Does Cura have a continuous Z mode?

[entomophile 9]

I have seen other programs that have a function that continuously lowers the build plate as a build progresses, thereby eliminating the seam lines where the build plate lowers. For example, when printing a cylinder the print head just goes round and round without any pause for each layer. Any way to get this type of printing in Cura?

 

[IRobertI 520]

"Spiralize the outer contour" in the expert settings.

Do note that if you have your shell thickness set to 0.8mm for example cura will try to create a single wall 0.8mm thick with the 0.4mm nozzle. In other words, it will over extrude heavily to accomplish this. It can work, but you need to slooow down. So it's better to set it to 0.4mm to match your nozzle.

 

[ultiarjan 1,223]

also very usefull for printing vases and stuff, using larger nozzles is making it even more usefull;

few more links;

http://umforum.ultimaker.com/index.php?/topic/8479-spiralize-overhang-test-xt-on-08-nozzle/

http://umforum.ultimaker.com/index.php?/topic/7488-trick-cura-to-change-print-path/?p=70210

 

[entomophile 9]

Thanks so much! I missed that setting.

 

[gr5 2,172]

There are no Z seam lines created by Cura because the Z movement happens on an inner layer. Howerver there *are* lines where the movement goes from the inner shell to the outer shell. You can make this almost invisible if you print very slow such as 20mm/sec and it's pretty hard to see even at 35mm/sec. But the only way to eliminate it 100% is with spiralize which ONLY works for cup shaped objects - objects that have a very thin wall and no top yet *do* have a bottom. This is an extremely limited number of objects but includes cups, vases, pencil holders. It does *not* include things like coffee mugs which have handles. Or pretty much anything not cup shaped.

 

[entomophile 9]

Thanks again. Looks like the spiralize setting works. I did a quick test with some single wall cylinders. Standard print is on the left, spiralized print is on the right.