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Posted (edited) · Understanding settings for adaptive layers

I don't have a sample model for this yet but I'll create one I can provide in a few minutes.

 

I've been playing with adaptive layers over gcode splicing because I'd rather let the tool do the work 🙂 I've hit a spot that I think I'm missing some base understanding of how this feature is supposed to work. Some facts to start us off. 

  • I have an oval/cone with holes and surface features (some of which may be threads)
  • 1.0 noz 
  • PLA and PETG
  • Ender 3 S1 Pro (I may have "fixed" the firmware on my own because those idiots left a bug in it otherwise stock)

 

I need to confirm that I have the following correct.

 

Setting layer height controls

As I see it, the "max variation" setting sets the min and max layer as "Layer Height" ± "Max Variation". Based on this, if my poor ender can only print a 0.68 max layer before the sprite can't keep up, I need to make sure "Layer Height" + "Max Variation" < 0.68mm. I could use something like 0.5 Layer height with 0.18 variation for a range of 0.32-0.68. 

 

The "Layer Variation Step size" is used to create a type of gradient between layers. Cura reads ahead to forulate an "ideal layer height" candiate and then start stepping at ± "step size" to get to the ideal height. A smaller step size will result in smoother transition but longer slice/print times as more layers are needed. 

 

Layer change trigger

I think the only trigger is topograhy size. If Cura sees an "overhang" of this value it starts looking to reduce layers to smooth the edge. This is great for things like vertical threads and holes as it will smooth the surface. This is only effective when the horizontal difference between to layers is counted. VERTICAL difference is not counted (0.25mm in one layer vs 0.25mm over 5 layers in a fillet). There is not prevision to manage an averadged slope at this time. 

 

There are no speed adjustments

If you need speed alterations based on layer thickness (my poor poor ender 3) then you need to buy a better extruder or just slow the whole thing down to slowest speed for the thickest/most detailed layer. 

 

Thanks. 

 

Edit:

 

I've attached an STL that uses features similar to what I'm printing. The areas that I think is correct, even thought I don't want it to be correct, is the cone. Ideally it would be full layer. My adaptive layer settings:

- Height 0.5

- Max Variation 0.3

- Step 0.04

- Topo 0.25

 

Screenshot2025-01-23at9_57_41AM.thumb.png.602607d26a02a10f94ada965816bce1b.png

Sample.stl

Edited by jaysenodell
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    Posted · Understanding settings for adaptive layers
    9 hours ago, jaysenodell said:

    As I see it, the "max variation" setting sets the min and max layer as "Layer Height" ± "Max Variation". Based on this, if my poor ender can only print a 0.68 max layer before the sprite can't keep up, I need to make sure "Layer Height" + "Max Variation" < 0.68mm. I could use something like 0.5 Layer height with 0.18 variation for a range of 0.32-0.68. 

    But you could always try slowing down if you want even thicker layers.

     

    9 hours ago, jaysenodell said:

    The "Layer Variation Step size" is used to create a type of gradient between layers. Cura reads ahead to forulate an "ideal layer height" candiate and then start stepping at ± "step size" to get to the ideal height. A smaller step size will result in smoother transition but longer slice/print times as more layers are needed. 

     It's the increments in that it will use for layer heights. For example I usually use 0.2mm ± 0.08mm with a step size of 0.02mm. This means the possible layer heights it will use are 0.12mm, 0.14mm, 0.16mm, 0.18mm, 0.2mm, 0.22mm, 0.24mm, 0.26mm, 0.28mm. It won't create a 0.17mm tall layer, for example.

    If I had the step size set to 0.04mm then it would it only be 0.12mm, 0.16mm, 0.2mm, 0.24mm, 0.28mm. It wouldn't create a 0.14mm tall layer.

     

    9 hours ago, jaysenodell said:

    I think the only trigger is topograhy size. If Cura sees an "overhang" of this value it starts looking to reduce layers to smooth the edge. This is great for things like vertical threads and holes as it will smooth the surface. This is only effective when the horizontal difference between to layers is counted. VERTICAL difference is not counted (0.25mm in one layer vs 0.25mm over 5 layers in a fillet). There is not prevision to manage an averadged slope at this time. 

    🟡 It's the horizontal distance apart between any outside line and the outside lines of the layer above or below (which touch, anyway). For example if you had it set to 0.25mm, if you had a slope which was so shallow that each layer was 0.3mm further in than the previous layer, it would reduce layer height until that gap was closed to 0.25mm (or it hits the minimum layer height).

     

    9 hours ago, jaysenodell said:

    If you need speed alterations based on layer thickness (my poor poor ender 3) then you need to buy a better extruder or just slow the whole thing down to slowest speed for the thickest/most detailed layer. 

     But you can go to the Cooling section and set Minimum Layer Time to however long it would take at the tallest layer height possible. This will force it to wait on shorter layers though.

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