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Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer


Joffrey

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Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

Hi all,

 

I want to use Cura with the Silhouette Alta 3D printer (https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/shop/machines/alta). Silhouette is already a major player in the small low cost cutter market and is now with the Alta also entering the market for 3D printing.

 

Cura can see the printer and the machine seems to work fine with the default 'custom printer' settings. There is however a sequence at the beginning of the printjob where the head moves to a small waste location and pushes some filament through the nozzle before it actually starts printing. This results in a better start of the print with better adhesion to the build plate.

 

I would like Cura to also make this behavior before the print but I do not have the necessary G-code. is there some way to intercept the command as it is being sent to the printer?

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer
    6 minutes ago, kmanstudios said:

    Go to buildplate adhesion and make sure "enable prime blob" is checked.

    Thanks for your prompt reply. This option is not visible in my settings. When I go to settings visibility I get the following pop-up:

    image.thumb.png.b0cd8048e879748d7124a81de7794eba.png

     

    I think this is because I use the 'Custom FDM printer' printer type. (this is not something i can choose, but cura autodetected this machine.

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    No worries, to fix the priming issue of the printhead I just upped the skirt line count to 5 with a minimum skirt length of 10cm. So now the printhead starts printing somewhere in the skirt instead of missing a part of the base. This is not what I ultimately want, but it seems to work for now.

     

    I wouldn't have found those settings without your suggestion, so thanks anyway ?

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    • 2 weeks later...
    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    Joffrey

    You are the first person that I have run into that has an Alta and is looking for new software for it. I gave Sketchup Pro but I don’t think that will drive the printer. 

     

    I will install Cura and see how it goes. 

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    Posted (edited) · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    For anyone interested; the gcode for the prime blob procedure that the Alta does at the beginning of the print with the silhouette software is:

    G28 ; home all axes
    G90
    G1 Z5 F1200
    G1 X0.000 Y-70.00 F2000.000
    G1 Z0.000 F2000.000
    G92 E0
    G1 E50.00000 F100;
    G92 E0
    G1 Z0.400 F6000.000
    G1 X-37.984 Y-51.711 F6000.000
    G1 E5.99500 F4800.00000
    G1 X-36.594 Y-52.712 E6.79005 F540.000
    G1 X-33.376 Y-54.825 E7.18850
    G1 X-31.774 Y-55.781 E7.22241
    G1 X-28.512 Y-57.540 E7.58616
    G1 X-26.697 Y-58.422 E7.98434
    G1 X-23.446 Y-59.829 E8.04019
    G1 X-21.413 Y-60.609 E8.78005
    G1 X-18.195 Y-61.684 E8.85674
    G1 X-15.980 Y-62.321 E9.57605
    G1 X-12.811 Y-63.085 E9.67501
    G1 X-10.390 Y-63.561 E10.08386
    G1 X-7.329 Y-64.025 E10.37218
    G1 X-4.725 Y-64.307 E10.49464
    G1 X-1.780 Y-64.497 E10.76990
    G1 X-0.510 Y-64.558 E10.90328
    G1 X2.780 Y-64.497 E11.16826
    G1 X4.725 Y-64.307 E11.31256
    G1 X7.329 Y-64.025 E11.56583
    G1 X10.390 Y-63.561 E11.72151
    G1 X12.811 Y-63.085 E11.96409
    G92 E0

    And the gcode for the end of the print, to retract the filament and return the printhead to home, is:

    G92 E0
    G1 E-40.00000 F2000
    G91
    G90
    G92 E0
    G1 E-1.00000 F2400
    M104 S0
    G28

    For me these work pretty well and you can insert them in Cura's printer settings to work. 

     

    (These codes can be found in the settings files included with the software, but thanks to Silhouette support for pointing them out.)

    Edited by Joffrey
    Removed the temperature code as Cura already has provisions for this. Thanks to jenny8008
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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

     

    Hey, I am totally new to the world of 3D, I have bought an ALTA but find the result weak with the software of silhouette. I would like to use the cura but my alta bots are constantly against the side. Can you explain to me how I configure my alta configiire in the cura? Thank you in advance .

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    Hi Joffrey, I'd like to know how you got CURA to auto-detect the Alta. I can't get it to connect. Thanks!

