Slicer Blog Posts and YouTube Videos Index

Tutorial

Slicer Blog Posts and YouTube Videos Index

By SublimeLayers → Sunday, October 22, 2017

Here is an updated list of all of my blog posts and YouTube videos related to slicing models for 3D printing.

Slicer Master Class Series

In this series, I present advanced slicing techniques and other special topics. These techniques are applicable to any slicer. My goal is to teach you how to approach slicing to get the best prints possible and to tackle difficult geometries.

• Episode 1 - Manipulating Extrusion Width

3D Printer Tuning and Calibration

Many issues folks have with their printed parts are blamed on the slicer but are actually due to an improperly calibrated extruder. Unfortunately, slicers provide band-aids to adjust for extrusion issues that are greatly overused. These slicer features should only (if ever) be used for very minor adjustments and not to compensate for a poorly calibrated extruder.
My calibration technique uses a simple (and inexpensive) digital caliper and a 3D printed tool that I developed to simplify and improve the calibration process. The printable files are linked in the video's description. Here is the video: Extruder E-step Calibration

KISSlicer Getting Started Sequence

This series is to help users get started with KISSlicer 1.6. You should read/watch these in order to get the most out of them.

1. Blog: KISSlicer: 2 minutes and 45 seconds from launch to print for any new user
2. YouTube: KISSlicer Tutorial: Getting Started with the WIzards
3. YouTube: KISSlicer Tutorial: All About Speeds
4. YouTube: KISSlicer Tutorial: Getting Loopy - All About Perimeters and Loops
5. YouTube: KISSlicer Tutorial: Settings, Profiles and Projects - Oh My!
6. Blog post: KISSlicer 1.6: Fractional Loops - Lunacy or Brilliance?
7. Blog & YouTube: KISSlicer 1.6: "My crown is called content, a crown that seldom kings enjoy."
8. Tuning Wizard Mini-series
1. YouTube: Part 1 - Getting Started and Temperature Tuning
2. YouTube: Extruder E-step Calibration
3. YouTube: Part 2 - Flow Rate Tuning
4. YouTube: Part 3 - Preload Tuning
5. YouTube: Part 4 - Destring Tuning
6. YouTube: Part 5 - Advanced Topic: <TUNINGVAL>
9. Blog post: Musings on Blobbing and Stringing - Part 1
10. Blog post: Musings on Blobbing and Stringing - Part 2

KISSlicer PRO or Advanced Techniques

These tutorials are advanced techniques specific to KISSlicer. Some may require a KISSlicer PRO license ($42 - crazy cheap huh?).

• PRO: KISS Lock Paths

All Blog Posts and Videos

SublimeLayers Blog

• KISSlicer v1.6 Release Candidate 2.3 O.M.G.!
• KISSlicer Tutorial: Getting Started with the WIzards
• KISSlicer 1.6: Fractional Loops - Lunacy or Brilliance?
• KISSlicer 1.6: "My crown is called content, a crown that seldom kings enjoy."

KISSlicer Tutorial Videos

• KISS Lock Paths
• KISSlicer Tutorial: Getting Started with the Wizards
• KISSlicer Tutorial: "My crown is called content, a crown that seldom kings enjoy."
• KISSlicer Tutorial: All About Speeds
• KISSlicer Tutorial: Getting Loopy - All About Perimeters and Loops
• KISSlicer Tutorial: Settings, Profiles and Projects - Oh My!

KISSlicer: 2 minutes and 45 seconds from launch to print for any new user

Tutorial

KISSlicer: 2 minutes and 45 seconds from launch to print for any new user

By SublimeLayers → Tuesday, October 10, 2017

This post is meant to be informational and helpful to show you how simple it really is to configure KISSlicer 1.6 from scratch.

Printer Wizard - 12 parameters (plus a name for the profile)

• Extruders is easy and you should know that.
• Nozzle Diameter should be easy as printer and hot end makers tell you the nozzle size.
• Firmware Type - two of the options name the printer type. If you don't have one of those two, then either 5D - Absolute E or 5D - Relative E will most likely work just fine with most open source firmware. I recommend choosing 5D - Relative E.
• Bed Dimensions - really only help KISS make sure your model is printable on the bed. Even a rough measurement with a ruler will get you started. Printer makers will tell you this.
• Do you have a delta printer? If so, check the Round and the Origin in the Center boxes.
• Optional/Advanced Settings are, well, optional so leave them set to "0".

Net result: you should be able to complete this in 1 minute.

