Duet Slicer Integration?
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@DocTrucker said in Duet Slicer Integration?:
However, one thing that I really don't like about Slic3r (unless I have missed something) is that I can't save a 'build file' that is a single packet with the STL files, and the parameter sets used to create them
Slic3rPE certainly does this. Saves "project" files. File extension "3mf". Plate layout, settings, shapes, etc.
And... I use PE with multiple non-Prusa printers. No harder to set up a custom printer in PE than in Cura or whatever.
Delta / Kossel printer fanatic
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@TLAS I've got the folder containing the printer, filament, and slicing settings on my dropbox account and redirect my slicer to load them at startup.
Interesting to hear your experience though. I thought it must be relatively straight forward as I had used some software in the past that ran the api or command line side of it.
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@Danal it is such an easy thing todo which is part of my frustration with the issue. I made similar features for experiments on F&S Realizer machines back somewhere around 2005 based on features I used on DTM 2000s before my research days, ironically around 2000.
I understand why Ultimaker and Prusa have done there own thing, but while I only have time for one slicer I will keep my efforts on a offering that isn't heavily tied with a specific manufacturer.
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@DocTrucker said in Duet Slicer Integration?:
it is such an easy thing todo which is part of my frustration with the issue
Very good point.
Is there any possibility of someone "just doing" this, specifically in a format that can be a pull request?
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Might already have - there’s a TON of pull request on the slic3r branch in Github. It feels like everyone seems to have their own version of slic3r, but the branches are more diverging than anything else. The main program updates are fairly slow and don’t seem to be adding a lot of features. But at the same time when you look at the issues, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. Not really sure what to make of its development state.
I really wish the slicer was made in a more modern language though. Personally I’d only seen Perl used as alternatives to basic or Visual Basic (1990s) before slic3r. Would have loved at least C#.
Hard to match from the number of advanced features and customizations though. Anyone else know of anything in development that could match it? I’ve looked at several of the other major options and they are just missing a good number of the feature options.
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@TLAS said in Duet Slicer Integration?:
I really wish the slicer was made in a more modern language though.
From the main slic3r github read me:
What language is it written in?
The core parts of Slic3r are written in C++11, with multithreading. The graphical interface is in the process of being ported to C++14.I take it from your comment that the GUI is still mostly PERL... Which means a save/load would get into that territory as well. Hmmm...
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@Danal
Haven't tried too much compiling the GUI, but it looks like a lot of the more abstract commands are in Perl. Things like what extruder to use, which infill / perimeter to fill first, outputting the gcode are all in Perl.They do have a C++ library version of it though (I haven't compiled that one as the instructions looked like it didn't have full support yet with some functions not working). Kind of curious if they ported the Perl to C++ there. I'll take a look.
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That work in progress explains a likely cause of some of the issues with the dev version. For example; changing parameter set on the tabs behaves differently to changing them on the right hand side and the parameter sets often need to be saved to commit changes to what will be used when slicing.
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Do you know if the slicer on the Pi is doing everything in RAM or is it caching to disk? i to disk then you coul try a RAM drive as the working directory for your slicer.
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@TLAS said in Duet Slicer Integration?:
I don't suppose you use any modern cloud environment, like GitHub, Fusion 360 or OneDrive? It's not about computing power, it's about mobility, universal compatibility, and creating a community ecosystem with ease of access to everyone.
Major advantages of using a cloud technology (or really just web ignoring the buzz word), could involve the following:
- Saving slicing configurations that follow you, regardless of the device.
- Pre/parallel slicing using your standard configurations (view the g-code outputs immediately from your common settings to pick a starting point for refinement).
- Direct access (without installation) to any of the top slicing engines, on any device.
- Repositories of slicing configurations for specific printers, including manufacturer recommendations. Imagine "the nominal Bowden retraction is 2.7mm with a standard deviation of 0.7mm" for ultimakers, etc...
- Direct access (without installation) to custom slicing engines optimized for specific printers and/or setups. Code and slicing setups for multi-color materials or multi-tool setups that can be easily shared.
- Machine learning technologies that flag common failure settings for your geometry. "Changing to a 0.25mm first layer will increase the probability of a successful print for your printer by 20%"... etc...
Edit: I do agree with you about the personal network. I'd love to see whatever 'cloud' system is developed to have universal compatibility with a local network and distribute tasks / settings to all computers on that network with a lot of the benefits of a cloud but not actually leaving your own network.
I confess I was being rather cynical in my comments, probably because I've seen so much buzzword marketing and empty promises made in the computing industry over the decades. Remember "the paperless office"?
I do use web based services in my job and I personally collaborate with others on open source projects via GitHub etc, but when it comes to my personal data and computing resources, they stay firmly locked behind my firewall and under my control. I was always wary of operations like f***book and other "it's free because you are the product" services and time has proved my caution to be well founded.
I would not personally use OneDrive for anything other than storing obfuscated and encrypted data where I am the only person in control of the encryption/decryption software and associated keys.
My employer uses all the latest fads like Jira, Office365, Dynamics, etc, etc. My personal view is that they are probably in breach of the GDPR (despite them harping on about how much good work they are doing with GDPR compliance) and certainly running the risk of exposing confidential business intelligence to third parties with sufficient resources and interest. It will come back to bite them in the end and every time Microsoft or Amazon's cloud servers experience outages, they burn countless amounts of money in lost productivity.
So I'm far from adverse to new technology and new ways of doing things, but I tend to look very critically at the business models behind new services and what their security and privacy implications are.
