Cura support for Silhouette Alta 3D printer

[Scottu99z3 0]

Hello everyone! So to start off I am new to the 3d printing world. A few months ago I purchased a Creality cr10spro and I use cura as my slicer. And just very recently I purchased an Alta +. My deal is i love designing my 2d and 3d with Silhouette, but as I'm sure you know Silhouette's slicer isn't the greatest. I've been trying to get cura to recognize my alta but can't understand what I'm doing wrong. Im wanting to use Silhouette S3D to design my part but slice with Cura, but I want to be able to run this part on my Creality cr10spro. Is this possible? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[GregValiant 1,251]

Printing a Gcode on different printers can be tricky.  The printers must be near the same size (a print that fills a CR10 will not print on an Ender 3).  The firmware must understand the G and M commands being sent to it.  If you compare a Silhouette gcode with a Cura gcode you may be able to determine the differences.  Some differences can be handled by altering the StartUp Gcode in Cura, but some differences can become incompatibilities and so you can't cross over.

[Scottu99z3 0]

The cr10spro has the auto bed leveling. And when I click on machine settings in cura I do have the starting and ending gcodes. 

[GregValiant 1,251]

The Alta is a Delta printer?  Then you won't be able to pass gcode files back and forth.  Your Ender 6 is a Cartesian printer with the 0,0,0 origin at a corner.  On a Delta printer the 0,0,0 origin is the center of the bed.  They are going to want different speeds and acceleration settings as well.

You might be able to get the Alto to work with Cura though.  Slice a calibration cube with Cura for your CR10 and then use the Silhouette software to slice a calibration cube for the Alta.  Post both the gcode files here.

Edited December 14, 2021 by GregValiant

[Sucorra 1]

On 1/10/2019 at 4:22 PM, jenny8008 said:

So, here we are again.

These are my Cura-Settings for the Alta:

 

I am just trying this out. Under Printhead settings mine looks different. I am unable to get the - minus/negative sign to go away. Any info on this issue? TIA

[dornies 2]

Hi, 

 

recently I got an old Silhouette Alta from a friend who was rather disappointed by it. Being into 3D printing for several years now I really have to say that the Silhouette Alta sucks in many ways. However, you can make a pretty decents PLA printer out of it by uploading Klipper firmware and attach a fan. It can now print PLA autonomously with more than 80mm/s with pretty decent quality.

 

I described the details here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5208373

 

Best regards

Silhouette_Alta_Pinout.pdf

Edited January 20, 2022 by dornies

[Sucorra 1]

On 10/11/2020 at 12:26 PM, tdpspt said:

-20 and -10 are what I use and it works fine.

Did you ever figure this out or get your printer connected? I am having this same issue.

[Sucorra 1]

FYI for anyone having issues with the negative numbers for printhead settings. Just type it in. with the negatives. I did and it is working fine. I used the code Jenny shared and the other code someone else shared. I have alta setup twice in cura and both profiles work. Thank you to everyone who contributed. I did my first print and the difference with the same settings from the Alta slicer are astonishingly favorable for CURA! Now I don't need to buy a new printer...

[UrsusOMG 0]

Does anybody now, where to by new main board for Silhouette Alta / Colido D1315 printer?

[nellie 0]

On 1/10/2019 at 10:22 PM, jenny8008 said:

 

These are my Cura-Settings for the Alta:

 

 

The Start-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

 

And the End-Gcode:

G92 E0

G1 E-40.00000 F2000

G91

G90

G92 E0

G1 E-1.00000 F2400

M104 S0

G28

 

[gr5 2,172]

@nellie did you have a question or comment?  Do you have a silhouette alta?

 

[nellie 0]

ja een alta

 

[ahoeben 1,948]

20 minutes ago, nellie said:

Yes, an Alta

Beyond the word "stroopwafel", @gr5 does not speak dutch.

[GregValiant 1,251]

stroopwafel, (Dutch: “syrup waffle”) a popular Dutch treat similar to a cookie, featuring two thin wafflelike wafers with a sweet filling.  was first made in Gouda, Netherlands, possibly in the late 18th century.

 

Yes @ahoeben, I was forced to look it up.

This leads to this mornings questions:

1.)  Which came first - the city or the cheese?

