Calling Slic3r from Repetier Host

Hi, sorry, posted this in the wrong forum earlier

I'm sure this is answered somewhere - I just can't seem to find it.

I'm running a Mac and have downloaded the latest versions of Host and Slic3r.

I'm just trying this combination for the first time - have been using Cura and Pronterface but I'd prefer something a little more integrated. I really like the look and feel of Repetier Host and I'd like to spend some time with it. I think it will do everything I want.

My immediate problem comes when I call Slic3r. It takes the input file and produces output but not with helpful names.

It produces files called tempobj.stl and tempobj.gcode which it places in my library folder.

I know there is a way of calling Slic3r such that it outputs .gcode in the directory where the source stl was selected from, I just can't track down the correct command to do this. I'd be grateful if someone could tell me how to configure this.

On a related note, I've just noticed a Slic3r.ini in my library directory too. Another exists in my application directory. When running Slic3r I'd like to ask, what is the preferred directory for this file and how can I guarantee the correct version is used ?

Hope someone has the time to guide me with these queries.

Kind Regards,

C

The saving prefs are in Slic3rs .INI file. And Repetier host uses this file. In Slic3r go to the print settings and you will see (assuming any of the 0.9.?? versions) output options. In this field is the naming options.

Mine says

[input_filename_base] .35mm Nozzle.gcode

This will save it as the same as the original name with ".35mm Nozzle.gcode" added to the end. You can change that to whatever you like. Mine is set that way so I know what nozzle (.35) the file was created for.

You must then export the config and use that inside Repetier host.

Hi,
thanks for the info. It doesn't seem to solve my problem though. My output option field is set to [input_filename_base].gcode. When called by repetier, this seems to be ignored.

Maybe I did things in the wrong order- or not at all . Although I did save each change using the small disk icon, I didn't export afterwards. Seems a little counterintuitive - still, if that's the way it works......

I'll try again.

Oh ! Where should I export the config to ?

Regards,

C

While you can change it (I think) the default is User/ Library/ Application Support/ Slic3r/ Print/

Hi there,

I think I have it now. It may be the case that you no longer need to export the config. What I've found is as follows.

Run Repetier, open slicer for configuration. Slic3r creates (maybe at installation - doesn't matter really) 3 directories at the following location.

~/Library/Application Support/Slic3r
These are filament, print and printer

It also writes a Slic3r.ini in this location. This doesn't contain very much but importantly contains the names of the currently selected filament, print and printer config files. Each of these were saved in the filament, print and printer directories when the small disk icon was used during Slc3r configuration.

now close Slic3r and return to Repetier.

Pick an stl and slice it.

Repetier reads Slic3r.ini from ~/Library/Application Support/Slic3r and thus discovers which configs are in use. It reads each of these configs and creates a new file.

Slic3r does its thing and we now have a total of 3 new files.

In this location ~/Library/Repetier we have these files

1. Slic3r.ini
2. tempobj.stl
3. tempobj.gcode

Just thinking about it, it might be Slic3r creating this ini file - doesn't really matter. However, all the Slic3r files I've looked in thus far have contained a header record looking something like this "# generated by Slic3r 0.9.7 on Tue Dec 18 09:10:46 2012" and this header is not in the "Repetier" Slic3r.ini.
If you look in the file Slic3r.ini in the ~/Library/Repetier directory, you'll see that it basically contains the sum of all the print, filament and printer settings made within Slic3r. There may be other things, I just haven't looked too closely yet. (now that I have a working overview of what's going on, I probably won't bother)

I think I have this right

Regards,

C

In my first post I said I'd actually originally raised my quest in the wrong place. Be that as it may, I did get a partial answer from Repetier which was helpful and I've pasted this below.

repetier [ PM ]
Re: Calling Slic3r from Repetier Host
December 16, 2012 08:54AM Registered: 1 year ago
Posts: 684
First, the host always makes new gcode files in the Workdir ~/Library/Repetier simply to find the result. After slicing it is loaded into the g-code editor. There you can use the save button to store it under a name and at a location you want. Most users print objects only once and don't need this, so I decided to not bother them until they want to.

On my mac slic3r stores it's data in ~/Libraray/Application Support/Slic3r and its subdirectories. This is also the place where the host looks for safed config files.

GEN6 + Mendel
Repetier-Software the home of Repetier-Host (Windows, Linux and Mac OS X) and Repetier-Firmware"

Hope that's helpful too.

Regards,

C

Hi tmorris9.

There is a thread in the Repetier forum with the same name as this (remember I posted incorrectly in the first place ?)

That thread "rounds out" the info given in this thread if you'd like to take a look. I found it helpful in understanding how the two programs work together.

Regards,

C