Cura vs Slic3r print duration - what is going on?
Hi,
Here's something I cannot for the life of me understand...
(Prusa mk2s)
Cura:
Produces smaller gcode (by lines / filesize) for a given stl with similar settings in both
Has less travel moves than slic3r
Manages to print the same objects in far less time
Manages to have better print quality at those faster speeds
See slight banding
Doesn't handle linear advance for different filaments (must be set in start gcode)
Near default 0.1mm profile (first layer changed to 0.3mm)
Slic3r:
I don't want to live without the variable layer height feature
Nearly no banding
Linear advance per filament type is great
Near default 0.1mm profile (first layer changed to 0.3mm)
Times for this: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:906562
Cura: 1:45h (actually 1:48h)
Slic3r: 3:11h (didn't use the resulting gcode)
To determine print time estimates, I used Repetier with the resulting gcode from each slicer, and I must say from what I've seen, it's quite accurate.
If I use the experimental 100mm/s profile I can nearly get the print time down, but the quality is significantly reduced
Has anyone experienced this with other slicers, and is there any way to reduce the time slic3r prints take while keeping the quality up.
Thanks in advance,
DanO
Re: Cura vs Slic3r print duration - what is going on?
It's very believable that Cura is smarter about generating the toolpath than Slic3r. There's a lot of different ways to print the same layer.
However, first check to see if all the other settings for the two slicers are the same: Are you using the same infill, print speed, perimeters, etc.? Those settings can also have a dramatic effect on the print time.
Re: Cura vs Slic3r print duration - what is going on?
looking at the print time this is a fairly small model.
Slic3r reduces the print speed sometimes very dramatically depending on the time it takes to print that layer. If you have lots of layers that are below a certain print time then the model will take considerably longer to print.
Re: Cura vs Slic3r print duration - what is going on?
Slic3r reduces the print speed sometimes very dramatically depending on the time it takes to print that layer. If you have lots of layers that are below a certain print time then the model will take considerably longer to print.
Good point, check to see if the minimum print time per layer is the same.
Minimum print time per layer gives each layer enough time to cool before putting the next layer down. That could definitely make a big difference for a small model.
Re: Cura vs Slic3r print duration - what is going on?
I have changed the minimum print time from 20s to 5s. The xyz cube went from 39m to 26m and they looks the same.
Thanks for the tip.
/Michael
www.rclab.dk
RE: Cura vs Slic3r print duration - what is going on?
@dan-o4 Did you do any progress on this? I'm having the same issue with PrusaSlicer 2.0 and Cura 4. For a small figurine, there is an hour difference between the two.
RE: Cura vs Slic3r print duration - what is going on?
The other thing to check is the printer settings like retraction, that makes a massive difference on print speed.