So many slicers, what to use?

[dgriff]

I swear by Simplify3D, I honestly cannot even remember the last time I sliced with KISS (Own it too, paid my money for the full version, never been a single update, sorta feel a little ripped about that), I also used Slic3r alot in the past, but again not since I have been using S3D. Add to that it's slicing speed is faster than even KISS and I see no reasons to ever not use it.

I swear by it also. I swear never to purchase software that I can't try for even 10 minutes before having to hand over money.
I am glad it worked out for you Flatty, but I refuse to purchase products that have no test period.

I picked up Simplify3D as well, and while I'm still playing with the settings, there are quite a few things I really like about it. I really wish the author could figure out a way to accommodate testing as I think he/they would get a lot more purchases if people were able to give it a try (though I understand they are worried about people pirating it, etc).

I would suggest that the best option would be for the authors to install it on a computer somewhere in their own office, and allow guests to use a virtual remote desktop to control it and feed it some STL files to experiment on. If the remote desktop was set up properly, there would be no fear of someone getting the software without a license, but guests could still remotely load models and slice them, and get a few gcode examples back to try printing.

[Prozac]

Is there a feature in any free slicer that allows you to edit the supports generated before printing. Is there a solution or fix for SLic3r , Im currently still using v.83 /Repetier v.095f

[mcgragger]

ALL settings under printer head size should be zeros
including gantry height. (When Cura sees the zeroes, it uses the values from the firmware)

So if I am using Cura just for gcode generation (cura has never been connected to my printer) then what would you recommend these values be for the Rostock Max.

[Dreyfusduke]

I went with Simplify3D as well. Very satisfied with all the control and speed.

[Polygonhell]

FWIW I also own Simplify3D and KissSlicer, I find Simplify3D to be buggy given the cost, it's an OK piece of software with usable out of the box settings, and easily removed support, but twice in the last week or so I've had to revert to something else usually KissSlicer because Simplify3D was incapable of producing a printable model.

Simplify3D to me is just another Slicer with it's own set of issues, I'm not sure I would recommend anyone spend $140 on it given the free alternatives.

[Dreyfusduke]

What does the "Pro" version of KISS offer that the non paid version doesn't?

[Polygonhell]

What does the "Pro" version of KISS offer that the non paid version doesn't?

Very little, there are a few extra advanced settings to control the resolution it uses when slicing, and what it does for small gap, and the paid version lets you plate multiple items. I paid for it because I use it, not because I needed the features.

[cope413]

I'm surprised no one is talking much about MatterSlice.

I'm certainly a bit biased, but I also have a lot of printing experience. (I have over 112 days of print time on my first v1 Max since June '13)

I've been through it all, and continue to try new versions of every slicer out there... Slic3r, Cura, KISS, and Simplify.

What you may not know is that MatterSlice is essentially Cura but with a ton of improvements.

I would challenge anyone looking closely at slicing and toolpaths to give MatterSlice a shot.

The support material and triangle infill alone are HUGE improvements over what Cura has to offer.

[cope413]

Oh, and I am finishing up my quickstart guide for MatterControl/MatterSlice for the Max/Orion, so that will be available soon.

[geneb]

I'll be covering MatterControl in the 2nd edition of the build guide for the v2. No ETA though.

g.

[Eaglezsoar]

I'll be covering MatterControl in the 2nd edition of the build guide for the v2. No ETA though.

g.

No ETA?

[cope413]

Shoot me an email

[email protected]

I'm nearly finished and I'll send it to you when I send it to John/Seeme and you guys can look it over and make any edits/revisions you'd like.

[geneb]

Will do. I'm kind of jammed up right now as my workstation decided it wasn't going to boot any more. I need to get that resolved before I can get anything else done.

g.

[Captain Starfish]

Oho, so just a little biased then Cope

I really like MatterSlice/MatterControl. I think it's hit a very nice balance between simplicity to use vs tweakability, and that extra tweaks are unobtrusive as they are added. None of this skeinforge OMFGWTFAAAARGH wall of settings insanity.

I also really like the way Lars & co are right on top of any emails I send 'em, the frequency (and scope!) of updates. It feels like a product that, whilst still a little immature, is going places and being pushed there by a team with some momentum.

At the moment, I don't recommend it to anyone without the caveat: it's buggy. It hangs at the start of prints, it crashes on many models and it has quirks in some of its slicing. It's an awesome program if you've the patience to retry things when needed and it's great seeing bugs disappear every couple of months as the new release comes out. But SeeMe lost a sale into my client's site after MC spent two days of bombing out during the slicing or at the start of prints and the overall impression was "Nah, we'll get something that works."

One day!

[Tinyhead]

Giving this MatterSlice a try. I've done so little in MatterControl that I didn't even know it existed. I plugged in the same speed values that I use in Cura and it sure prints faster, that's for sure. I've got both programs set for 45mm/s, but MatterSlice seems like it's ramped up to 1.3 - 1.5 times that speed. Doing a very basic print right now with little to no retracts and so far I'm pretty impressed by the surface finish. The concentric infill is pretty cool too. One thing that bugged me going from Slic3r to Cura was no infill pattern selection.

[Dreyfusduke]

With that being said... I think I will try Matterslice on my Flashforge instead of Simplify3D. One thing positive about Simplify3D is the support control. I will give them that. One negative thing to say about Simplify3D is that if you do have something negative to say about the software on their forum.... it simply won't get posted. It does seem to be "policed" very well. I just made a post about the weak infill job and it never got posted. I tried it twice. Nothing. Got something positive about the supports.... gets posted immediately.

[gestalt73]

I've been playing with Mattercontrol/Matterslice for a couple of days now, and I have to say I'm impressed. It's very slick, and very pretty. I can see this becoming the default choice for many people.

@Captain_Starfish, I had the same problem with a long pause before the print starts. Looking at the gcode, it does an M190 (instead of an M140) for setting the bed temp, and I don't know how to override it.

Here's what I do to work around it:
- (under controls, set a bed temp preset to whatever you really want, like 120c)
- (set slicer bed temp to 70c)
- preheat bed to at least 70c (my minimum bed printing temp for ABS)
- start print
- once print starts, kick up bed temp using your preset under controls

[Dreyfusduke]

I downloaded Mattercontrol. It looks like they don't have the Flashforge setup listed in the printers. Anyone know where I can find the setting for this. I would like to try it out on the Flashforge before my Rostock Max V2 arrives and I get it put together.