Simplify3D ver 2.0.0

[jmpreuss]

Version 2.0.0 just got released and very preliminary testing and feedback points to a much improved software. I originally purchased it back in April to provide quicker slicing for my PTMNBN (at the time makerware was garbage and rep-g/skeinforge slower than watching the grass grow). It simply didn't work without a ton of trial and error from users and I gave up on it at the time.
With version 2.0 it has default machine definitions for the leapfrog creator, MB replicators, Makergear, and the Rostock Max. I have done a calibration cube on my Rostock using the default settings that came out better than the one I did in Slic3r and it seems to work on my "other" printer too (the initial software did not work at all before using the default settings). I need to do many more prints to give a more informed review but I am encouraged. I really want it to work well, I don't want to learn 2 different slicers for my 2 brands of bots. I just hope I can get the rafts (that I use infrequently but when I do I really need them) to work as well as the makerware one (yes MBI got one thing right, best rafting of any software bar none, with makerware but whenever I use it I feel like I'm hiring Amelia Bedelia just because I like lemon meringue pie).

[CJGerard]

I'm interested in seeing what you think of it after further testing. I don't like the $125 price tag but it may be worth it.

[Eaglezsoar]

I'm interested in seeing what you think of it after further testing. I don't like the $125 price tag but it may be worth it.

I agree especially about the price tag. Hopefully someone running an RMAX will purchase this and write up something telling us what makes it worth
the money as compared to the open source software.

[bubbasnow]

i want that create support.. looks sick!

[jmpreuss]

I'm interested in seeing what you think of it after further testing. I don't like the $125 price tag but it may be worth it.

I agree especially about the price tag. Hopefully someone running an RMAX will purchase this and write up something telling us what makes it worth
the money as compared to the open source software.

Since I already purchased the software I'm going to try to be that person, though I have had my Rmax running for less than a month so I'm learning two separate things at once.

I did some further testing yesterday. The bad is that I couldn't get the software to control the bot over USB. I don't know yet if it is user error or something else. Also another strange thing that again don't know if it is user error or a bug is that my first print on the Rmax was fine, did a print on my "other" printer that came out really well, and then went back to the Rmax and even though I had changed the machine type back it was still putting MBI gcode so the printer would start without heating the hot end. A simple gcode edit of the file fixed the issue but obviously I don't want to do that every time.

On the good news front the software has a print time estimator that has been so far way more accurate than I expected. Now I haven't done a variety of different prints yet but on one 2 hour print it was accurate to the minute, nothing has been has been off by more than a couple minutes in the estimate. If this holds for most prints I can see this being really useful.

Feedback on the "other" forum I monitor for version 1 of the software was generally positive but in the "not ready for primetime" category. I hope he has most of the kinks out now because it has quite a few neat features. No denying it is expensive though, I wish he was more liberal on having a trial with the software (though I have heard that if you contact him directly he usually will give you a trial version for 2 weeks).

More later as I play with it.

[int2str]

I purchased this one last night since I was trying to print a complex model for my son and neither KisSLICER, nor Slic3r, nor Cura could handle the supports properly.

The good so far is that being able to manually add supports is nice on paper. However, it seems to ignore some of the manually added supports some times when it creates the GCODE.

More importantly, the first prints I did with it are not very promising. I tried a simple calibration code and it came out not straight somehow. I think it's largely due to the insane speeds that it's printing at by default. Maybe it can be dialed in, but I'm not sure yet...

So far I'd offer up this:

PROS
++ GCODE generation uses all 8 CPU cores on my machine. And it's super fast. All other slicers I've tried are MUCH slower
++ Manual support addition/subtraction* (see above for caveats)
++ Multiple objects with different settings on the same print
++ Different temperature set-points for different layers (not just first/rest)

CONS
-- No live print monitoring (as far as I can tell)
-- Default print settings did not work well for me
-- Recognizes bridge perimeters and makes nice initial bridge runs, but bridge in-fill is done at normal speed. Thus first bridging test failed.
-- Only one infill pattern (no honeycomb)

At least initially I have to say not worth the money, unless you REALLY hate waiting for prints to slice. The fact that it uses all CPU cores is quite nice.

[jmpreuss]

CONS
-- No live print monitoring (as far as I can tell)

I posted a question about this on their forums. I have a mac so rep-host looks pretty ugly, this would be much nicer. On the other hand most of the time I would be monitoring would be to adjust firmware settings which this won't be able to do in any case.

Some tutorials for the new version of the software have been posted http://www.simplify3d.com/support/tutorials/

The one that really stands out to me as really neat is changing settings for different regions http://www.simplify3d.com/support/tutor ... f-a-model/
I mean, who hasn't wanted to print a weeble wobble that works...

[jmpreuss]

I got a response back from the programmer about using machine control for the Max. It appears my problem was the Mac/Baud rate issue. I dropped the baud rate in the firmware (to 115200) and voila, the machine can be controlled by the software without an issue.

Been a really busy week so I haven't done test printing.

[GeraldO]

I'm anxiously waiting for the outcome of some more slices/prints. The features it provides are attractive and you definitely can't beat the apparent slicing speeds! My printer which shall not be named kills me wit the 15-30 minute slicing even with PyPy (sailfish) for complex models and of course the inevitable out of memory errors.

[jmpreuss]

Things are busy at the moment so I'm not sure when I will get a chance to do some serious testing but if anyone has a model that they want to see how Simplify3D handles it let me know and I can slice it for you.

[int2str]

I've posted my original impression above.
Since then I've dome some more printing with it and was able to make the resulting part much less stringy then my initial prints. But it's still not all well. With Kisslicer and Slic3r, I'm still getting better quality prints overall. Still more setup work to do...

