jweaver

Can the "Plugin is Executed on Layer X" popup be disabled/removed? I am sure I read that this had been removed, but I am now running 15.02 and its still there. I don't mind the messages, but its annoying that its "steals focus"?.. So say you load an object, leave it to slice and go to another application, when the popup executes, Cura pops up and this gets tiring after a while if you are doing a few things at once. Jon

I think I have worked out a way to do it.. I have drawn a cube and loaded it into CURA.. This allows me to scale it to an exact size. Then I load the object that I want to print at a certain size, and can drag the 'cube' about a reference point to get the size i want. So in my case, I have an object with a hole in it that I want to print at 28mm.. So Load the cube, scale it to 28mm.. The load the final object and scale it up/down until i get the cube to fit exactly in the hole.. Then I know it will be 28mm when it prints... I hope this tip helps someone else. Jon

I am pretty sure I know the answer is no.. But someone might have some tips which might help me. Say I have a part.. And I want to use the 'scale' feature to make it a given size.. Is there anything available to help me. Obviously if its a cube, I could look at the 'size' you see when using Scale.. But in this case I need to scale it so that a 'hole' is the right size. Sometimes I use the grid on the floor to get a feel, after all, the grid squares are 10x10mm.. But what about when this is not possible. Is there any way in CURA to scale something to roughly (say within 5%) get it to a known size? Jon

You can modify the GCODE, but the idea here is to update the Plugin so that it inserts the value for you into the GCODE. What I would do is this. Download PauseAtZ from here: http://wiki.ultimaker.com/CuraPlugin:_Pauseatz Edit the Plugin and change the lines: #Wait till the user continues printing f.write("@pause ;M0\n") with #Pause For 1 min and continue printing f.write("G4 P60000\n") Now when you use this plugin, instead of it adding an M0 into the GCODE (Which will cause the Printer to wait), it will just pause for 1 min and let you do your thing. This certainly works for me, as I have used it for a colour change.. Although this is difficult as you have to push the new colour through by hand, where as Repetier allows you to use the manual controls when its paused. Jon

I had this problem and my solution was to use the "@pause" command rather than "M0" and then 'export' the GCODE and print with Repetier (Which understands the '@pause' command and lets the user continue) But I recently discovered a solution using CURA. I am using the "pauseAtZ" plugin.. And have modified it to move the extruder and then "pause" before it continues with no manual intervention.. Edit the plugin with a text editor and look for: #Wait till the user continues printing f.write("M0\n") And then replace it with: #Pause For 1 min and continue printing f.write("G4 P60000\n") 60000 = 1 min, so change this to suit your needs. There is a lot of talk about USB instabilities, but on my setup (using several laptops and a desk top PC) I have NEVER had a problem with USB printing.. And Pausing in Repetier works like a dream.. So I will live in hope that CURA will one day support a "pause". I hope this helps. Jon

CHeers.. I am starting to think that happens BEFORE the layer.. And thats fine, as long as I know.. Problem is, with the current bug in CURA which doens't show the layer it makes it very tricky to get right.

There has been a problem with CURA for a while and I just wonder if its something you could consider fixing? When using a plugin such as "pauseAtZ", the layer where the pause happens only shows the tool path and not the extrusion. I believe this is just a GUI bug, but it makes it almost impossible to tweak the plugin to hit exactly the right layer and this is causing me a lot of wasted time. Jon

I have been doing some tests and the whole thing is very inconsistent. I took a part which has 2 obvious layers as a base.. And I sliced at 0.2mm. I set the plugin to 0.4mm assuming that it would stop AFTER the first layer.. But it stopped after the first. So to get it to stop at the correct layer I had to choose 0.6 which is the 3rd layer. But when I tested before it wasn't like this and using the layer view to predict the behavour is impossible.. Does anyone have any tips? Jon

One thing I am still struggling to work out is that if I use a plugin (say "PauseAtZ") and set it to act at 1mm (printing at 0.2mm layers) does this take effect AFTER the 5th layer or BEFORE? When you look at the layer view, you see the toolpath move away on Layer 5 but its not clear whether its doing this at the beginning or the end? Anyone know off hand? Jon

I watched the filament really closely and it turns out it WAS slipping. So I have adjusted the tension and am going to try again..

I have been struggling with the first layer on my Printrbot and someone suggested "under-extrusion". I know I setup my Printer when I got it and it was spot on.. So today I thought I would check. I marked a point on the filament and then fed 200mm (pressing the 10 on CURAs PrintUI GUI 20 times) and I measured only 195mm. So I tried again and each time I get anything from 188 to 196mm fed. Does anyone know why this is? Is the extrude button OK for doing this? Perhaps pressing it several times is flawed? Jon

I know all this and if I were trying to fix an issue with under extrusion, I would certainly look at re-calibrating the extruder in firmware.. But I just want to see what effect increasing the flow (or decreasing the filament diameter) has on the quality of prints.. And to see if it does anything relating to my problem. Its just a test.. I don't plan to do much with it.

