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5 Axis slicing by rotating the build plate (Blender Addon)


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Posted (edited) · 5 Axis slicing by rotating the build plate (Blender Addon)

Hi

 

I hope I can receive feedback on my project.
I created an A and B axis for my Ender 3 printer. I used Blender to rotated the model and slice off parts to print them in another orientation and used a python script to offset the Z axis.

 

Now I've created an add-on for Blender that automates this process. The addon calls the CuraEngine executable to make gcode for the sliced pieces. It took me around 5 days and I got a lot of help from ChatGPT and DeepSeek.


https://github.com/bbo-git/5AxisSlicerBlenderAddon
 

Thanks,

Jairo
 

IMG_1185 2 copy.jpg

Screenshot 2025-01-29 at 10.02.29.png

Edited by jairobbo
added image of blender interface
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Posted · 5 Axis slicing by rotating the build plate (Blender Addon)

I like it.  I had thought about adding axis but never did anything with the thought.

Did you have to change mainboards to get more I/O capability?

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    Posted · 5 Axis slicing by rotating the build plate (Blender Addon)
    45 minutes ago, GregValiant said:

    I like it.  I had thought about adding axis but never did anything with the thought.

    Did you have to change mainboards to get more I/O capability?

     

    I was thinking the same since he must be out of stepper driver connections with the stock board.

     

    Multi-axis 3D printing at that price point looks interesting.  Most use robot arms for that ability.

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    Posted · 5 Axis slicing by rotating the build plate (Blender Addon)

    Thanks for your response! Yes, the printer is no longer controlled by the original board. Instead, I’m using the GPIO interface of a Raspberry Pi 4B with TMC2209 stepper drivers.

     

    The Pi runs LinuxCNC, configured using .ini and .hal files that I set up based on examples from the web. This has been an idea of mine for over five years, and it’s one of my more exciting projects- comparable to my early experiments with photoactive resin, a DLP beamer, and a stepper motor back in 2011-12.

     

    If there’s anything else you’d like to know, I’d be happy to share more!

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    Posted (edited) · 5 Axis slicing by rotating the build plate (Blender Addon)

    Hi there,

     

    I would like to find out how to modify the initial layer height (layer_height_0) and the layer_height.

    I tried:
    1) "overrides" in json definition

    2) modify in fdmprinter json definition

    3) pass as a -s flag

    4) search in c++ code of cura engine

     

    BTW, I made a small video of my progress:
     


    Jairo

    Edited by jairobbo
    better language
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    Posted (edited) · 5 Axis slicing by rotating the build plate (Blender Addon)

    I have lost the ability to get Gcode from CuraEngine.

    steps

    1) if the engine needs one parameter I add it with the -s option untill there are no errors

    2) I check things like mesh_position, layer_height, speed_print.

    3) I copy the command created in python and copy paste it in the terminal

     

    the output keeps reading "no non empty layers"

     

    Hope someone can help me out

     

    UPDATE: 

    I got it working again. I believe I made breaking changes to fdmprinter.def.json 

    Edited by jairobbo
    Update
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    Posted · 5 Axis slicing by rotating the build plate (Blender Addon)
    9 hours ago, jairobbo said:

    I got it working again. I believe I made breaking changes to fdmprinter.def.json 

    You should never edit fdmprinter.def.json. Pretty much every printer definition inherits from it (even if indirectly) and as you can see, can have disastrous and unexpected side effects. 

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    Posted · 5 Axis slicing by rotating the build plate (Blender Addon)

    I see…

     

    im struggling to find the correct way to set print parameters. 
     

    my current method is both adding  -s parameters and using Python to make changes to the JSON. The reason is that I didn’t manage to get a grip on only adding parameters. And doing whatever it takes to get it working I’m changing the JSON.

     

    My current print is in 7  parts with different settings per part. It is a Mike Wazowski model that I like a lot.

     

     I am thinking about what I call a parametric approach, that will work by controlling the print orientation through the direction of a centerline curve. I don’t think this is already done.

     

    Thanks cow for your response.

    bye

    image.jpg

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