Setting firmware retraction with Simplify3D slicer
-
Following on from some other threads, I bit the bullet and purchased S3D. As some of you will know, one of my main criteria was to have support for firmware retraction (G10 and G11) as required for my Diamond (mixing) hot end. I only got the software a few hours ago so have much to learn but I think I've figurer out how to enable G10/G11. I haven't actually tried printing anything, juts looking at he generated gcode output to check that it will do the job.
I had some help from S3D support but it didn't quite work so here is what I've come up with.
Natively S3D uses some sort of weird, ancient, deprecated way of doing this using commands M101, M102 and M103. The first thing to do is to enable these by editing the process. They are found under the G-Code tab on the left hand panel (tick the box that says "Include M101/M102/M103 commands). The next thing to do is go to the Scripts tab, and right at the bottom is pane for "Additional Terminal Commands". You need to enter the following (which is not what S3D support said)
{REPLACE "M103" "G10; retract"}
{REPLACE "M101" "G11; unretract"}
{STRIP "M102"}I'm not sure what M102 is supposed to do but looking through a G-code file without it stripped out, it only seems to be used once, near the very beginning and it is followed by commands G1 E-n.n Fnnn and later by G1 En.n Fnnn where E-n.n (or n.n without the minus sign) is the extruder distance and Fnnn is the extruder speed. These G1 E commands on their own, don't appear anywhere else in the Gcode file, just before and after the M102 command.
I'm assuming that we still need to have retraction set, otherwise the software wouldn't put in any retract and un-retract codes. So, still in editing process, under the "Extruder" tab and under the section "Ooze control" I've ticked the box that is labelled "Retraction" but set everything to 0 (zero) apart from the retraction speed which I set to to 0.1 because it won't allow me to put it to zero.
With these setting, looking at the generated g-code file at the start I get G1 E0.0000 F0, then on the next line G10 ; retract. A little further on I get G11 ;unreract followed on the next line by G1 E0.0000 F0. These two G1 E0.0000 F0 commands don't appear anywhere else in the file and I'm assuming that they just won't do anything. If they prove to be problematic, then I guess one could add {STRIP G1E0.0000 F0} to the additional terminal commands. The rst of the file appears to have G10 and G11 everywhere that I'd expect to see the (although I haven't yet verifies it by printing anything).
Hope some of you find that useful. If there are any S3D experts out there, please add any corrections or better ways of doing this that you see fit.
Ian
-
This is the method I use, works great!
http://thrinter.com/using-firmware-retraction-with-simplify3d/
-
There is also the Retraction Script but I don't know what it does?
-
For $150 they really need to add native G10/G11 support.
-
There is also the Retraction Script but I don't know what it does?
Just hovering over the pane beneath "Retraction script" I get a pop up message which says "Custom G-Code that is included right before a retraction takes place". I only get this pop-up once, when I select that tab, then hover over the pane. Not sure what additional thing you would want to do before a retraction - there doesn't seem to be a way to undo it after an unretract.
-
For $150 they really need to add native G10/G11 support.
Tell me about it - with the £GB falling off a cliff as it has done these last few weeks, $150 is no small amount of money.
-
There is also the Retraction Script but I don't know what it does?
Just hovering over the pane beneath "Retraction script" I get a pop up message which says "Custom G-Code that is included right before a retraction takes place". I only get this pop-up once, when I select that tab, then hover over the pane. Not sure what additional thing you would want to do before a retraction - there doesn't seem to be a way to undo it after an unretract.
Could you put the M207 line in there to allow for fine tuning for different material's without having to modify the Config files?
Doug.
p.s. need to construct a M207 for myself now so any tips gratefully received.
-
I constructed this M207 S2.2 R-0.1 F3600 T1200 Z0.075 done one test and second one is running and I can't believe the difference it has made more info and photo to follow of the current print (40x40x20 box 2mm floor 30mm diam hole with a 20mm pillar in the middle.)
Doug
-
Hi Doug,
I guess you could but it would be acted on before every retraction with no way to edit it if it's embedded in the gcode file. I'd have thought a better way might be just to run a test print or two with the material you want to tune, enter M207 through the DWC and observe the result - so you can do it "on the fly". That's how I set up retraction in any case. Once you have good values for that material, enter them into the start gcode and/or maybe create a process that uses that start script (haven't yet played around enough with S3D to know what's possible).
My M207 (for PLA at 195 deg C and with 250mm or so Bowden tubes) is M207 S1.5 F3000 where S is the retraction amount in mm and F is the feedrate in mm/min. You can also add an R parameter which is extra length on restart and a Z parameter which will give you Z lift. There is another thread on here somewhere about firmware retraction and I believe David has just added the ability to have a slower unretract speed and also a negative "R" value.
Ian
Edit - cross posted
-
Ian
Yes He has and I have those params in my Start Script now and yes you can set up Processes for each Material in your Machine Profile so I have one for PLA (Which I haven't used for ages) ABS, PETG and HIPS so far must admit I am now starting to love PETG uses similar bad temps to PLA but higher hotend temps much closer to ABS so I think is a better material than PLA especially for parts that may need to have some protection against Heat such as those inside a heated enclosure or those that are in contach with parts that may get warm (such as effectors)
Doug
PETG is printed with bed at 70 hotend at 230?
-
Looks like setting a Z Lift in the M207 over rides the S3D Setting so have tweaked mine up to 0.75.
