Craftware Beta Slicer of Craftbot is working nicely with a Replicator 1

[funBart]

Because of a nice post in the 3D printer tips group, https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/3dprintertipstricksreviews/YVLGdUAoQNw I tried the Beta  slicer "Craftware" from Craftbot.

It's on sale on https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/craftbot-3d-printer/ . And yes I bought one....

The slicer is available for download on: http://www.craftunique.com/craftware (I used the 1.01 beta)

It's a real nice and fast slicer with manual and automatically support placing! I got it running on my Rep1 dual in one hour. (not much dual though, as it is based on one extruder..).

I have attached the project file with the settings I have used (based on ABS), you can load it into Craftware, when you want to try it yourself.

Please adjust the filament diameter used (measure your filament with a caliper), as well the start and en Gcode to match your type of Replicator. Same for the bed temp and filament temp as set in the Start Gcode.

Watch the initial print height (I have set it to 0.3mm), possible you have set your printer a little different to press the filament a little harder to the build plate for the first layer.

You can load the generated Gcode directly into ReplicatorG (I have used the latest Sailfish version 40r24) and let it generate x3g code to place on a SD card and print.

Some screenshots and the projectfile are attached.

Have fun!

Some observations...

NICE :-)

• very fast able to understand the UI and to have my printer running!
• manual support placing
• the drop plane feature! The various ways to move / mirror / manipulate the object 
  
• the different kind of 3D Gcode feedback
  
• The option to tweak the extrusion of the contact layer of the softsupport structure is great!
  

QUESTIONS / REQUESTS?

support

• Support scaling don't work with auto generate, is it supposed to work only with manually placing?
  
• When is the option needed to straighten the bar vertically, as I wasn't able to put it under an angle
  
• Single support bars are easily knocked over during print
  
• When placing manual support very close (so the bars are overlapping) the generated paths seems (but I'm not sure) as well overlapping (so double extrusions at some areas). Maybe simplify that dense manual support so a single extrusion optimezed path is resulting?
  
• The density of the auto support structure isn't tweak able. It seems not dense enough now to bridge adequate between support bars to prevent sagging of the extrusions of the object
  
• The option of a brim would be nice (to prevent warping of ABS prints)
  
• It took me a while to figure out that uniform scaling (while clicking on the object) only worked when NOT clicking on the visual axis, but on the object itself (despite the uniform box was clicked)
  
• I wasn't able to load Stored presets yet? Only when saving the project and reloading it again.
  
• The option to multiply the layer height of infill / support structure related to the perimeter / loops. (like 0.1mm layer height of the perimeter / 0.3mm infill)
  
• The possibility to compensate for shrink (like XY offset)
  
• The option to tweak the overlap of infill and Loops
  

WHINING :-(

• The preview window is merely a çoncept 'viewer, as it doesn't preview the actual model 
  
• When having the 0,0 in the center of the build plate, it gives another visual in the generated 3d gcode field (on the corner).
  
• Not really necessary, but a option to drag the 3D view would be nice
  

Bart

[Clinton Hoines]

Yeah I like it as well, been playing with it for a few days on a Deltabot, I really like the support features it has and the extra infill options.

I'm really thinking hard about supporting the campaign as well, just have to justify having 4 FFD printers (have 3 now) and 2  SLA printers. lol ;)

[Jay]

Ok...I'm getting errors during slicing "Uknown Exception" and it fails the slice (usually towards end)...I've tried a couple of .stl files (both downloaded and from CAD)....

Anyone else?

Otherwise me Likey !! and I can't wait for my printer to get here (#173 or so)

Cheers!

Jay

[Clinton Hoines]

The only time I got a error like that was when I did manual support and it was punched through the object. Try your file without support to see if that might be the issue if you have support generated.

If that was not the issue and your able to post the STL and I can see if I get the same error if you would like.

[Jay]

Ah!

Ok...I WAS fiddling with support...but I am pretty sure I turned it off and resliced and got same error. What I might do tonight is load a clean model, not activate the supports, and slice.

I DO like the program though...too bad I just shelled out for S3D. Oh well, I can use it do some more advanced things on my R2 though.

Jay

[Adam P.]

I would really like to see an option to increase the first layer extrusion thickness as a percentage. Currently, in slic3r and the latest version of Cura, I print slow at with a wide extrusion track to get really great first layer adhesion. I hope this feature is on their to-do list. 

[funBart]

Such an option would be nice, but can't it be done for now with setting the first layer height higher (on the Basic Settings tab) say from the normal 0.2mm to 0.3mm), and adjust the Z to (minus) -0.1mm. Wouldn't that result in a 0.3mm extrusion pressed into a 0.2mm space?

Bart

[Adam P.]

That won't work. You'll end up with gross over extrusion. With a setting of 200% extrusion width for instance, the physical lines of extrusion will move further apart to compensate for the additional extrudate. With your method, the lines of extrusion will remain the same while you try to cram more extrusion in resulting in a mess.