2.) Does the name change if I fill my stroopwafel with gouda?

 

(OK we can go back to talking about Alta's now.)

Edited March 22, 2022 by GregValiant

[ahoeben 1,948]

26 minutes ago, GregValiant said:

Which came first - the city or the cheese?

The cheese was named after the city.

27 minutes ago, GregValiant said:

if I fill my stroopwafel with gouda?

It would be extremely painful. For you.

(do not mess with stroopwafels)

[GregValiant 1,251]

Now I know.  I was thinking I could order a Cheese Dutch instead of a Cheese Danish.  If there is pain involved then I'll pass.

 

And now back to the Alta.

@nellie is that working well for you?  It seems like a normal start.  The purge line is an arc but that is expected given that you have an elliptical bed.

The "Print Head" settings and the "Gantry Height" could be changed.  When measuring for those numbers the centerline of the nozzle is the origin.  An "X" dimension to the left of the nozzle is a negative number and would be the "X Min".  A "Y" dimension in front of the nozzle is also a negative number and would be the "Y Min".  Since you don't really have a gantry you can set the Gantry Height to the Max Z of the printer (which looks to be 130).

 

The Print Head settings are used by Cura when you select the "Special Modes / One at a Time" option.  Cura can tell if your models are too close together (might crash with the print head when the next model is printing) or if the models are too tall and would hit the gantry when another model is printed.  Having the Gantry Height set to 0 means that you cannot use "One at a Time" as any model would be taller than zero.

 

[drtiger 0]

On 3/14/2022 at 11:42 AM, UrsusOMG said:

Does anybody now, where to by new main board for Silhouette Alta / Colido D1315 printer?

hi , Ursusomg, what happened to your main board , you try any mod , let us know , maybe someone is doing the same mistake ( in that case me ..) 

You can use another mainboard and use klipper to control it . 

best regards 

 

[wardmaker 0]

On 1/10/2019 at 3:25 PM, jenny8008 said:

Important: You have to remove the M104 and M109 commands from the Start-Gcode. These set the temperature of the nozzle and override the settings you've made! (Cura writes the custom temperature before the start-gcode. If this gcode contains another temperature, this second temperature will be set every time.)

 

It appears Silhouette Alta has updated their gcode.  The M104 and M109 are written as the following which appears to use a variable instead of a hard coded value

 

 

M104 S${LayerOTemp}

M109 S${LayerOTemp}

[GregValiant 1,251]

Those aren't written for Cura though.  The Cura keywords are:

M104 S{material_print_temperature_layer_0}

M109 S{material_print_temperature_layer_0}

and for the bed

M140 S{material_bed_temperature_layer_0}

M190 S{material_bed_temperature_layer_0}

[xoxoang 0]

On 6/16/2020 at 11:22 AM, tdpspt said:

Hello Everyone. 

 

       I just signed up but I am not new here by any stretch of the imagination. 

 

I finally feel like I have something worth while to contribute to this ongoing discussion concerning the silhouette Alta / Alta +

 I have both an Alta and an Alta +_

I have spent hours well weeks even working out everything there is to know about this machine.  (that Silhouette wont tell you and neither will the actual maker of this machine..)

 

First.   this is a repackaged Colido d1315 from Print-Rite. 

 

They are the only retail outlet on the web (that I am aware of) Beside silhouette who is always sold out.  (by the way the filament is Colido filament as well )where you can get parts for the Silhouette Alta /Alta +  Such as a new print head, circuit board.  etc.

 

Also the silhouette alta + was released amazingly at the same exact time as the D1315 + 

 

I have rewritten the Calibration Code for the Alta So that you do not have to use the Silhouette 3D Software.

And the borrowed the Colido code for filament change  so that you can use any slicer that lets you send gcode or uses scripts

(I may write a couple of Cura Scripts but I haven't decided yet)

 

I have also re-written the Start Code for the Alta So that you don't Fall Asleep just waiting for it to finish the prime tower and the the smudge/smear prior to print.   Also for anyone else who has experience that cracking/grinding/ popping sound just after the prime tower I have gotten rid of that.\

 

and for anyone curious as to whether or not i am pushing the alta outside of its design specs.