[int2str]

Here is an example of a print from Simplify3D vs. Slic3r.
These were printed back-to-back pretty much. Same ABS, same temperatures.

This is a fan shroud for the E3D hot-end (Guess what I've got coming in the mail ).

This first picture shows an issue on the Simplify3D print (left) with the first layer. Note that there are gaps:
[img]http://www.ironcreek.net/photos/_s/1024/Hobby/3D%20Printer/IMG_6079.JPG[/img]

(Click the image for a MUCH larger version)

Next, a problem I've so far been unsuccessful in fighting with Simplify3D is weird blobbing (again Simplify3D left, Slic3r right):
[img]http://www.ironcreek.net/photos/_s/1024/Hobby/3D%20Printer/IMG_6080.JPG[/img]

I'm still playing with the settings, but so far I have to say that it was much easier to achieve a great result with Slic3r. The photos are very harsh since they're so detailed and zoomed in. In reality, the Slic3r print is great. The Simplify3D one not so much (yet...).

[jmpreuss]

They have updated their intro video on their homepage (http://www.simplify3d.com/) and there are quite a few scenes with an Orion!

They also have update 2.0.1 out that I haven't tested yet. For as prominent as the Orion was in the video you would think they would have a profile built in for it.

[Eaglezsoar]

So would you recommend that someone contemplating buying this hold off for a few more revisions?

[jmpreuss]

So would you recommend that someone contemplating buying this hold off for a few more revisions?

They have a Rostock Max profile which all that needs to be done is edit the print area. I have used it for slicing Orion prints without an issue.

Currently this is my go to slicer. I really like to print things at .1 resolution but the first layer is always tricky. With S3D I can set it so the first layer is thick (say .3) and then run the rest at .1, best of both worlds. Also for me since I print in both the SeeMeCNC and Makerbot worlds I like one slicer that can handle both.

[mhackney]

jmpreuss, it would be great if you could report a good review - the goods and bads. I have tried to find good information about this slicer and have even talked to their product manager but a good review does not exist and the company is not willing to provide demo versions any longer. I even offered to pay up front for a demo and only ask for a refund if the product would not handle my fly reel parts well.

thanks,
Michael

[Eaglezsoar]

So would you recommend that someone contemplating buying this hold off for a few more revisions?

They have a Rostock Max profile which all that needs to be done is edit the print area. I have used it for slicing Orion prints without an issue.

Currently this is my go to slicer. I really like to print things at .1 resolution but the first layer is always tricky. With S3D I can set it so the first layer is thick (say .3) and then run the rest at .1, best of both worlds. Also for me since I print in both the SeeMeCNC and Makerbot worlds I like one slicer that can handle both.

The post above yours from int2str seems to indicate problems with S3D compared to other slicers. The proof is in the pictures. I hesitate to purchase the product at this time
because of the int2str post and pictures plus the fact that the product is expensive compared to something like Kisslicer. You are using MB (can't spell the whole name) and the
SeeMeCNC products and have more of a need for S3D than I would.

[mhackney]

I'm very interested in a couple of features - the ability to specify different slicer setting for different parts of the geometry and how that is done. Take a look at this part:

[img]http://mhackney.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v11 ... 0961-4.jpg[/img]

The thin pillars around the perimeter need different settings (# of perimeters, infill, speeds, temps) than the large flat disk. The center spindle also needs a third set of slicer settings.

And also, multi extruder support. Can S3D print the back plate in one color - say with extruder 1 - and the pillars in another color - say with extruder 2 and the center spindle with extruder 3?

It's basic things like this that S3D claims to be able to do but the examples use trivial geometries. I've even offered to send this STL to let them slice it for me so I can see what the gcode looks like. S3D looks good in theory but there is a big difference between theory and practice!

By the way, even though KISSlicer can not alter slicing parameters on different parts of the geometry, it can print this part very nicely. I've yet to be able to print one that looks as good (and is as strong) with Cura or Slic3r.

regards,
Michael

[Eaglezsoar]

Good post, Michael. I will not be purchasing Simplify3D and the biggest reason is they offer no trial period.
They expect me to lay down $150 without having a chance to even see if it works with what I want to do.
No thanks Simplify3D.

[brent]

Yeah. I just watched the video and would like a trial which isn't offered.

[mhackney]

I don't even mind a money back guarantee. I'll put my money up front and if it does what is claimed, I'm in.

I just get the impression from talking to the product manager and watching their forums that this is a side business and not being treated like a commercial entity. With such an interesting product possibility they should be actively promoting it, updating their website regularly, blogging about it, customer testimonials, etc but there is very little. Their web site is really shallow. I do software startups for a living so I know how to promote a great product. People should be flocking to this but aren't.

[geneb]

Their entry price is pretty steep considering their competition. With the likes of Cura and Slic3r, they've really got to do more than offer one or two "special" features in order to command that street price with a straight face.

g.

[Eaglezsoar]

Their entry price is pretty steep considering their competition. With the likes of Cura and Slic3r, they've really got to do more than offer one or two "special" features in order to command that street price with a straight face.

g.

You said it best. 100% agreement.

[bvandiepenbos]

I purchased S3D software back in November. I have not used it much, my impression is same as rest of you.... NOT ready for prime time and to expensive.
Should have saved my money.

hey, mhackney ...I would slice your reel with S3D if you want to test its gcode. Would be a good reason for me to fire it up again.
what nozzle size and material do you want it sliced for?

[mhackney]

Thanks, I'll take you up on that! Send me your email address and I'll send the zipped STLs and instructions for the reel.

I'm running an E3D with .40mm nozzle now. We can configure for PLA at 185°C. Thanks!

Michael