Better control on layer heights for faster printing

[pablobell 0]

I wanted to share what I am doing to improve printing speed.

I need to print objects like boxes, that have a sizable amount of downskins and upskins. So I use different layer heights for the external contour of 0.04 mm, internal countour of 0.08 mm and filling and downskin of 0.16 mm. Using double layer height is the equivalent of moving the print head at twice the speed in that region!

I am currently using NetFabb, which is the only slicer that allows for such setup. Using thick layered downskins is perfect for me as the objects I print have only downskins in the very bottom. The upskins are more complicated, as a thick layer height has the expected lower precision so if using thin contours sometimes leaves an upskin at a lower height with contours that climb like external walls (less than 0.16 mm, though).

So, I figured there could be three extra checkboxes in Cura, next to "duplicate outlines". One for doing the same with upskins (only the 1-2 outermost layers are printed at half height). One for downskins. And another one for doubling layer size inside (for a total of x4 the external layer size), that not only includes the filling, but upskins and downskins if they are thick enough.

Or just one extra checkbox, the last one that doubles layer size inside, even in downskins and upskins.

 

[Daid 304]

Actually the "duplicate outlines" currently doesn't work very smart, as it just uses the same contour twice.

I think slicing at different layer thicknesses is patented. Not that I would mind. But I would need my new C++ slicer for that, as the SF slicer currently in Cura is not really up for the task.

 

[pablobell 0]

Actually, I was counting on your new slicer,

 

[chemwhite 0]

The "duplicate outlines might be improved without actually creating a separate slice by printing half way between the lower layer and the layer above. Not sure how hard the programing would be though.

 

[Daid 304]

The "duplicate outlines might be improved without actually creating a separate slice by printing half way between the lower layer and the layer above. Not sure how hard the programing would be though.

 

Harder then slicing and a higher density layer thickness. (The layer slicing and polygon stitching is one of the fastest parts of my C++ slicer. Figuring out top/bottom infills is actually one of the slower parts)