How to set two different printing qualities for the same part

[robmar58 0]

Hi all,

I use to print small precision parts with  .1 mm layers and .2mm nozzle. They are about 100x30 mm and 4mm thick boards.

Now, I need that just the top 5 layers be printed very accurately, all the bottom ones being just a kind of support but with no need for any accuracy.

So, in order to speed up the print without wasting time on lower layers, I was wondering if there's a way to differentiate quality, and hence speed, between the lower 35 "rough" layers and the top 5 accurate ones.

Thanks in advance for any suggestion!

Roberto

Edited October 31, 2020 by robmar58

[GregValiant 1,144]

 

When using a support blocker, it appears that setting the layer height for overlaps isn't an option.  Setting the speed for certain areas is an option though (but support speed isn't one of them) and Acceleration and Jerk are options.  You could scale up a support blocker to the size of your build plate in the X-Y and 3.5mm thick, position it on the plate, and set the speeds that are available to a high number with high Accel and Jerk.  Then the top 5 layers would print at the speed dictated by your regular Cura settings.

 

In regards to Layer Height - I usually slice the model twice and generate gcode files with different layer heights.  Then I delete the upper unwanted portion of the bottom "rough" layer height file and splice in the top portion of the "fine" layer height file and reset the extruder so the transition is seamless. 

In your case you could slice the file at an aggressive Print Speed/Accel/Jerk and at .2 layer height, and slice it again at real Print Speed/Accel/Jerk and at .1 layer height.

 

 

In the Rough gcode file, delete everything from the end of printing at Z=3.4.

In the Fine gcode file copy everything from the start of printing at Z = 3.5 and paste it into the end of the Rough file.  Note the last "E" value in the fine file before the transition point.

Add a line G92 E??? at the start of the Fine section of code (where ??? is the E value noted above) to sync the extruder.