I use it and somethings it does nice but for the $$ spent on it and the total lack of support from them I would never buy it again, too many free options that do things better.
So my advice is if you haven't bought it, don't waste your money on it.
Printable View
I use it and somethings it does nice but for the $$ spent on it and the total lack of support from them I would never buy it again, too many free options that do things better.
So my advice is if you haven't bought it, don't waste your money on it.
im in the completely opposite boat... I bought it a while back (about 8 months) and love it... i think its a TON better than any other slicer out there. the quality of my prints changed in a major way once i started using it. but hey, thats just my opinionQuote:
Originally Posted by Chadd
So far I haven't spent too much time with S3D, I have been using CURA. I have tried matching the S3D settings with the ones used in CURA, but the S3D prints are way inferior to the CURA ones. In fact they are so poor, I believe I must have made a very basic error in setting up S3D. As the novelty of playing with the printer wears off I'll spend more time trying to tame the beast.
thats really surprising.. i find most of the defaults are good.. the only things i ever modify is layer height, and speed most times.Quote:
Originally Posted by ex-egll
very rarely ill adjust the extrusion multiplier etc.
Ummmmm, I've being wondering how to phrase this entry without looking completely stupid, but haven't managed to find a way, so here goes.Quote:
Originally Posted by dunginhawk
When using 3mm filament, it is best to tell Simplify3d this little fact, otherwise it thinks you are using 1.75mm filament. Now, with that I have finally found out where the setting is (quick start didn't address it) that little problem has gone away. I'll spend more time playing with it.
At least you figured it out! We've had the opposite problem with Slic3r a few times - people posting "what's wrong with my print" pictures only to figure out they had forgot to set Slic3r to 1.75mm instead of 3mm.Quote:
Originally Posted by ex-egll
I have been using S3D for a while now and just find that it has several shortcomings that free slicers don't.
I print mainly functional prototypes of mechanical parts so maybe if I were just printing figurines and things like that I wouldn't have issues with S3D.
Here are just a few issues off the top of my head.
1. Infill is horrible making for weak parts and poor intermediate and top layers.
2. There are issues between layers of say a flat surface with any type of a boss that comes off the surface "see link below for examples"
http://forum.simplify3d.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1809
3. It won't wipe and retract at the same time, also the retract settings are needlessly confusing.
4. Total lack of support from a company that I paid $150 to for software.
here's my beef list i'm getting ready to float on their forum:
-streamline profiles v/s processes - get to something similar to slicer but still able to save factory files. Too freaking confusing what's a profile v/s process.
-be able to switch preview window from speed colors to material colors for dual extruder
- in machine control panel - be able to change active tool label - 0 and 1 are backwards on my machine and any printer with reprap/smart lcd
-force terminal commands to capital letters, FFS come on guys. Idiotic.
-When you bring one window to the front in windows, bring all simplify windows to the front or option to do the same.
-some level of undo - perhaps for scaling or moves on the build plate
-prompt to save factory AS instead of save over old .factory filename once models are deleted and added. Too easy to step on your old factory when you wanted to keep the old version.
Bottom, line, the results are better than Slic3r and cura although it's not as easy as it should be to get there. The default infill is anemic but beefing up the infill is trivial
I give them a pass on support because the forum gets decent replies and I haven't needed a whole lot. haven't tried to contact them directly. Have you Chadd?
I'm generally happy with spending money on S3D, but if we're finding things to complain about, here's my input -
- Give me a numerical reading and maybe a click up/click down option on the print fan speed. While on Marlin & RAMPs, my blower approach to a print cooler was very sensitive to the difference between say 3% speed and 5% speed, and I couldn't use the crude slider in S3D for basically anything but turning the fan all the off or all the way on
- Resize or rearrange the setting panes so that I don't HAVE to scroll to get to the one with print speeds on it. Why is that pane sequenced after the one for scripts that I rarely look at? And you couldn't come up with better label for the print speed pane than "Other"?
I personally love s3d. Ive been using it since almost the beginning. For the rest of you guys keep your pants on. You should be seeing an update real soon. I should be a major one so will probably be 3.0. Inwould expect to see quite a few major improvements. I get the feeling you will see something happen with infill. I dont have any solid info though but you will see something real soon
I love S3D myself. It has saved me SO much time.
Sure, I could complain about a few thing's with it. But I could also complain about 10x more thing's with other various slicer's also.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassna
The major difference is that you didn't spend $150 on those other slicers. My beef is that when I pay for software I expect some support, I have emailed them several times about issues and have never heard a word back from them.
I hope that Jimc is right and they release an update that fixes some of the issues with it. That still won't solve my bitterness about the support issue but it would be nice to have software that works.
honestly their support has a real good reputation. not sure why they didnt get back to you. im sure they get flooded with support emails so i would imagine a certain percentage dont get a reply. only thing i can figure.
I love S3D the print preview is what sold me. I can see where my extruder is going before I print the part.
Also, their customer service is amazing. When I first used it I had some issues with prints coming out really small, I sent an email and literally one hour later I had the answer.
Hmm I have sent them several emails and never heard a word from them. How long ago was it that you emailed their support?Quote:
Originally Posted by BLKKROW
I have had to e-mail them twice, both time's they did respond to me. The first response did not help at all, the second was a little better. It did take them quite a bit of time to respond, but like jimc mentioned, I bet they do get a lot of email's still at this time.
Edit - Whats the issue you are having? There is a heap full of people around here with a wealth of knowledge, I'm sure someone could help you work through it. What printer etc
had no problems with support.
I installed it too many times and it locked me out.
emailed them on a sunday afternoon and they'd reset my code and emailed me back the same sunday !
A lot of the problem people have are either unrealistic expectations - ie: expecting slicer to know what diameter filament you use ;-)
Or just not getting the settings right.
