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Slicing models

Posted by kooping 
Slicing models
October 22, 2016 10:10AM
Hi All,
I am new to this site and I have been looking through the various methods available for slicing models. I have noticed that there does not seem to be a fully customisable slicer program that offers full customisation and can do what I want it to do so I thought I would ask if anyone could recommend one.
One option that i want is the option of slicing the outside of a model in lets say 0.05mm layer height and then slice the infill of the model at 0.35mm. That way every 7 outer layers would result in only one infill layer and the printed part would be printed way faster than usual. I am sure this option must exist somewhere. Is there any software out there that can do this for me?
Thanks for the help all.
Mike
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 10:16AM
Quote
kooping
Hi All,
I am new to this site and I have been looking through the various methods available for slicing models. I have noticed that there does not seem to be a fully customisable slicer program that offers full customisation and can do what I want it to do so I thought I would ask if anyone could recommend one.
One option that i want is the option of slicing the outside of a model in lets say 0.05mm layer height and then slice the infill of the model at 0.35mm. That way every 7 outer layers would result in only one infill layer and the printed part would be printed way faster than usual. I am sure this option must exist somewhere. Is there any software out there that can do this for me?
Thanks for the help all.
Mike

Slic3r
Combine infill every xx layers
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 10:36AM
The snag with using different layer heights on different parts of a print - clearance for the nozzle moving around.

You could either print the infill tall and then have trouble attaching the fine skin layers around it. Or print the thin skin layers and then have trouble joining it on to the thick infill...

What slicers do is let you print infill faster than skins, but the nozzle reaching the areas where one joins the other is the issue.

Layer heights below 0.1mm generally don't usually bond very well (the nozzle and fresh layer heat up the previous layer and distort it).

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/2016 10:39AM by DragonFire.
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 11:11AM
I've been trying to use Slic3r's combine infill option, but haven't had much success with it yet. The infill seems to be under-extruded and weak, as if Slic3r isn't compensating properly for the extra thickness. I suspect I can compensate by manually setting an excessive infill width but I need more experimenting. The problem with trying to fix with the width is that the tool path then doesn't reach the edges, so you then have to fiddle with the overlap setting. I don't like fixes to fixes to fixes. I suspect that the problem may be that I'm trying to use two very different nozzle sizes for perimeters and infill, and that's a config that likely hasn't had a lot of testing.
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 12:54PM
Uh... why not just the outside skin very fine as a vase shape... then fill it with concrete, the commonest building material?

If you included support pillars to get the top roof right, it would be PLA reinforced concrete. smiling smiley ABS reinforced concrete would be better, and you could cure it very quickly in a kitchen steamer.

You would have to sand (or even diamond! winking smiley )the fill holes, depending on your fill material. But it would set quicker than printing the whole thing.

And it would beat the crap out of purely printed part for compression strength. Heavier, of course.

You could even just print the skins and send them to the end user for filling. Less postage cost.

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/2016 01:07PM by DragonFire.
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 12:58PM
Heh, concrete is pushing the envelope, but I like your thinking smiling smiley I had wondered about filling parts with resin, but it does assume that the part is both sufficiently 'water-tight' and all of a consistent height, which isn't necessarily the case. Either way, it would be nice to be able to print large parts with traditional infill, but reduce print time by using a big nozzle for the fill.
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 01:02PM
Depends if you want it clear and pretty or cheap and Schwarzenegger.

I know what what I want when I'm designing a machine. smiling smiley
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 01:20PM
One extruder infill material, other extruder skin and support.

That would work, I think. Need to print skin and support watertight on the outside, liquid infill flow allowable on the inside (to use Honeycomb reinforcement pattern).

But it's then quite heavy if you do use concrete... cough cough... Nanocrete... cough cough. TM.

Yes, you cannot sell things as Nanocrete without a license, as I understand things.

Whether you can make things with your own version is a different kettle of fish.

It's just powder and water, self setting. All the energy needed gets put in at the cement making factory. smiling smiley

And ya don't need much cement, way cheaper than PLA I would think.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/2016 01:32PM by DragonFire.
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 01:34PM
Call the concept "Hardcore infill". smiling smiley

How well it works depends on a LOT of factors. hot smiley
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 04:54PM
So it seems that the option exists but it's just not really functional. That explains why I never heard of it before.
Thanks all
Mike
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 05:03PM
Quote
kooping
So it seems that the option exists but it's just not really functional. That explains why I never heard of it before.
Thanks all
Mike

I wouldn't write it off - I've only just started looking at it and it's very possible that I'm just doing something wrong. I think "try it and see" is probably the best advice.
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 08:47PM
Do not use concrete it will eat any plastic you use.


Out of the box thinking is easier when you never fitted in the box to begin with. smiling smiley
Re: Slicing models
October 22, 2016 08:56PM
If you have a dual extruder you could use a larger nozzle and that would speed up your infill time.

It's not a case of infill layer height more a case of infill layer width larger nozzle lays down a thicker line at the same layer height as the skin and should print faster.

Another option would be to build a double wall on your print, infill the inner wall and leave the cavity hollow to fill with resin or whatever you want. That way it would cut down on both the weight of your print and the material cost of your filling medium.


Out of the box thinking is easier when you never fitted in the box to begin with. smiling smiley
Re: Slicing models
October 23, 2016 10:44AM
Quote
Rlewisrlou666
Do not use concrete it will eat any plastic you use.

How very odd, there's the PLA section saying very, very few solvents affect PLA, there's you saying EVERY SINGLE brand of concrete is INCOMPATIBLE with EVERY plastic.

Must have taken you a while to try them all. winking smiley

Some people can used concrete and plastic combinations quite well...

[www.youtube.com]

But of course, that video must be fake, as you have already tried every single combination of every plastic available on the planent with every concrete available all over the planet... or have you?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2016 10:51AM by DragonFire.
Re: Slicing models
October 23, 2016 11:01AM
Something in the chemical reaction of cement curing just makes plastic fall apart.

[youtu.be] winking smiley

Also most readily available concrete/cement mixtures contain lye.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2016 11:04AM by Rlewisrlou666.


Out of the box thinking is easier when you never fitted in the box to begin with. smiling smiley
Re: Slicing models
October 23, 2016 11:07AM
Ok I meant PLA not sure about the others. confused smiley

Quote
Rlewisrlou666
Do not use concrete it will eat any plastic you use.


Out of the box thinking is easier when you never fitted in the box to begin with. smiling smiley
Re: Slicing models
October 23, 2016 12:19PM
Quote
Rlewisrlou666
Something in the chemical reaction of cement curing just makes plastic fall apart.

[youtu.be] winking smiley

Also most readily available concrete/cement mixtures contain lye.

OK, time for me to get experimenting... the hydration of concrete going from liquid mix to solid is a chemical process. Thanks for posting that.

PLA does soak up water easily, ABS tends to be pretty waterproof once printed. That could be a key part of it.

Also, designing moulds / dies is a very skilled job, it's not like EVERY model designed is going to work, internal pressures while setting can be very high... one nozzle width of plastic just isn't going to contain those forces except with very, very small objects.

I'll put my white coat on and find something that does improve reprap, rather than just bike shedding the idea. smiling smiley

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2016 12:21PM by DragonFire.
Re: Slicing models
October 27, 2016 08:05AM
Print it in Vase mode, embed it in sand and pour molten aluminium in it.

Presto, nice alu part.
I did this a few times. OK, not in vase mode, made a model, stamped it down in casting sand and made it that way, but the lost wax method does work.

Lykle
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