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    Ok, I uninstalled the device and let it auto install the drivers. Now it shows up as "Connected." Going to try out your settings now.

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    thanks for helping ?☹️

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    Hi, I got the Alta to print with Cura, seems fine so far. But the temperature I set is not sent to the printer, it always prints at 200°C. What can I do, and am I the only one with this issue? (I'm completely new to 3D printing...)

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    I have installed the Cura software in an attempt to manage printing on my Silhouette Alta, but I'm not sure what my base settings need to be.  Could someone share the configuration we need to set in the Cura software (assuming that I use custom printer).  Also, if anyone knows where the config files are located while installing the Sihouette software on a Mac, that might prove helpful as well.

    Any help in getting my Alta setup to work with Cura would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks! 

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    @jenny8008 - Go to this web page and look at temperature related codes:

    http://reprap.org/wiki/G-code

     

    The temp is pretty simple usually both:

    M109 S210

    or

    M104 S210

     

    To set temperature to 210C.  But for dual head printers sometimes you have to specify the head.  Maybe a T0 command or a T1 command (by themselves) to indicate which head?  If you can get your hands on a gcode file that properly sets the temp then look in that and look for the temperature in the gcode file (should be near the top - the first 30 gcodes or so).

     

    Then you can insert what you think is the right gcode into a gcode file that you were going to use and see if that works.  Once you know the proper syntax you can tell cura in the start codes in machine settings.

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer
    On 8/7/2018 at 3:32 AM, gr5 said:

    @jenny8008 - Go to this web page and look at temperature related codes:

    http://reprap.org/wiki/G-code

     

    The temp is pretty simple usually both:

    M109 S210

    or

    M104 S210

     

    To set temperature to 210C.  But for dual head printers sometimes you have to specify the head.  Maybe a T0 command or a T1 command (by themselves) to indicate which head?  If you can get your hands on a gcode file that properly sets the temp then look in that and look for the temperature in the gcode file (should be near the top - the first 30 gcodes or so).

     

    Then you can insert what you think is the right gcode into a gcode file that you were going to use and see if that works.  Once you know the proper syntax you can tell cura in the start codes in machine settings.

    Hi, thank you! The Wiki helped me a lot with my Alta (but with my Anycubic too). :-)

     

    The Alta does only have one extruder.

     

    @TayloredVinyl

    How are you doing with your Alta?

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    Hi, for silhouette ALta, I might have some info on it :

    1.Alta software uses Cura engine (not your average cura host, just the slicer...I think)

    2.Proprietary motherboard, easy to buy on print-rite (I opened my board, it says Delta main board, for print rite V.1.7)

    ,I don't really care about warranty, I built 3D printers, easy to swap with 32bit boards with better firmware, instead of what alta use (marlin v.1.0.0? that is old) it says sourced from jcrocholl mini kossel, but might not be true. 

    3.Print head is special though, it heats up pretty quick, goes up to 250C with repetier host (not recommended), buy new one from print rite (silhouette outsourced Alta or what??!?).

    4.Still trying to break the firmware (it's open source in the first place, should be on the marlin git for print-rite board), no harm done there (it's fuselocked with mode3, only HVP could erase...u know how that goes....right?).

    5.Extruder is useless for TPE flex filaments, works ok on PETG (I'm PLA bored), flex like filament prints good enough (unbranded, wider filament spool) but I use RepHost and slic3r. PETG prints at 235-240C, Flex like prints at 210-215C.

    6.Attach fan, but don't expect it to run (firmware???) yes there is A FAN pinout (+/-) near the ISP connections, also there's a bed pinout but no power connection (either way, Alta psu only goes 5amps?) the print-rite board code is LSD194x-D1315 (delta 1315) sold by brand name CoLiDo 3D printer (I assume this board could sub the original board on Alta), maybe it's also locked to prevent tampering with eeprom/firmware.

    7.Just use a damn PEI sheet on top your plexiglass buildplate (cheap nowadays) rather than the supplied masking tape.

    8.Proprietary filament bull...use other filament (it's a hot glue gun...on NC axis...it melts anything) besides the thermal runaway protections is enabled, so if anything goes wrong, just buy a new hotend (or build one).