I just want to test this and see what happens.. I don't for a second thing it will do anything.. But I just want to see the effect of an increase flow on the first layer, and its been suggested several time taht my problem could be "under extrustion". It just a test.. I just want to see what happens.. But I just wanted to check whether I needed to play with both options.. Or whether the flow % would do the same as reducing the filament diameter. I have pretty much tried every other option available and still can't solve my problem on the first layer.. So i just want to see the effect that "flow" has. Jon

Agreed.. I understand that increasing the flow by 10% (to 110), is completely different to reducing the diameter by 10% (from 1.75 to 1.575) as the diameter setting is the "volume" of the filament. But all i wanted to know is that taking the mathematics out of the equation, they both do the same thing.

Odd.. How did i end up with 2 threads i went back to edit the title and it seems to have created a 2nd thread.... This http://umforum.ultimaker.com/index.php?/topic/8506-anyone-got-any-tips-for-printing-when-the-first-layer-has-lots-of-tiny-part/ I dont for a second think it will help but i want to explore, and jst wanted to confirm whether the 2 options did anything differently,

Not sure but willing to try anything. I am just thinking that my problem is under extrusion. And i wonder what will happen if i force a bit more plastic out. So to so this, i wonder if i should increase the flow, or reduce the filament diameter?

I just wanted to check.. If I am using 1.75 filament, but specified the filament diameter as SMALLER this would cause over-extrusion. But equally, if increase the flow% it would have the same effect. Does the Fillament Diameter feature and Floew% do exactly the same job? Or are they different. I just want to find out as I am planning to do some experiments with 'flow' to try and improve the situation I am suffering with, and I just wanted to find out whether these 2 settings basically do the same thing. Jon

I just wanted to check.. If I am using 1.75 filament, but specified the filament diameter as SMALLER this would cause over-extrusion. But equally, if increase the flow% it would have the same effect. Does the Fillament Diameter feature and Floew% do exactly the same job? Or are they different. I just want to find out as I am planning to do some experiments with 'flow' to try and improve the situation I am suffering with, and I just wanted to find out whether these 2 settings basically do the same thing. Jon

I am specifically interested in this thread as I have a heated bed on route from the USA... Daid. Are you suggesting that you add M140 XXX (I think its M140 to the start.gcode? And not use the GUI to change the temps? Jon

Not a lot of work at all. When i put new tape on i "key" with sandpaper to remove the slightly waxy finish it and it lasts for about 100 prints.. Then, when i find that things arnt sticking i give it a wipe with an alcohol swab.... As for temperature, i have tried everything from 190 to 210. If i go on the higher side, its worse, as the filiment "oozes" during travel and i get a nothing out of the extruder for a few mm. But as i sid, i am still not convinced tht my head does a complete pass of the perimeter.. Watch the video and see... I would be intereted in your thought.. I am going to do some test and slow the print right down that i can see the printer moving to prove/disprove this.

Yep.. Blue tape... Sanded.. Cleaned with alcohol.. I generally have no problems woth adhesion.. But small parts tend not to be closed.. And i have said since say one that i am convinced the head doesnt travel the entire permimeter. Now with CW i can see how it does the 1st layer differently than Cura and that it does several perimeters.. But i get an "opening" at the same point of each perimeter.. So its mot like its random... Its driving me nuts... I can print everything else and the wuality is amaziing. But its just when there ae small "parts" on the first layer that i get this problem.

I have done some tests with CW and I can confirm that its better, as it does the perimeters first... BUT.. It hasn't helped.. I still end up with small shapes which are not fully closed and they get ripped up. So come circles look like "C"s.. and watching it print, I am now more convinced than ever that there is something go on here which is not the slicers fault! I am not sure if I can explain this, but its almost like the head doesnt actually the full circle, instead it starts at say 1 o'clock and ends at 12.. And I see this with both CURA and CW.. I am not sure what to do now.. I simply can't lay down a first layer when its made up of small detailed parts....

I hear you.. I believe you.. But I would rather not print these complex parts than use multiple app to slice and print. But I will re-visit CW.. Perhaps I could use it in 1% of cases where I run into this problem..

Can't go any closer as It starts to rub the bed.. I went as close as I could and then backed out 0.05mm.. and I am pretty sure its setup perfectly now and have perfect quality prints. But I might go back and wind it in by 0.01mm at a time to see if that helps.