Material Wizard - 6 parameters (plus a name for the profile)

• Material Family - select your type of filament material here.
• Print Temperature will be set to a reasonable default, leave it alone if you are just starting out.
• Bed Temperature is probably the most difficult setting of all of the wizards since it depends on what type of print surface you are using. Seek professional help here or one of the many forums.
• In Extruder - if you are using the free version of KISSlicer this is easy as there is only one option, click it.
• Filament Diameter is either 1.75mm or 2.85mm. Is your filament thin like spaghetti? Then enter 1.75mm. Otherwise enter 2.85mm.
• Heated Chamber - you should know if you have a heated chamber or not. If you don't know, leave unchecked.

Net result: you should be able to complete this in 1 minute. If you don't know bed temperature either ask or leave it at the default value and test.

Style Wizard - 2 parameters (plus a name for the profile)

• Print Type - pick Default - 20% to get started.
• Nozzle Diameter - you already answered this in the Printer Wizard and that will be set in this Wizard if you set it there.

Net result: 15 seconds to complete.

Support Profile (optional if you don't use supports or you can add it later) - 6 parameters (plus a name for the profile)

That's 26 all together and most of them are no-brainers. Let's look at each in detail:

Completely optional but let's go for it...

• Support Type - pick either No Support or Same Material as Object if you are just getting started.
• Nozzle Diameter - has been answered twice already and that value will be preset here.
• Skirt/Brim select None, Skirt or Brim. If you are just starting and don't know what these mean, select Skirt.
• Use a Raft - leave unchecked if you are getting started.
• Large Parts - leave unchecked if you are getting started.
• Many Parts - leave unchecked if you are getting started.

Net result: 30 seconds to complete.

Overall time to configure 4 wizards and be ready to start your first print: 2 minutes 45 seconds. Don't believe me, watch my video Getting Started with the Wizards!

KISSlicer Tutorial Tuning Wizard Mini-series

Tutorial

KISSlicer Tutorial Tuning Wizard Mini-series

By SublimeLayers → Monday, October 9, 2017

I just posted the first episode in a new mini-series to show you how to use the new KISSlicer 1.6 Tuning Wizard to greatly improve your print quality.

Part 1 - Getting Started & Temperature Tuning

In this first episode I describe how the Tuning Wizard works and explain the preferred order (temperature, flow rate, PreloadVE, destring) for tuning. I then jump in and tune the filament's extrusion temperature.

UPDATE 10/10/2017: The STL model file and the temperature tuning Style are now available on the KISSlicer web site.

KISSlicer Tutorial: Settings, Profiles and Projects - Oh My!

Tutorial

KISSlicer Tutorial: Settings, Profiles and Projects - Oh My!

By SublimeLayers → Saturday, September 30, 2017

Here's the latest episode in my KISSlicer Tutorial series. In this tutorial I talk about setting profiles with a peak under the covers on how KISSlicer auto saves setting changes. I also show how to setup Reference Settings and why they are important.There are a few more goodies too, so watch and learn.

KISSlicer Tutorial: Getting Loopy - All About Perimeters and Loops

Tutorial

KISSlicer Tutorial: Getting Loopy - All About Perimeters and Loops

By SublimeLayers → Thursday, September 21, 2017

Just posted this new tutorial. I recorded this one in one take to get this published quickly. I had at least 6 forum and Facebook followers ask about blobbing and stringing in the last 24 hours. So I wanted to get this out quickly to help them (and you!)

KISSlicer Tutorial: All About Speeds

Tutorial

KISSlicer Tutorial: All About Speeds

By SublimeLayers → Wednesday, September 20, 2017

In this KISSlicer 1.6 Tutorial I show how the Speed Slider control works and how to set it up for your printer. You'll wonder how you got along without it.

KISSlicer 1.6: "My crown is called content, a crown that seldom kings enjoy." (1)

Tutorial

KISSlicer 1.6: "My crown is called content, a crown that seldom kings enjoy." (1)

By SublimeLayers → Monday, September 11, 2017

(1) William Shakespere - but in this case "content" is "content", not "content"!

Ok, now that I've got your attention, what is this post all about you might ask? This is, of course, another in my series of tutorials to help you get great prints with the new KISSlicer 1.6, this time using the Crown feature found on the Style settings panel.

Crown used to be a PRO feature but is now included in standard KISS for all users to take advantage of. Thank-you Jonathan! The following screenshots show a part sliced without Crown (top) and with Crown enabled (bottom). Notice the short pink segments filling the gaps in each of the part's teeth - those are crown paths and they help you create stronger and nicer looking parts.

Layer Detail with Crown Disabled

Layer Detail with 1mm Crown

Watch the Crown tutorial video on YouTube to learn how to use it.

KISSlicer 1.6: Fractional Loops - Lunacy or Brilliance?

