Bad top layer  

Re: Bad top layer

Maybe a case of lines being too thin.. ?

If you're using the Standard 0,4mm nozzle (0,45mm extrusion width in Slic3r if i recall correctly) there's limits how thin you can go.
(This is where interchangeable nozzles come into play, like 0.25mm Nozzle..)

Re: Bad top layer

Looking at the edge of the outer ring i can actually see that the nozzle is capable of much much smaller lines than thouse thick ones it uses for the text.

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by the way: which software do you use to generate this kind of token ?
can you attach your *.stl ?

furthermore: which slic3r version do you use and which settings (fast, normal, optimal, detail 0.05 or 0.10mm) ?

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k, if its not thin lines, there's gotta be something else thats confusing the slicer.. Maybe trying running the STL through netfabb or upload the STL so we can see if there's something else to see?

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Im using Slic3r Prisa edition 1.31.6

I have attached a token model.

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Using 0.10mm detail setting

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Try "Detect thin lines".
Anyway I think you're using too wide nozzle. Use smaller nozzle to get such small details right.

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💡 for these details you'll need at least a 0.25mm nozzle.
when i use simplify3d and choose a larger nozzle, the print still will miss some parts of the letters.

➡ only at 0.25mm nozzle hole diameter, or below, the letters will appear complete:

but if you want to print the line below with a smaller text size, than you've to go for a 0.15mm nozzle.

question again: which software do you use to design this kind of tokens ?
i'm still searching for an easy to use freeware that doesn't crash and provides easy 3d text support (123d design is not very stable, sketchup is horrible instable and generating extruded text with designspark mechanical is a pita).

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Thank you for all for your input! I only have the nozzle that came with the printer, 0.4mm if im not mistaken.

Btw I use tinkercad.com since i couldnt find any software that was beginner friendly enough.

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...Btw I use tinkercad.com since i couldnt find any software that was beginner friendly enough.
ok, thanks for that info.
so i've to stick with designspark mechanical... which is easy to use and quite powerful, but it's not designed to work with text.

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...Btw I use tinkercad.com since i couldnt find any software that was beginner friendly enough.
ok, thanks for that info.
➡ so i've to stick with designspark mechanical... which is easy to use a quite powerful, but it's not designed to work with text.

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Yes, 0,4mm nozzle is default on the MK2.

@JeffJordan, did you give Fusion360 a try? I know it has a bit of a learning curve. I can do this faster in Fusion360 than in Tinker - once I frgured out how to work with sketches. And unless you're a commercial user, it's free as in free of charge..

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Comparing the token and the lines from the calibration print i can clearly see that the line is way smaller than the text. The nozzle is capable of producing finer details than in the token print. Must be something else in the settings right?

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...
@JeffJordan, did you give Fusion360 a try? I know it has a bit of a learning curve. I can do this faster in Fusion360 than in Tinker - once I frgured out how to work with sketches. And unless you're a commercial user, it's free as in free of charge..
💡 after the 30day trial it's only free if you can provide evidence that you are either a student or a teacher. i'm neither the one nor the other... and i don't want to abuse my sons confirmation of enrolement at the uni.

furthermore fusion360 seems to be some kind of successor of the (now) discontinued 123d design... which made me lose all my previous confidence in autodesk.

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Ok so i set the slicer to 0.05mm and checked "detect thin walls" and got a better print. All letters are there, maybe a bit unclear in the pic sorry. But now there is a lot of excess filament instead. Any advise?

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No, EDU licensing is a completely different thing. Go read the Fusion 360 homepage again, halfway down the page, right hand side: Fusion 360 is absolutely free for hobby users, enthusiasts & even small business with less than 100k annual revenue.

As for Fusion 360 being the "successor" of 123d.. Nah, not at all. I guess 123 Design is older, but Fusions been around for a long time now, too (2013 or so). I guess you could say they abandoned 123 Design for Tinker, they had similar focus. 123d and Fusion have not much in common at all.

But i do not want to be preaching.

Check it out, it's well worth it and it really is free. I am now in my 2nd free year and no proof or anything is required. Just click "Free" when it asks what license you'd like. 😉

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@JeffJordan, although the font selection is somewhat limited, OnShape handles text pretty well. See https://cad.onshape.com/documents/e10a1113f46728e2f59438cd/w/488046bcfbe898e025fe6c99/e/33a97043df6a20f5074a8060

Re: Bad top layer

Ok so i set the slicer to 0.05mm and checked "detect thin walls" and got a better print. All letters are there, maybe a bit unclear in the pic sorry. But now there is a lot of excess filament instead. Any advise?

Given the STL you uploaded, my advice would be: do your self a favor, go order the 0,25mm nozzle from E3D-online.com (uk) or whatever reseller is close to you. They're what, about 8-9 Euros/dollars/money units?

You're trying to print something that's finer than the nozzle can provide, there's a reason why folks use a sharp pencil when doing oldfashioned technical drawings and not 5mm magic markers 😉