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Determining Build Volume Settings

FormerLurker edited this page Jul 21, 2019 · 4 revisions

This guide will help you determine your build volume settings based on your slicer settings for Cura, Simplify3D and Slic3r.

Cura

Step 1 - Copy out data from Cura

Open cura, and click on Settings, Printers, Manage Printers....

Open printer settings from cura

Next, select your printer from the list of Local Printers and click Machine Settings.

Open machine settings from cura

Now, copy down the X (Width), Y (Depth), Z (Height), the Build plate shape (either Rectangular or Circular), and the Origin at center (checked or unchecked).

Copy width, depth, height, bed shape and origin location from cura

Finally, in the same page, copy out your start gcode and save it for later.

Copy start gcode from cura

Step 2 - Determine your Octolapse build volume

This step is a bit tricky. For now I'll ask that you compile the information above and create an issue within my github issues while I work on a video showing how to do this. Please provide all of the following:

  • Mention that the settings were copied from Cura
  • Make of printer
  • Model of printer (be as precise as possible here)
  • Link to the manufacture's home page for this printer, or the open source plans if it is a custom printer if either are available.
  • X Width
  • Y Depth
  • Z Height
  • Build plate shape
  • Origin at center (if Origin at center the box is checked, origin at center = yes)
  • Start G-Code

I believe that with that information I should be able to extract the absolute coordinates of the build volume, determine the bed shape and origin location.

Simplify 3D

Step 1 - Edit the process settings

Open Simplify 3D, select the appropriate process under the Processes list, and and click on Edit Process Settings.

Edit the Simplify 3D process settings

Next, Click on the G-Code tab and copy out the following information:

  • Machine Type
  • Build volume for the X-Axis, Y-Axis, and Z-Axis
  • Origin offset for the X-Axis, Y-Axis, and Z-Axis

Copy out settings from G-Code tab

Then, click the Scripts tab and copy out the Starting Script. Save this for later.

Copy the Starting Script from the Scripts tab

Finally, in the same page, copy out your Starting Script and save it for later.

Step 2 - Determine your Octolapse build volume

This step is a bit tricky. For now I'll ask that you compile the information above and create an issue within my github issues while I work on a video showing how to do this. Please provide all of the following:

  • Mention that the settings were copied from Simplify 3D
  • Make of printer
  • Model of printer (be as precise as possible here)
  • Link to the manufacture's home page for this printer, or the open source plans if it is a custom printer if either are available.
  • The Machine type setting from the G-Code tab
  • Build volume for the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis from the G-Code tab
  • Origin offset for the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis from the G-Code tab
  • The Starting Script from the Scripts tab

I believe that with that information I should be able to extract the absolute coordinates of the build volume, determine the bed shape and origin location.

Slic3r (including Slic3r PE and PrusaSlicer)

Step 1 - Copy out bed size and coordinates

Open Slic3r, select the Printer Settings tab and click on the General sub menu.

Copy out the Max print height field and the Z offset.

Then click the Set ... button to the right of the Bed shape label. This will open up a dialog titled Bed Shape. Copy out the Shape (Rectangular or Circular), the X and Y size, and the X and Y origin.

Copy bed shape information from Slic3r

Then, click on the Custom G-code sub menu item and copy out the Start G-code. Save this for later.

Copy the Starting Script from the Scripts tab

Step 2 - Determine your Octolapse build volume

This step is a bit tricky. For now I'll ask that you compile the information above and create an issue within my github issues while I work on a video showing how to do this. Please provide all of the following:

  • Mention that the settings were copied from Slic3r, Slic3r PE, or PrusaSlicer
  • Make of printer
  • Model of printer (be as precise as possible here)
  • Link to the manufacture's home page for this printer, or the open source plans if it is a custom printer if either are available.
  • The 'Shape' from the Bed Shape dialog (Rectangular or Circular)
  • The X and Y Size from the Bed Shape dialog
  • The X and Y Origin from the Bed Shape dialog
  • The Start G-code from the Custom G-code printer sub menu

I believe that with that information I should be able to extract the absolute coordinates of the build volume, determine the bed shape and origin location.

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