    9.Again...the absence of filament fan really limits what you could build with pla, it's better with petg, air print tpe/tpu flex, tweaking speed won't do much, it's just...no fan....(pun intended). with that small build plate, and enclosed build chamber, you shouldn't worry about print warping/not sticking to bed, use PEI sheet! (cheaper on the long run, trust me).

     

    There's' more...but I'm ranting allready.P_20180904_113946.thumb.jpg.e3c788ce0b0e6deeb365d1a8e8d9486a.jpg1647041461_LSD194X-d1315(1).thumb.jpg.24e400134fe18b1b216f7a98a8c96caf.jpg

     

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    hello, i have a silhouette alta but its own software is really bad so i want to use cura... i cant find what the nozzle size is thats standard on the alta. i am also not sure if my other settings are correct could someone please share me all their printer settings?

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    I have the sane problem ad SamDec

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    The size of the nozzle is 0.4mm and filament 1.75mm.

    In the settings you have to activate "Origin at center" (or similar, the Alta is a delta style printer) and deactivate "Heated Bed" (because there is none); the print volume is 124mm x 124mm x 130 mm (height/Z-axis).

     

    You still need Silhouette 3D to be installed because of filament change and bed leveling.

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    I got my Alta printing from Cura, but it seems to think the bed is a bit lower than it actually is? I thought it was adhesion issues at first, but the same object will print okay if I use the Silhouette 3D software, so I think it has something to do with the bed height. Does anyone have any suggestions?

    Thanks for all the great information in this thread; without it, I never would have even known where to begin!

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    I don't have that issue, neither Simplify3D nor Cura.

    May you post your start-gcode and photos of the failed prints?

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    Thanks for the quick response! I took the Start G-Code from a post above:

    G28 ; home all axes
    G90
    M104 S200
    G1 Z5 F1200
    G1 X0.000 Y-70.00 F2000.000
    G1 Z0.000 F2000.000
    M109 S200
    G92 E0
    G1 E50.00000 F100;
    G92 E0
    G1 Z0.400 F6000.000
    G1 X-37.984 Y-51.711 F6000.000
    G1 E5.99500 F4800.00000
    G1 X-36.594 Y-52.712 E6.79005 F540.000
    G1 X-33.376 Y-54.825 E7.18850
    G1 X-31.774 Y-55.781 E7.22241
    G1 X-28.512 Y-57.540 E7.58616
    G1 X-26.697 Y-58.422 E7.98434
    G1 X-23.446 Y-59.829 E8.04019
    G1 X-21.413 Y-60.609 E8.78005
    G1 X-18.195 Y-61.684 E8.85674
    G1 X-15.980 Y-62.321 E9.57605
    G1 X-12.811 Y-63.085 E9.67501
    G1 X-10.390 Y-63.561 E10.08386
    G1 X-7.329 Y-64.025 E10.37218
    G1 X-4.725 Y-64.307 E10.49464
    G1 X-1.780 Y-64.497 E10.76990
    G1 X-0.510 Y-64.558 E10.90328
    G1 X2.780 Y-64.497 E11.16826
    G1 X4.725 Y-64.307 E11.31256
    G1 X7.329 Y-64.025 E11.56583
    G1 X10.390 Y-63.561 E11.72151
    G1 X12.811 Y-63.085 E11.96409
    G92 E0

    There isn't really much to take a photo of, because nothing reaches the bed, so it's basically empty. I have attached photos of the nozzle (after printing) and the bed, for what it's worth.

    The weird part is, that little "test line" it makes (right after it extrudes but before it starts printing) turns out fine. You can see it in the photo.

    IMG_20190101_172645.jpg

    IMG_20190101_172701.jpg

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    Is there any other information I could provide that might help in troubleshooting this program? I'd love to use Cura with my Alta. Thanks again!

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    Posted · Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

    Dear egyptinside,

    in the last 15 days I'm studing how configure Silhouette Alta 3D with Cura Software....   but not results!!!!!

    Cura software don't recognise automatically the printer ...

    I have try select any printer and setting with Alta 3D parameter ... again not results!!!!!

    I use Mac, and I have try to analyse the software 3D Studio, any files as the same of the Cura software !!!!!

    why don't work???

    where do we go wrong?

     

    can someone help us?

     

    thank's

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