Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

4 hours ago, CU_Ninjaneer said:

Mikeyfromindy, are you talking about Cura or Silhouette3D?  If Silhouette 3D, do you know if your graphics card supports OpenGL 1.2?  That's the only GPU requirement I see in their documentation.  If Cura, you need a GPU that supports OpenGL 2.0 or better according to Cura's documentation.

 

FYI, I had a 2009 Dell laptop that was pretty state of the art at the time when I bought it (pretty expensive), and it just barely met the minimum specs for Silhouette 3D.  It would run the software, but it couldn't really keep up, and I never completed a print on it because  the software would crash.  I had to use something newer with more power.

I was talking about the silhouette alta. I do have a older laptop but it runs some pretty intense programs like fuson 360 and others. I tried to find out if my card support open gl but I can't find that information. I have a intel HD Graphics card 8.15.10.2900. I have a small tablet that runs the same card but a little newer and it will run the program fine.

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

On 7/13/2018 at 4:10 PM, YiZZo said:

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.

What version of cura auto detects the alta printer?

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

I am sorry I think I posted my question in the wrong place. I just was wondering what version of cura auto detects the alta printer and if it don't how do you set it up for cura to run the printer?

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

I finally got cura to work with the alta printer. The one problem I have is when it does it's priming it moves to the back of the build plate and back to the front. It is not doing like the silhouette program. I have went over the gcode several times and it looks the same that is posted here. Is there a fix for this ? (Thanks) It does prime the nozzle but then it moves like I posted.

Edited May 7, 2019 by Mikeyfromindy

[jenny8008 5]

Please, post your gcode and your settings panel here 🙂

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

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 Y57.540 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

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

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

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

[CU_Ninjaneer 1]

Here are my settings as well.  I believe they are the same as what jenny8008 posted earlier in the thread, but please let me know if you spot anything wrong.  Thanks for the help.

;START OF CUSTOM START GCODE
G28 ; home all axes
G90 ; use absolute positioning for the XYZ axes
G1 Z5 F1200
G1 X0.000 Y-70.00 F2000.000
G1 Z0.000 F2000.000
G92 E0; SET CURRENT EXTRUSION POSITION TO 0 (TARE)
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
; END OF CUSTOM START G-CODE

; BEGINNING OF CUSTOM END G-CODE
G92 E0
G1 E-40.00000 F2000
G91
G90
G92 E0
G1 E-1.00000 F2400
M104 S0
G28
; END OF CUSTOM END G-CODE

 

 

[CU_Ninjaneer 1]

Mikeyfromindy, that "priming" is the only thing that I can get my printer to do so I can help with this. 😏  I compared your G-Code to mine, less the comments I had added, and I think I see the problem.

 

On line 15, you are missing a negative sign on the Y coordinate.  That's why you see your printer move all the way to the back of the build plate.

 

Also, I don't if this is a problem, but on line 27 you have an extra space between the Y coordinate and the Extruder coordinate.  This probably doesn't matter, but I'm not sure how sensitive those G-code commands are to extra spaces in their syntax.

 

My compare utility also shows a difference on line 32, but for the life of me I can't figure out what it is.  It's not even a difference in invisibles as far as I can tell.

 

Let us know if replacing that negative sign fixes it.

 

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

Thank'sI sure will and thank's for the info.

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

Thank you very much everything is working fine in cura now.

[CU_Ninjaneer 1]

Mikeyfromindy, glad it's working for you now.  Wish I could get mine working.  I think I'll try posting a new thread to get more eyes on it.

[tospi 0]

Can anyone export the correct settings for import? 

 

That would be awesome.

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

CU_Ninjaneer    I don't have a comparison program to check your settings but the only thing I see is that the line 2 and 6 have semi colons and mine don't. Here are my gcode.

 

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

[LucaD 0]

Hey Guys,

 

here there is a solution at every problem with CURA and Silhouette ALTA 3D

 

http://www.alta3dandcura.altervista.org

Edited May 23, 2019 by LucaD

[CU_Ninjaneer 1]

LucaD, I checked out your website.  It seems you've figured out how to tweak the settings to get it to work, and you're on a Mac like me.  I'll bite.  I sent you a donation.  Let's get those files and give it a try.

[arosolinfo 0]

Hello LucaD, I just sent you the donation. I am attentive to receive the files in arosolinfo@gmail.com or in ingelite@hotmail.com. Thank you so much

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

Hey all I was just wondering if anyone has found a place to get parts for the alta. The only place I found sells only the whole head assembly. I made a fan duct for it but I could improve it if I could buy some extra parts. Here is my duct work.

[CU_Ninjaneer 1]

Mikeyfrom indy, I don't have anything to offer you in regards your request, but I wanted to say nice job on the fan duct.  How did you power it?  Is it tied into the board so that you an control it with Cura, or is it just on all the time?

[Mikeyfromindy 0]

I thought I had cura figured out but I guess I don't. When it prints a circle it just jerks and sometime it stops.I have posted my gcode settings on here so if someone could help me it would be appreciated. 

 

I used my new laptop and cura works fine now so disregard my post.

Edited June 16, 2019 by Mikeyfromindy
I found my problem.....Slow computer

[reluttr 0]

On 6/9/2019 at 9:58 AM, Mikeyfromindy said:

Hey all I was just wondering if anyone has found a place to get parts for the alta. The only place I found sells only the whole head assembly. I made a fan duct for it but I could improve it if I could buy some extra parts. Here is my duct work.

 

Silhouette actually sells some parts, including the print-head, on their website.

Just a heads up though, Silhouette is going to release a new version of the Alta, the "Alta Plus", in September, and one of the additions is a part cooling fan. Other than that, and a housing color change, the printer appears to be completely identical to this one, so it may be possible to install new parts on the old printer. The article I read did mention something about the print head being easier to change, so maybe they will offer different nozzle sizes as well?

Do you mind measuring the acrylic build plate? I am looking at PEI options, but I need to know how big it is.

Also has anyone got octoprint working with this? I really dont like having to keep it tethered to a computer through the entire print.

[dboror 0]

Hello, 

 

I configured Cura to print in ALTA but the print is not good, this is my configuration

 

Start G-Code

Quote

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

 

End G-Code

Quote

G92 E0

G1 E-40.00000 F2000

G91

G90

G92 E0

G1 E-1.00000 F2400

M104 S0

G28

 

pueden ayudarme por favor?

[Joffrey 2]

Seems like your first layer is either severely underextruding or your bed was not leveled properly.

 

with the Alta you can only level the bed with the Silhouette3D software. Does the machine print normally from that software?

 

 

[dboror 0]

No, the impression is translucent, the light passes through, with the ALTA software

Edited April 30, 2020 by dboror