Here is MY hard coded print-rite written and embedded settings

 

echo:Stored settings retrieved
echo:Steps per unit:
echo:  M92 X100.00 Y100.00 Z100.00 E97.90
echo:Maximum feedrates (mm/s):
echo:  M203 X200.00 Y200.00 Z200.00 E43.00
echo:Maximum Acceleration (mm/s2):
echo:  M201 X9000 Y9000 Z9000 E9000
echo:Acceleration: S=acceleration, T=retract acceleration
echo:  M204 S3000.00 T3000.00
echo:Advanced variables: S=Min feedrate (mm/s), T=Min travel feedrate (mm/s), B=minimum segment time (ms), X=maximum XY jerk (mm/s),  Z=maximum Z jerk (mm/s),  E=maximum E jerk (mm/s)
echo:  M205 S0.00 T0.00 B20000 X20.00 Z20.00 E20.00
echo:Home offset (mm):
echo:  M206 X0.00 Y0.00 Z0.00
echo:PID settings:
echo:   M301 P24.00 I0.40 D20.00

 

FYI this printer is capable of producing high quality dimensionally accurate prints at more than twice the speed that silhouette eludes to in the limited literature that they provide.

 

 

A couple of hints:

 

UNLESS YOU KNOW ATMEGA2560 /ARDUINO/ FTDI  in system programming DO NOT Flash you Marlin Firmware.  At least until I or someone else figures out a work around I REALLY want auto bed leveling....      Print Rite took marlin OPENSOURCE changed/complicated the flashing procedure removed some commands and didn't add a bootloader to their system and called it their "in house developed specialized os.  its just dumbed down marlin 1.0

 

if using their filament

THESE FIRST TWO THEY NEVER TELL YOU ANYWHERE BUT IF YOU WERE TO FRESH LOAD THEIR 3D SOFTWARE YOU MIGHT NOTICE

 

 

210 C temp

115% extrusion Rate

it has a .4mm nozzle   but you should be laying down .45mm to .6mm lines and .35 for things like supports 

and I usually run .08 to .16mm layer height

Speed regular prints 45-60

Detail prints 35-45

Travel 70-80

jerk 20

acceleration   3000 to 8000mm  sq/s

 

maximum dimensional extrusion 12

 

YES because of the enclosed frame YOU CAN USE A BIG OLE 120mm PC Cooling fan straight off of the main board Labeled fan connection and the software will control it. Cura included (honestly it works better than the alta + built on rinky dink filament fan which blows but not in the way it should,

 

And it is configured to use an sd card in fact the firmware still searches for it at load (i think that's how they flash firmware)

 

That's for starters

 

I am attaching

all the g-code files I referenced

 

Index of uploaded Files.

Start an End G-Code  -- Revised for speed and accuracy put these in your cura settings

Complete Calibration routine --  each tower individually,  or all towers plus center

load/unload filament Captured from the Colido Software  matches silhouettes exactly.

Complete Capture of Silhouette Alta Reset routine  

 

if this is received well and people are interested, i Have Cura Print profiles , Slic3r config, Repetier Host config and a few others as well for the Silhouette Alta/Alta+

 

 

Later all

MD

 

Silhouette AltaGcode Files REVISED.zip 3.29 kB · 125 downloads

Thank you for this! Here I am reviving this in 2023. The Silhouette 3D program is horrendous. I just downloaded Cura and found this thread. Cura is on v 5 now so I am hoping this will work! I also have the newer Alta +

[xoxoang 0]

I have input the recommended gcodes and using my Alta Plus with Cura looks promising so far. It performs the initial blob and all correctly. But then when it moves up and goes to start the print job, the nozzle is just a hair too high off the bed so the first layer doesn't quite touch the bed. How do I fix this? Thank you!

[GregValiant 1,251]

The problem is likely to be within the printer (Z-offset if you have ABL, Z binding, under-extrusion, etc.).

As this is the "UltiMaker" forum - you would get better support from the manufacturer of your printer, or maybe there is a sub-group somewhere like Reddit where you can get support.

 

I'm confident that the Cura gcode file will show that LAYER:0 starts at your "Initial Layer Height".