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[funBart]

So, just to understand, you only want wider extrusions for the first layer for sticking? And the right amount of extrusion belonging to it according to the layer height?

[Adam P.]

Yes. It's a new feature in CURA (finally) and has been a common feature in Slic3r for a while now. Sadly, Makerware will probably never have it. 

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[funBart]

I'm really impressed how Craftbot is communicating and giving attention to detail. 

We are very lucky that they copied the Makerbot style to interact with users, giving feedback, listening and getting user suggestions in. 

Maybe everybody is Kickstarter tired, but I'm surprised that this printer hasn't been backed more often than the 350 now. It's dirt cheap -$500-, it seems very well constructed, they seems to know what they are doing according the details they show, the Craftware slicer is to the point, very fast developed, and the delivery is within two months (seen the progress they make, it seems they can keep their promise). The only thing it's only one extruder, but I don't care for an extra no-nonsense printer.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/craftbot-3d-printer/x/8179365#home

[mfitz73]

at $399 this will be the end of the good times at makerbot.  who in their right minds will pay 2k for the mb printers???

[Joe Soap]

One of the thins to remember is that the MBi printers have the
electrical/radio certification which is required by law for companies
buying in the EU - there should be a certification sticker on the
printer. Unless the alternatives offer that certification they won't be
able to go after the corporate marketplace.

On 02/08/2014 15:41, 'mfitz73' via MakerBot Operators wrote:
> at $399 this will be the end of the good times at makerbot. who in
> their right minds will pay 2k for the mb printers???
>

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[Enginwiz]

Regulatory testing is scheduled for June and July 2014 in the project plan on the indiegogo page of CraftBot.

Hungary is in Europe. European Law tries to protect consumers and companies.
The process of certification for the CE sign requires at least a risk assessment study
and the compliance with a number of safety norms.

By the way - my Replicator 2 is not equipped with the mandatory CE sign.
The required declaration of CE conformity is missing the product documentation.
It was a violation of European Law to sell it in Germany.

[funBart]

So, do you mean CraftBot hasn't that certification? As I understood that is a very easy certification to get . I see a CE certification on all my crap Chinese electronics. How hard can it be? 

[Ryan Carlyle]

A lot of cheap Chinese crap counterfeits the CE logo. But it's not all that difficult to get if you design with the requirements in mind from the start.

[funBart]

I don't see any CE certication on my Rep 1 either (What! Someone still uses that Antique Machine of the Wooden age?) 

It certainly explains why my Voltage Regulator has popped twice, my HPB harness has to be replaced as endstop and stepper cables. CE Rules I say!

[Jetguy]

CE rules says nothing about those failures.

So it's all kind of joke one way or the other. Dumb consumer assumes it has a sticker- it must be OK.....

Just like your car is safety tested- that doesn't mean it's going to start in the morning or even not burst into flames.

All CE means is that it might not inject bad power back into the grid, and maybe, is less likely to shock you than bare wires.

It's damn near just a tax for a manufacturer so they can legally import and that's about all the "safety" it really buys the  end user.

[funBart]

On Saturday, 2 August 2014 23:06:01 UTC+2, Jetguy wrote:

CE rules says nothing about those failures.

I know, was just kidding. Certification is giving a false feeling of 'that it works as to be expected'. Like all that awards Makerbot got for the 5th gen before it even had been seen printing. 

[Dan Newman]

On 02/08/2014, 12:10 PM, funBart wrote:
> So, do you mean CraftBot hasn't that certification? As I understood that is
> a very easy certification to get . I see a CE certification on all my crap
> Chinese electronics. How hard can it be?

There's different levels of CE certification and at least one of the most basic levels
allows you to self certify and apply the mark (or at least used to when I last
looked at the issue more than 10 years ago). That's not the case with most other
national certifications.

Here's the wording from the EU's page on the subject (http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/single-market-goods/cemarking/about-ce-marking/index_en.htm),

-------
It [CE mark] means that the manufacturer has:

-verified that the product complies with all relevant essential requirements (e.g.
health and safety or environmental requirements) laid down in the applicable
directive(s) and

- if stipulated in the directive(s), had it examined by an independent conformity
assessment body.
-------

And also,

------
Can I, as a manufacturer, affix the CE marking to my products?

Yes, the CE marking is always affixed by the manufacturer himself/herself
or by his/her authorised representative after the necessary conformity
assessment procedure has been performed. This means that, before the CE
marking is affixed and the product is put on the market, the product must
undergo the conformity assessment procedure provided for in one or more
of the applicable directives. The directives specify whether the conformity
assessment may be performed by the manufacturer or whether a third party
(the notified body) has to be involved.
---------

So, basically there are forms of the CE mark which allow a manufacturer to
apply it without any 3rd party verification. I've not read through the directives
to see if any of them permit a 3D printer-class of equipment to be self
certified.

Dan

[Tony G]

Has anyone noticed that the CE mark and the Chinese Export mark are very similar!