CURA for Replicator 2 / 2x

[Yogibear]

Trying to figure out the start G-code to use with my Replicator's and CURA.

The one provided in CURA puts the bed up and down heats the extruder then starts to print in mid air.

I've got the x3g plugin working fine so the output files are in the correct format.

Apologies if this is simple stuff but I've only been using the makerbot software up until now.

Thanks

[TobyCWood]

Simply copy /paste from another slicer app that does it the way you want it.

[makerbotman]

I've been using the Makerbot Desktop and now Makerbot Print apps for slicing. I have recently added a heated bed to my Rep 2.

I have to tell Makerbot Print (which I'm kinda happy to use) that I have a 2X so I can set the bed temp, but it won't turn on the downward fan, so I have to do that manually, after the first layer.

Recently I got up to speed on Cura, which it seemed to work well, but my prints came out scaled 5.0% larger in size on the X & Y. Z was perfect. I'm not seeing the stepspermm value anywhere in Cura, so I'm guessing it's using the values stored in the firmware, which I have set at 88.888.

I printed the same part sliced with Makerbot Print and Cura 3.1. Same PLA. CAD model is 218.6mm, measured Makerbot Print at 219mm, Cura sliced part is 231mm.

I'm eyeballing Simplify3D, but I don't want to until they support 3DConnexion, kinda important for me.

[Daniel Newman]

On 15/01/2018 11:52 PM, makerbotman wrote:
> I've been using the Makerbot Desktop and now Makerbot Print apps for slicing. I have recently added a heated bed to my Rep 2.
>
> I have to tell Makerbot Print (which I'm kinda happy to use) that I have a 2X so I can set the bed temp, but it won't turn on the downward fan, so I have to do that manually, after the first layer.
>
> Recently I got up to speed on Cura, which it seemed to work well, but my prints came out scaled 5.0% larger in size on the X & Y. Z was perfect. I'm not seeing the stepspermm value anywhere in Cura, so I'm guessing it's using the values stored in the firmware,

Unlikely that Cura is reading the EEPROM. Issue is that a Rep 1 has 17 tooth GT2 pulleys
yielding 94.12 steps/mm; whereas, a Rep 2/2X has 18 tooth GT2 pulleys yielding 88.89 steps/mm.
The difference is about 5.6%. And that's your issue. Cura, in generating the X3G, is
assuming you have a Rep 1 or Rep 1 clone and calling for 94.12 steps for each mm. But your
printer only needs 88.89 steps/mm. It's taking an 5.23 steps/mm. You need to figure out
how to get Cura to use the 88.89 and not 94.12.

Me, I use GPX to translate gcode to X3G. GPX actually defaults to assuming a Rep 2. (-m r2).
And GPX understands a Rep 2 with a heated bed (-m r2h).

> I'm eyeballing Simplify3D, but I don't want to until they support 3DConnexion, kinda important for me.

Simplify3D is a very good slicer. And it uses GPX as well.

Dan

[makerbotman]

Thanks Dan.

Great, I found that the Cura call to GPX in X3GWriter.PY. It's calling -m r1d. Changed it to -m r2h.

Now I have a good X & Y, but with my Bondtech extruder wanting 147.773 stepspermm, not seeing a way to set that value for the A axis.

I guess I could do a 153.5% extruder flow increase.

[Daniel Newman]

On 16/01/2018 1:57 AM, makerbotman wrote:
> Thanks Dan.
>
> Great, I found that the Cura call to GPX in X3GWriter.PY. It's calling -m r1d. Changed it to -m r2h.

Make your own custom GPX configuration and change the GPX command to read it. Run the GPX command
manually with "-?" to see all the options. There's one to write a config file (-m r2h -C) and
another to read on (-c CONFIG-FILE-PATH). So have GPX write the settings for -m r2h out, then
edit the file, then have it use your modified version.

Dan

[Jetguy]

Or do the same thing and use  GPX UI.
Either way, you need to make a profile with the correct values specific to your modified printer.
https://github.com/markwal/GpxUi

[Joseph Larson]

Does Cura output X3G now? Last I saw they added replicator settings, though you couldn't edit it for dual extruders, and it outputs to a 3MF, which you can then take into whatever slicer you want. Kinda worthless IMHO. I suppose I could get the gCode converter that S3D uses, but this is why I still have S3D, so I don't have to set that up.

[makerbotman]

Thanks everyone, I got Cura working. The .ini file was the trick, as well as updating X3GWriter to use latest GPX v2.5.2. My 100mm x 100mm test print came out 100.1mm square. Good material fill.

Now just need to figure out how to create a selectable 2nd profile for my 2nd rep 2, which doesn’t have same upgrades (HBP + Bondtech) as my primary machine.

Joseph, Cura 3.1 makes a call to X3GWriter when you save the file to SD.

[Yogibear]

Not had a chance to do any printing in a while.

I've been having exactly the same problem getting CURA to work with my Rep2 & Rep 2x.

X & Y come out at 105% but Z comes out 100%.

Will try and follow what you did to get it working correctly.