ReplicatorG vs. MakerWare

[Sam Glick]

Hello,

I am a HS student in a CAD class and we are getting a Replicator 2x. We currently have a Cupcake CNC and use ReplicatorG. Could someone explain the pros and cons of each software especially any specific to the 2x? 

Thank you 

[yournam...@yahoo.com]

Makerware definitely looks better and is easier to navigate but ReplicatorG is a lot more reliable and preferred by many people. Personally I use Makerware but you will find lots of complaints and issues about it in this group.

[Clinton Hoines]

More reliable? Can't agree there, if setup correctly RepG is a great slicer. That said I wouldn't and don't use either.
Cura or KISSlicer pro are what I use, 90% Cura now though it's a great slicer and super fast.

[BruceA]

Stick with Makerware it just works. I have spent days trying to get other slicers to run with mixed success. RepG has more options than you can pock a stick at if you are a geek then maybe they will mean something to you! I have a rep 2 and it runs 12-18 hours a day prints are top quality from Makerware the tiny improvement from any of the other wiz bang software out there is not worth the pain! To each their own this is just my experience with them in the real world.

[Clinton Hoines]

Makerware just does not work, at least if you read the groups you can see a lot of people have issues with it. I tried it a few times and uninstalled as it's not a great piece of software yet. The other Wiz bang software I listed are far better, I print pretty much 24-7 when I have a project to do and Cura hardly if ever fails. Going on day 5 continuous build with no bad prints yet, running out of filament quick though. lol

[BruceA]

Clinton

I would love to try Cura but never managed to get it to work on my Rep 2. Would you be prepared to help me with the set up?

[Clinton Hoines]

"Would you be prepared to help me with the set up?"

I could try but really it should setup pretty easy, problem is I run a Rep1 dual XL not a Rep2.
The new Cura Ver 13.11.2 should work right off since it has the Makerbot gcode option. You'll need to adjust your MAchine settings in the File drop down once installed. Also check the start and end gcode, I would replace it with a known good copy out of your current Makerware profile.

[BruceA]

Thanks for the response.Couple of things you may be able to help with. I can not find any reference to the e steps per mm for my rep 2. Also it tells me that the makerbot flavor gcode requires Makerware to generate the x3g file. If I save a gcode file Makerware will not open it, it only sees STL and OBJ. How do you do this?

[Clinton Hoines]

E steps per mm? Not sure why you would need this to use Cura I don't remember needing to input this at any point.
I always use RepG to convert and save to my SD card, that way I can do any changes to the Gcode I like if need be.
If that is of no interest to you I believe there is a GPX plugin for Cura, you would have to ask Wingcommander about that as I don't use the program.

[Dan Newman]

On 22/11/2013, 5:14 PM, Clinton Hoines wrote:
> E steps per mm? Not sure why you would need this to use Cura I don't
> remember needing to input this at any point.

I would think that steps/mm info is only needed when converting gcode
to x3g with GPX, RepG, or MW.

Dan

[BruceA]

I was trying to follow your instructions " You'll need to adjust your MAchine settings in the File drop down once installed" It was requesting that info there with a whole bunch of other settings

I have tried GPX on both Slic3r and Kiss, both of those programs have a place where you can enter a post process to use the GPX. I can not find any place to do this in Ultimaker and while there is a set of instructions posted on the GPX forum they are more for Mac users. Sorry if I am a bit slow on picking this stuff up but any help is appreciated. 

[Clinton Hoines]

You only need to enter e steps if you are trying to control your bot with Curs which you can't since it doesn't put out X3G.At least that is how I took it and left that blank.. Just enter your bed size and if you have a HBP. And if when you go to do a first print it crashes into the left front side (have your finger on the power switch) you'll need to change to 0,0 center.
I believe you put the post process in the Plugin section but I'm not 100% sure on that, as I said I don't use GPX I use RepG to convert my files. Works super easy and I can do a proper time estimate as well as change any Gcode I would like before hand.

[BruceA]

Thanks for the info I will try this over the next few days, I may have a couple more questions after I try it.

[Jay]

Clinton,

Mild subject steal....If I understand...Cura has a feature where it can put out code to do one item at a time? Instead of running a full tray of parts layer by layer...it starts in the right front corner...makes the first part complete then goes to next part???

See this...

Barnacles prints Lego's with Cura 13

At 1:14 he says "and I've got Cura to print each block on at a time"...

And...at 2:50 he shows the bot printing one lego at a time...

HOLY CRAP....I need that...can you duplicate that function on our R2's? If so I'm going to be the next convert....

Cheers!

Jay