The forum is extremely good and I haven't yet posted a question that didn't get a swift answer and put me right.
pretty much my only actual complaint is the sheer crapness of the infill. Why there can't be a setting for solid infill, rather than every otheer layer - is beyond me. It's such a simple thing.
Bioosting ther thickenss of the infill to 00 or 250 % doesn't actually work very well. It still doesn't create a solid coherent infill and if you're using a flexible filament - often the extruder won't push that much filament through and it clogs your extruder. And that was with polyflex - one of the most rigid of the flexible filaments.
That aside - it is easily the best slicer and layout software I've played with.
I agree with the infill issue. I think we should all email support once a day about it until they add it. It doesn't have to be the default setting even. But add it for us who really want it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassna
Posted earlier in the thread with some of the major issues I have with the software.
Another issue that I have is with the first layer, even though you set the extrusion width to be more than 100%. Say you set it to 125% it doesn't put the extra 25% into the same space as it would have the 100% it actually spaces out the extrusion causing the exact opposite of what you are trying to accomplish. Instead of making for a more solid first layer it will actually create voids in the first layer. It is easy to reproduce this just by changing your first layer settings and then doing a print preview and then doing a cross section.
So to sum it up my issues off the top of my head are.
1. Infill is terrible and I mean terrible in the worst way. This causes all kinds of issues when printing working mechanical prototypes. Just do a google search for "Simplify3d infill problems"
2. If you have a boss or other protrusion that sits on top of a flat surface the interface between the two is very weak. "see the thread below"
http://forum.simplify3d.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=1809
3. First layer issues I mentioned above.
4. It will not wipe and retract at the same time so it creates blobs instead of reduces them when you use the two functions together.
5. Retract functions are needlessly confusing and will in fact fight against each other depending on how you have the boxes checked.
6. There is no option to adjust speeds for small perimeters.
If I thought about it long enough I could come up with probably a dozen more issues. Not all of these issues are show stoppers but some of them are show stoppers depending on what you are trying to slice and print.
i know the infill is a big thing for alot of people. i personally never have an issue with it and get strong prints. as a matter of fact the stuff i print is for a company that makes industrial machinery and my prints get used on the machines itself. with that said though, i do know what your talking about with it printing every other layer and i guess anything can be improved. of course print time would probably increase a bunch. in any case, like i said i sorta have the ear of some of the people at s3d and from a conversation, while i got no real details, i get the feeling you will see some changes in the way infill works. for #2 on your list, yes i agree on that. im not sure what we will see there on the update. #5 i have no issue with. i think the ooze controls are easy to understand and make adjustments with. #6 i have thought about it really i guess because i have never had the need for it. my stuff prints clean if its large or small but i realize every printer is different and maybe some could use that setting.
I do hope they add the small perimeter speed option also. I have printed quite a few thing's that have small circles that would print much nicer if I could slow them down compared to the rest of the part.
Yep S3D is just odd, it has a lot of nice functions that no other slicer has yet it is either missing or just has broken basic functions that free slicers have.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassna
just my observation over the past 2 years.....the people that have the hardest time or have the most complaints about s3d are the ones that have been using the open source software for a long time. they get very set in their ways and are used to how a specific slicer works. when they make the jump to s3d they think...... this is missing or that doesnt function or print right because a certain setting is missing or dont work right. in most cases thats not really what the problem is. you need to know the s3d slicer and how everything works. dont get me wrong, its not perfect but neither are any of the others. they all have their quirks but everything in s3d works and you can get fantastic prints out of it once you understand it and all its settings. you might have a function that was in slicer but not in s3d but its not in s3d because its really not needed with how the slicer works. it would really be no different if i was to dump s3d and start using slic3r or cura. i would probably end up thinking those were terrible and be looking for functions that s3d has but arent there in cura. then i would think to myself how am i going to get good prints without that setting. really it just takes time to really get to know the slicer you are using no matter what one it is. that is why i dont jump around. use one and master it. your prints will come out way better. i just chose s3d in the beginning so i am very comfortable with it and how it works with my printer. i barely have to even think about my settings anymore.
Fan speed is a % clicker
Attachment 6206
jimc has a very good point :-)
I looked at slic3r recently after not playing with it for a year or so.
Doesn't have a 3d layout as standard. just could not get used to a 2d layout lol
I suppose I could have been more clear. I was referring to the run-time adjustment on the machine control panel.Quote:
Originally Posted by curious aardvark
Ah okay. put your mouse on the slider, hold down the left button and then use the left and right arrows on the keyboard to move in even, small increments.
Might help :-)
have to admit I pretty much don't use the control panel :-)
I wouldn't agree that the people that are having issues is because they were using open software. Different perhaps as you could say the same if they were using Makerware. If one has a basic understanding of the toolchain in the most broad terms they should understand the concepts regardless of the software. I started using S3D just over a year ago and have been building and printing for a few years now. I have multiple bots in a farm with each controlled via Octoprint. I don't use it as the primary production slicer but rather for specific jobs that require modifications to the support or manual support and also specifically for dual head jobs. I got S3D when Slic3r was in a dev hiatus. Now that both Cura and Slic3r are both actively being developed for most jobs there isn't anything that I can't do with those compared to S3D with the biggest being manual supports and at this point better dual head control. I thought I'd use the factory files more but I couldn't have them fit into my workflow in a way that I was comfortable. They work well but for me it was more work for little benefit to use FFF and reslice the already 100 plus parts and profiles.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimc
Unless you are getting a machine that has pre-configured profiles I don't see it any easier to learn than the others. It's does a few things better as it does a few things less well. I still can't get 2.2.2 to slice a .5 mm thinwall cal part . They do fix things in the upgrades. If I had to get it again I probably would and I'd likely pay for a significant upgrade.