If you open a gcode file in a text editor you should see this around the "LAYER:0" line:

;LAYER:0
G0 F9000 Xxx.xxx Yyy.yyy Z0.2 >>>this is the "Initial Layer Height" you enter in Cura.
;TYPE:SKIRT

 

[xoxoang 0]

1 hour ago, GregValiant said:

The problem is likely to be within the printer (Z-offset if you have ABL, Z binding, under-extrusion, etc.).

As this is the "UltiMaker" forum - you would get better support from the manufacturer of your printer, or maybe there is a sub-group somewhere like Reddit where you can get support.

 

I'm confident that the Cura gcode file will show that LAYER:0 starts at your "Initial Layer Height".

If you open a gcode file in a text editor you should see this around the "LAYER:0" line:

;LAYER:0
G0 F9000 Xxx.xxx Yyy.yyy Z0.2 >>>this is the "Initial Layer Height" you enter in Cura.
;TYPE:SKIRT

 

Thank you. I am still very new to all this and I am having trouble finding the area I would need to adjust. Can i show you what I have in my current setting now for the start gcode?

 

M107 ;turn off fan

G28 ; home all axes

G90

M109 S210 ;set temp and wait

G1 Z5.000 F3000.000 ; move 5 mm above build plate

G1 X0.000 Y-70.00 F3000 ;move to front

G1 Z0.020 F540 ;slowly lower

G92 E0 ; reset extruder measure

G1 E50.00000 F100 ; extrude 50mm filament at 100mm/m

G92 E0 ;reset extruder measure

G1 Z5.000 F540 ; slowly raise to 5mm

G1 X-37.984 Y-51.711 F1200 ;travel to smear/smudge start

G1 Z0.800 F540G1 E5.99500 F3600.000 ;lower to buildplate begin extruding begin smear/smudge

G1 X-36.594 Y-52.712 E6.79005 F540.000 ;begin arc

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 ; end arc

G1 Z2.000 ; raise print head to 2 mm in preparation for first print command

[GregValiant 1,251]

You don't have a heated bed?

What is your "retraction distance"?

What nozzle size are you using?

 

This line moves the Z down so the nozzle is only .02 above the bed

G1 Z0.020 F540 ;slowly lower

and two lines later it squirts 50mm of filament into that tiny gap

G1 E50.00000 F100 ; extrude 50mm filament at 100mm/m

 

This line is missing a carriage return:

G1 Z0.800 F540G1 E5.99500 F3600.000 ;lower to buildplate begin extruding begin smear/smudge

I think it should be:

G1 Z0.800 F540 ;lower to build plate begin extruding begin smear/smudge

G1 E5.99500 F3600.000 ;un-retract - but there is no previous retraction so this is more blobbing

 

I would certainly make some changes but I need those questions answered before I start to scribble gcode.

Edited February 5, 2023 by GregValiant

[xoxoang 0]

On 2/4/2023 at 7:57 PM, GregValiant said:

You don't have a heated bed?

What is your "retraction distance"?

What nozzle size are you using?

 

This line moves the Z down so the nozzle is only .02 above the bed

G1 Z0.020 F540 ;slowly lower

and two lines later it squirts 50mm of filament into that tiny gap

G1 E50.00000 F100 ; extrude 50mm filament at 100mm/m

 

This line is missing a carriage return:

G1 Z0.800 F540G1 E5.99500 F3600.000 ;lower to buildplate begin extruding begin smear/smudge

I think it should be:

G1 Z0.800 F540 ;lower to build plate begin extruding begin smear/smudge

G1 E5.99500 F3600.000 ;un-retract - but there is no previous retraction so this is more blobbing

 

I would certainly make some changes but I need those questions answered before I start to scribble gcode.

Hi. No the Silhouette Alta + doesn't have a heated bed. The nozzle is 0.4mm. I am not sure about the retraction distance or what that means, sorry,. I do know that the printing area is 124mm diameter (round bed), and 130mm tall.

 

I was able to fix the issue (temporary fix) by adding some blue painters tape on the bed to make it a hair higher. So now the nozzle touches it enough that the print now sticks. This was the only solution I could come up with for now. So the bed basically needs 2 layers of tape. 1 layer of tape is a hair too low.