I don't think I have enough time or experience to create a new slicer that will use nurbs instead of triangles which would be especially useful for aeromodelers, but I am starting work on scripting a simplified solution for simple wings and fuselages. My math is a bit rusty(its been 20+ years since I have taken courses in linear algebra and multivariable calculus, even longer for Geometry and Trig) and I have never worked directly with Gcode but it seems like the easiest path after looking at Slic3r code in github.

RE: Trying to slice RC plane files in PrusaSlicer

(bad english incoming)

I just want to print a airplane from Eclipse and have the same problem. The internal structures are different or just not visible after slicing in PrusaSlicer 2.3.0. However, the presliced gCode-Files seems to be ok, but since I have a MMU2S installed I can not use them. Maybe even without the unit, because it's sliced for a Ender 3.

After researching I updated my Cura Slicer and there everything seems ok. Even the Vasemode should work there. In PrusaSlicer this mode will fail at every hole, because the structure must be solid to get this working. Cura handle this better.

I spent almost 2 days to get this working, but with the MMU2S Cura is no option for me. To manipulate G-Code files I am not skilled enough. I Also tried some repair-tools for STL - no chance. Eclipse just doens't answer so I decided to focus at PrusaSlicer.

Then I found the "Print Settings" -> "Advanced" -> "Slice gap closing radius" [default 0.049] and set it to "0". This seems to work and I printed some parts which look exaclty like the presliced gcode Files I can check in the Prusa G-Code Viewer. However some parts will print even with this setting a tiny bit different so sometimes I went from "0" to "0.004" for example. It's important to preview the sliced model and compare it to the presliced files.

The Vasemode still don't work, which is not necessary but would be nice.

Beside of the print requirements from Eclipse I highly recommend this settings too:
- FlowRate (check the wall thickness is really 0.45. If not, correct the value (for me it is 1.07))
- Disable "Elephant foot compensation" that the Brim will stick good to the model
- Set the "Seam position" to "Random". Otherwise the could be problems with connecting the internal structure to the outer shell

I hope I was able to help after that long time (dead thread) or google-guys landing here. I have to say, I am a bit angry at Eclipse, as they advertise "[...] no matter which printer or slicer software you use [...]" and that is not true. I printed so much models when I realized they are waste since the internal structures are different or simple were missing. No help at all.

Have a nice day. Maybe somebody can tell me how to use the Vasemode without gaps in the layers when holes are in the model.

RE: Trying to slice RC plane files in PrusaSlicer

Have you enabled "detect thin walls" and "add extra perimeters if needed"?  That should restore your inner structure - however you will need to enable support to handle the bridges.  You will also probably want to mess with extrusion width since you mentioned some of the dimensions were sub .5mm.  

RE: Trying to slice RC plane files in PrusaSlicer

@dan-rogers

No, these settings didn't set anything better for me with this files so far. It works very well with my settings I posted above. Only thing is, that vasemode didn't work because of holes for screws in the stl.

The very thin walls are correct since the construct have to be lightweight. 0.45mm is the correct value.

Today I got answer from Eclipson that I have to read the instructions. I told him, that I read it several times and attached him files from PrusaSlicer and Cura for comparison and screenshots from advertises on their website "vase mode 0 retracts 0 problems with any slicer". And I negate, that without vasemode every slicer can print it out of the box.

RE: Trying to slice RC plane files in PrusaSlicer

@crick The setting your looking for is "Slice gap closing radius:" in the print settings. 

RE: Trying to slice RC plane files in PrusaSlicer

We will support a new "Even / Odd" slicing mode in PrusaSlicer 2.4.0-alpha to support these 3DLabPrint models. The "Even / Odd" slicing mode is the default and only slicing mode of S3D and Ideamaker, while you have to convince Cura to use it by a configuration switch.

RE: Trying to slice RC plane files in PrusaSlicer

@troggy

I wrote down the option with the "slice gap" above. So I printed the files already. Since you are a new member I think you are from Eclipson Planes. However it would be nice, if this info would be shown at your print instructions.

@Prusa

Thanks for adding new features. I love the PrusaSlicer and would never went to Cura or other apps. I know it's OpenSource and I like it, but I am happy to print without tinkering with much settings. Prusa Slicer, Printer and Filament makes it just easy.