The settings in this category are experimental and should be considered carefully before use. They may result in failed prints.
Slicing tolerance
Slicing tolerance defines the way sloped areas are sliced. As visible in the image below, a layer is sliced in 2D at a particular height. However, depending on the layer height, the layer is actually 3D. The layer can be sliced in three ways.
- Inclusive: Slice at the outermost part of the layer, always including the model
- Middle: Slice at the middle of a layer. This is the standard setting
- Exclusive: Slice at the innermost part of the layer, allowing the model to be bigger than the actual slice
Infill travel optimization
Travel moves of infill lines are not always ideal. This setting enables an optimization that reduces travels between the infill lines. However, it is important to note that this setting might increase print time when used on models with many separate shells.
Maximum (travel) resolution
These settings define the maximum resolution for each horizontally printed line. This is used to remove unnecessary detail in printed curves and curved travels, resulting in a smaller GCODE file and putting less stress on the printer’s processing power.
Break up supports in chunks
This setting divides zig-zag pattern support into separate structures by adding small gaps. This allows support structures to be easily pulled away piece by piece. It will not affect the support capacity of the reinforcing structure.
Enable draft shield
A draft shield will create a one-layer thick wall around the object, which protects it from unwanted air flows from the environment. Materials that are prone to warping or delaminate easily (e.g. ABS) can benefit from this feature.
This model of a vase uses a draft shield to prevent warping
There are a few draft shield parameters that can be set.
- Draft shield X/Y distance: The distance between the draft shield and the object
- Draft shield limitation: This allows the printer to print the draft shield to the full height of the object, or to a limited height
- Draft shield height: The height at which the draft shield will be printed when the draft shield limitation is set to “limited”
Make overhang printable
This setting converts all geometry that has a bigger overhang than specified in the “maximum model angle” setting to the value set there. When using this setting, the shape of the model is altered and the model will print differently.
Enable coasting
Coasting replaces the last part of an extrusion path by a travel move. This way excess pressure is released from the nozzle, decreasing the likelihood of material leaking from the nozzle while traveling. Too much coasting, however, can lead to under extrusion as the pressure inside the nozzle drops during the travel move.
When coasting is enabled, you can adjust the following parameters:
- Coasting volume: The volume of material that is coasted
- Minimum volume before coasting: The minimum volume an extrusion path should have before allowing coasting
- Coasting speed: The speed of the coasting move as a percentage of the print speed. Since the pressure is released from the nozzle, a value slightly below 100% is advised
Alternate skin rotation
Usually the top and bottom layers are printed diagonally, and in different directions every alternating layer. With alternate skin rotation, the direction of the top and bottom layers will swap between the two diagonal directions, and print in the X or Y direction only. This helps close the top layer better and decreases the chance of pillowing. This setting only works with lines and a zig-zag bottom/top pattern.
Alternate skin rotation visualized
Spaghetti infill
Print the infill every so often, so that it will end up in the model in a chaotic way. This will print infill faster but will also reduce the model stability.
Conical support
This is an experimental feature which creates support structures that are small at the bottom and wide at the top. Using conical support can save up to 50% of support material. It also provides option of printing an overhanging support structure over your model, to support parts on the top surfaces of the model, without using the option support throughout the print.
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