This print could have LOADS of XY travel time eliminated. I split the legs into separate bodies but can’t get them to print by object unless they are anchored to the base. Is there any way to accomplish this without having to manually rearrange thousands of lines of g-code?
How would I print by parts instead of by object (or allow objects to not be touching the build plate?
Print by object is a mode which infers that each object is a complete object built from Z=0, the individual objects are NOT connected, and that each is far enough away from the extruder and gantry to not collide. Your object fails all 3 tests so it will not be a good choice to try this mode.
In a more general sense, Z is always built up into free space – resetting the high watermark and moving Z down is “dangerous” in FDM, since that space may be occupied, so most if not all general purpose slicing software does NOT include it in their problem solving. Up only.
so the only hope is manually rearranging the g-code in a text editor? god that sounds tedious lol. are there any workarounds? I have to make tons of these things
and for the record it fails 2/3 tests the extruder and gantry would not collide. there is adequate spacing.
Sure, and make sure you build in some layer time handling too, because now each of those spires will build up very rapidly and may get melty like the benchy steampipe.
Or you can just let the very fast printer do very fast travels /shrug
This mode resets z to 0 between objects, there is an object to collide with at z=0, but I do see what you are saying if it were to not be z=0.
Your best bet it to remove the feet from the model and have them print separately. Design your original model so the feet snap into it.
practically speaking I agree. But it’s kind of a copout. Plus I’m a glutton for punishment. I needed to get into the gcode anyway for auto bed clearing with the print head. Like I said I need to make a ton of these things. I was confident on my ability to code the bed clearing once the temp hit a low-target value. but rearranging all those coordinates seems like a rats nest that will take quite some time.
You dont mention what kind of printer you have, but the auto-bed-clearing-via-toolhead-push is pretty dodgy IMO. Ripe for damage, both to print and printer. One overly stuck print can kill your belts, knock the plate away so next one fails, damages the plate, skips steps such that you need to rerun recalibrate, etc. If your platform is A1, look into platechanger mechanisms instead.
I’ve been in this position before and from my experience your biggest time saver is achieved by simply buying more printers.
Print the feet separately, or combine all four feet in to a single model where they are joined very slightly at the base so you can ‘snap’ them apart after printing. This way it’s just two separate pieces as far as the slicer/printer is concerned.
Sorry it’s a P2S. It belongs to work. Easy to spend their money to repair the printer, but difficult to convince them to buy another. Weird I know, but this thing prints in 1hr 22min and it’s just the worst cadence to be able to keep the bed clear and keep the parts flowing
I’m not scared. Probably still going to try to clear the bed…. Just freaking send it, ya know?
What about modeling the legs so they touch the bed, print them by object as a separate gcode file, then open that file in a text editor and cut out the lower Z height (for each object), take the rest of that gcode and paste it at the end of the gcode file for the web (processed separately)? That is a lot less text editing vs. rearranging layer by layer (which is what I think you were anticipating…)
I’m doing much the same thing with some lathe gcode I’m working on. Embedding most of one file (finishing) into another file (roughing) generated separately…
Remember that it takes quite a bit longer for the bed to cool (in the printer) to the point that the print releases than to manually swap bed plates.
I’m going to assume that you’re printing these parts in PLA/PTEG as a print head clearing method is much more complex if you need to deal with the printer door? If this is the case I would suggest you really look into buying a bunch of A1’s. They are cheap and produce good parts.
If you’re anything like my case, I was able to save the company enough money that it covered the cost of the first printer (X1C) purchase in a couple weeks. Once ownership sees the potential they will beg to buy more printers. The printers have paid for themselves many many times over.
Yep, just making sure you’re aware and know what to look out for. A lot of folk wander into it via some internet advertisement and it makes a great clip, but there’s more nuance. story of my life
