Is it possible to define the order objects are visited  

minimising moves

Thanks for the thought. I'm not trying to print one object after another I am just asking if the long 'moves' that some slices turn out can be minimised by getting the slicer to visit the objects in a better order - each layer. And in the 2nd example encouraging the slicer to zig-zag rather than return to start as it starts each layer. Ie if it ends a layer at one end of an object then start the next layer at the nearest point to that end rather than zooming back to the other end of the object before starting the next layer.

Posted by: @swiss_cheese

@ianadd

 

You can print them Sequentially,  by going to: Print settings/Output options/Sequential printing and selecting complete individual objects:

slicer will print the objects in descending order as they appear in sidebar object pane.

 

you will want to read up on Sequential printing as you have certain rules you will need to follow relative to height and spacing. as well some of your normal printing features will not be available.

 

Regards

 

Swiss_Cheese

Print quality impact

I think that your zigzag method may have an impact on the print quality, since the end of the current layer need to cool down a few second before printing over it (on the next layer). There is even a setting in the slicer that slow down the printer if the time between each layer is too small (cooling threshlod in filament setting).

Setting selections affect paths

Posted by: @ianadd

[...] It slices from one end to the other and then zooms back to the start and does another layer.

A lot of the odd movement is triggered by your slicer settings. For example, if you have Avoid crossing perimeters enabled, movement will be changed quite a bit to honor that request. I also find that the slicer will double back on some patterns. A lot varies on what's on each layer. Things like infill patterns and wall attachments also have to be considered and that long next move may be saving a dozen a few steps ahead. Add in goodies like wipe towers and OctoLapse, and there's only so much the slicer can do.

I find the pathing to be a lot like the routes Google Maps selects. They sometimes don't make a lot of sense to me, but they'll usually get me where I'm going within a minute or two of my "better" route. Not having the resources Google does, I'm sure every slicer has some sub-optimal limitations -- for one, I don't think any have a multi-layer look-ahead -- but I'd be very curious to see if the "better" appearing route really made much difference in the end. 

[...] Are either of these aspirations achievable?

I suppose they could try some "minimize movement" bias, but then you have a hot nozzle and heater block staying over the same areas for longer periods. Might be a double-edged sword. 

Are you finding the movement noise a problem with stealth mode? If so, you might look into reducing the noise of your printer overall. My Mk3 is so quiet without stealth mode that I easily fall asleep near it. 

The slicer will generally default to the order in which the parts on the plate appear in the menu on the right, or the reverse on alternate layers.  This is a default, not a strict rule.

You can drag the entries up and down to suggest your preferred sequence.

Cheerio,