Summary
29.11.18:
I've just upgraded my extruder with a Titan-like kit from Two Trees (eBay). So far I'm pretty pleased with it and will likely publish some related things shortly...
...as a result I'm not intending to post further updates of my Simplify 3D .fff configuration as my intended changes may not play well with direct drive extruders. Feel free to make requests if you actually want me to post those configs too.
14.11.18:
Update Anycubic Kossel_v_1_8.fff
-Some further tweaks and...
-Finally! I think I've cracked the issue I was having with occasional under-extrusion and weakness with horizontal surfaces. It seems Simplify 3D is really, really, finicky when it comes to filament width...
...the standard filament width with this printer is 1.75mm but in reality this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. If it's actually less than 1.75mm then you get some funny effects. So, I've reduced filament diameter (FFF Settings -> Other) to 1.7mm and that seems to have sorted it.
So:
-If you're using Simplify 3D and you're getting such oddness this would seem to be the parameter to fiddle with.
-It may be worth getting out the calipers each time you change your filament and plug the exact number in. Having said that my new default doesn't seem to cause any issues with thicker than standard filaments so far.
14.11.18:
Update Anycubic Kossel_v_1_5.fff
-A bit of a number bump for this time; lot's of tweaks, I think I may actually be happy with this one... let's see.
13.11.18:
Not an update! ...just an observation or two:
-When slicing large objects at much the same settings Cura routinely gives results estimated hours quicker than Simplify 3D. Interestingly I'm currently printing a large object sliced with Cura that looks on target to match the Simplify 3D estimate, or to put it another way far longer than Cura estimated.
-I've noticed a tendency for tall prints sliced at low quality settings to be much more robust when sliced in Cura than Simplify 3D. I've yet to work out if this is fundamental to the two packages (I'll just use Cura for big things and Simplify 3D for small detailed stuff) or this is an inherent issue with my published Simplify 3D settings for this printer.
Thoughts..?
12.11.18:
Update Anycubic Kossel_v_1_3.fff
-Unacceptably weak prints, for me, with Fast+++ mode. Really only for rapid prototyping bu still... Layer height dropped from .3 (pushing it) to .25 (more sensible)
9.11.18:
Update Anycubic Kossel_v_1_2_2.fff
-Retraction speed bumped form 80 mm/s to 120 mm/s. Stringing now gone..?
5.11.18:
Update Anycubic Kossel_v_1_2_1.fff
-ABS temps bumped by 5c; smoother print
5.11.18:
Update Anycubic Kossel_v_1_2.fff
-Even more fiddling with retraction settings. I think I've banished the stringing :-)
-Lots of performance and quality tweaks: Faster and nicer, hopefully
-Pathing and perimeter tweaks to improve quality and strength, especially at faster settings
-Further temperature tweaks for ABS in an effort to get more consistency
-Further quality options added
-All filament options but PLA and ABS removed:
i) To save confusion as I've not tweaked those settings for this printer
ii) Nylon requires a hot end temperature beyond this printer's capabilities
iii) That's not to say other filament options can't be added based on mine if required
iv) If using a flexible filament I'd advise turning off the retraction settings entirely
31.10.18:
Update: Anycubic Kossel v_1_1.fff
-Further fiddling with retraction settings in an attempt to improving stringing
-Thin wall behavior changed to make the slicer more tolerant of bad meshes
-Extrusion multiplier increased from 0.95 - 1.0 for the same reason
-Automatic support settings changed to 'from build platform only' and 60deg
-AnyCubic_Upgrade.stl added*
*A hotch-potch of 3d files, some I've made and some I've taken from Thingiverse
-As a virtual record of upgrades so far to help with future plans
-A 3D printer model for use in Simplify3D - Tools->Options->Machine->Printer Models->Add
29.10.18:
Update: Anycubic Kossel v_1_0.fff
-Retraction and temp settings changed to hopefully improve stringing, could still be better
-ABS settings added, sorry I have no experience with PVA / Nylon / PTEG
-Layer height settings changed to further improve quality and also strength of faster prints
-Printer speed dropped to 66mm/s to further improve quality and strength
(printer default 60mm/s, mine will do 80mm/s at expense of fragile prints, still fiddling)
-Fast, Medium, High settings tweaked so Fast and Medium are actually different
-Fast ++ Mode added - really only for rapid trials. Results currently quite fragile
I'll continue to update this FFF profile as I learn, suggestions welcome. :-)
Simplify 3D FFF Profile for Anycubic Kossel Linear Plus
While I quite like Cura I guess like most I'm always on the look out for better / faster prints form my machine...
...so I thought I'd give Simplify 3D a go, but couldn't find a pre-made FFF profile for my specific printer. Undaunted I thought I'd try to roll my own.
Pro's:
-I'm already getting better prints with Simplify 3D than I have with Cura
-I really like the fine temperature control feature*
*I have it set for PLA with an initial hot-end temp of 195c and bed temp of 70c. After the first layer I drop to hot-end temp a bit and progressively drop the bed temp until it's off. The latter is very helpful with this printer's BuildTak-like bed as parts are very hard to remove until the bed has properly cooled, and I'm impatient.
Con's:
-I'm very much a Simplify 3D n00b so consider this file a work in progress
Note:
Simplify 3D is not free.
Use:
1) Download the .fff file
2) Fire up Simplify 3D
3) Under file menu select "Import FFF Profile"
Mesh advice:
If like me you tend to make your 3D models from multiple parts and then export as a .stl file for slicing it seems Simplify 3D really doesn't like this. (Cura doesn't seem to care). I find that it's best to merge all parts of your design in to a single component before exporting to a .stl file...
...FWIW: As far as I can tell Cura only slices the external walls of a model regardless of how the parts are arranged, where it seems Simplify 3D does take account of internal structure too. I guess this is both good and bad:
-Cura seems to me to be more tolerant of dodgy meshes, possibly at the expense of some accuracy
-Simplify 3D seems capable of marginally nicer results, at the expense of possibly messing up the slicing if there's multiple internal walls overlapping with external ones.
NB
While this file is set up for my specific printer it should be easy to edit for pretty well any Kossel-type machine.
1) Click on "Edit Process Settings"
2) Select the G-Code tab
3) Set Build Volume X & Y to the size of your printer's build plate
4) Set Build Volume Z to the maximum build height for your printer
5) Origin X & Y is half the diameter of your build plate
How I Designed This
The .fff file is a work in progress, but basically a case of jumping in and having a go. The .stl files are, of course, 3DBenchy, and a representation of the current state of play with my printer
Modellquelle