Tutorial

KISSlicer 1.6: Fractional Loops - Lunacy or Brilliance?

By SublimeLayers → Saturday, September 9, 2017

Now that you have the new KISSlicer 1.6, did you notice the tool tip when you mouse over the Num Loops field on the Style panel? If not, here it is:

Fractional loops!!? "What the heck is that?" you might be asking yourself. You're in luck, I'm going to tell you what it is and explain why this is a brilliant and powerful new feature unique to KISSlicer 1.6!

As the tool tip says, if you enter a fractional value for number of loops (aka perimeters), KISS will add an additional loop "periodically". Here's how it works...

Let's take a simple case and enter 3.5 for fractional loops. This tells KISS to generate 3 loops but 50% (the .5) of the time, add a 4th loop. So, on average, you'll get 3.5 loops in your print. Here's a cut-away drawing to show what this looks like:

The upper drawing labeled 3 Loops illustrates a part sliced with a normal 3 loops - this is what other slicers and KISS 1.6's ancestors do. Now look at the lower drawing labeled 3.5 Loops. See what's happening? See why this is a brilliant new feature? With fractional loops, the resulting overlap with the infill significantly improves bonding of the infill to the perimeter - similar to a finger joint in woodworking. The simple butt joint shown in the upper drawing is a weaker joint by comparison. Here is what the g-code paths look like for a part sliced with 3.5 loops. If you look carefully, you'll see the alternating 3-4-3-4 loops (medium blue paths):
Of course, you can enter other fractions like .25, .33, .75 too. Using 3.x loops as an example, these would create the following patterns:

• 3.25 loops: 3-3-3-4
• 3.33 loops: 3-3-4
• 3.75 loops: 3-4-4-4 

Fractional loops - especially .5 fractional loops - is such a useful feature, all of my default styles have .5 fractional loops.

Now you know about this great new KISS 1.6 feature and how it can create stronger printed parts. It's a brilliant feature, use it with your prints!

EDIT 8/20/2017
A few readers have commented that slicers already support an infill overlap feature and that this is functionally the same thing. Here's a short description in the difference and why fractional loops is a more useful and powerful feature:

Infill overlap actually increases the amount of filament that needs to be squeezed into the same volume. Fractional infill does not. For example, if you used a 50% infill overlap - depending on slicer of course since they each handle this differently - you end up with two times more filament in the area of overlap. This excess filament can create other issues - especially on the first layer and top surfaces. The infill overlap feature was originailly intended to compensate for printer mechanical issues and differences and hysterysis in an effort to reduce/eliminate gaps. In a perfect world, the infill would perfectly connect right at the perimeter interface but mechanical slop and a number of other factors prevent this. KISS supports infill overlap too, for exactly this reason. The fractional loops feature provides a more consistent and reproduceable mechanism for increasing the strength of this critical loop-infill interface that works over all infill percentages.

KISSlicer Tutorial: Getting Started with the Wizards

Tutorial

KISSlicer Tutorial: Getting Started with the Wizards

By SublimeLayers → Friday, September 8, 2017

Here's a detailed tutorial on how to get started with KISSlicer 1.6 using the new profile Wizards to create a printer, material, style and support profile. I then slice one of my fly fishing reel parts and print it to show how good the Wizards really are!

Note, this will be the last public tutorial until I reach 50 supporters on my Patreon account (https://www.patreon.com/mhackney). I will be using the proceeds to upgrade my recording studio with a new camera, microphone and lighting so I can step up the production quality. So here's you chance to get some great tutorials before everyone else AND help me make even better content!

KISSlicer v1.6 Release Candidate 2.3 (and later) - O.M.G.!

Tutorial

KISSlicer v1.6 Release Candidate 2.3 (and later) - O.M.G.!

By SublimeLayers → Saturday, September 2, 2017

The new KISSlicer 1.6 Release Candidate 2.3 has introduced a new, unexpected feature called Lock Paths. I first noticed this yesterday and asked Jonathan (KISSlicer author) about it. His answer knocked my socks off!

In a nutshell, Lock Paths allows you to setup a platter of parts to print and apply different slicing parameters to each part! Yes, you read the right. I created a short screen cam to demonstrate the feature using a "reel" (you'll get the pun if you know me) world example on how it works. I'm also using this as a test for creating video content for future tutorials.

I've had a number of requests for KISSlicer tutorials and I'd love to do them. Help support this work by becoming a patron on my Patreon site. I'll be releasing these tutorials privately to my patrons (after this one) until I have 50 patrons supporting me (I'm almost 1/2 way there!) You'll not only get access to all my other patron-only content, my private Slack channel, pre-release draft chapters of my upcoming book, but now, these KISSlicer tutorials!