These settings are found under the "Quality" tab in the slicing software.
The "Layer Height" parameter controls the slicing height for each layer of the 3D model. This parameter directly impacts the overall accuracy and quality of the print, as well as the time required to complete the print.
When you set the layer height, you are determining the thickness of each individual layer that the printer will build up to create the final model. The smaller the layer height, the more accurate and detailed the print will be, as there will be more layers to create a smoother surface. However, smaller layer heights also mean that there will be more layers to print, which will increase the printing time.
On the other hand, larger layer heights will result in a coarser print with less accuracy and detail, but will also decrease the printing time. It's important to consider the balance between accuracy and printing time when setting the layer height.
Additionally, the layer height parameter is also influenced by the nozzle size of your printer. Smaller nozzle sizes will require smaller layer heights for better accuracy and larger nozzle sizes will allow for larger layer heights without sacrificing too much in terms of quality.
The "Initial Layer Height" parameter controls the slicing height for the first layer of the 3D model. This parameter is particularly important for ensuring good adhesion between the model and the build plate.
When you set the initial layer height, you are determining the thickness of the first layer that the printer will build up to create the final model. By making the initial layer slightly thicker than the rest of the layers, it can help to improve the adhesion between the model and the build plate, which can lead to a more successful and accurate print.
It's important to note that making the initial layer too thick can also cause issues, such as increased printing time, warping, or difficulty removing the print from the build plate. Therefore, it's recommended to experiment with different initial layer heights to find the optimal setting for your specific use case with the 3D Labs Studio.
The "Default Line Width" parameter controls the default line width when another line width setting is set to 0. This feature allows you to set a fallback width for the lines in case no other width is specified.
When you set the default line width, you are determining the width of the lines that the printer will use when another line width setting is set to 0. This allows for more control over the final print and ensures that the lines are visible even when no other width is specified.
It's important to note that the default line width setting only applies when another line width setting is set to 0, otherwise, the other width settings will take precedence. Additionally, the default line width may depend on the type of print, the resolution, and the material used.
The "Initial Layer Line Width" parameter controls the line width of the first layer of the 3D model. This parameter is particularly important for ensuring good adhesion between the model and the build plate.
When you set the initial layer line width, you are determining the width of the lines that the printer will use on the first layer. Increasing this width can help to improve the adhesion between the model and the build plate, which can lead to a more successful and accurate print.
The "Outer Wall Line Width" parameter controls the line width of the outer wall of the 3D model. This parameter affects the overall strength and rigidity of the print.
This setting also has a visible impact on the quality of your print, so you generally want to print the outer wall slower than the rest of the print to have a better visual aesthetic.
When you set the outer wall line width, you are determining the width of the lines that the printer will use on the outer wall of the model. Increasing this width can help to make the outer wall stronger and less likely to warp or deform during the printing process.
This feature is particularly useful for models with thin walls and overhangs, as it can help to prevent them from collapsing during the printing process.
The "Inner Wall Line Width" parameter controls the line width of the inner walls of the 3D model. This parameter affects the overall strength and stability of the print.
When you set the inner wall line width, you are determining the width of the lines that the printer will use on the inner walls of the model. Increasing this width can help to make the inner walls stronger and more stable, which can lead to a more successful and accurate print.
Additionally, this feature is particularly useful for models with thin walls or complex geometries, as it can help to prevent them from collapsing during the printing process.
The "Top Surface Line Width" parameter controls the line width for the top surface of the 3D model. This parameter can be used to increase the aesthetic appearance of the top layer of the print.
When you set the top surface line width, you are determining the width of the lines that the printer will use on the top surface of the model. Increasing this width can give the top surface a bolder and more visible appearance.
Additionally, this feature is particularly useful for models that will be on display or for models that have a high surface area.
The "Sparse Infill Line Width" parameter controls the line width of the sparse infill in the 3D model. Sparse infill is a type of infill pattern that is used to provide structural support to the model while minimizing the amount of material used.
When you set the sparse infill line width, you are determining the width of the lines that the printer will use for the sparse infill. Increasing this width can make the infill stronger and more stable, which can lead to a more successful and accurate print.
Additionally, sparse infill can be particularly useful for models that require structural support but don't require a lot of material, such as hollow objects or models with complex geometries.
The "Internal Solid Infill Line Width" parameter controls the line width of the internal solid infill in the 3D model. Internal solid infill is a type of infill pattern that is used to provide maximum structural support and rigidity to the model.
When you set the internal solid infill line width, you are determining the width of the lines that the printer will use for the internal solid infill. Increasing this width can make the infill stronger and more stable, which can lead to a more successful and accurate print.
Additionally, internal solid infill is particularly useful for models that require maximum structural support such as functional parts or models that will be subject to heavy loads or stress.
The "Support Line Width" parameter controls the line width of the support material in the 3D model. Support material is used to provide structural support to areas of the model that would otherwise be difficult to print, such as overhangs, bridges, and other features that are not self-supporting.
When you set the support line width, you are determining the width of the lines that the printer will use for the support material. Increasing this width can make the support stronger and more stable, which can lead to a more successful and accurate print.
Additionally, you should also consider the type of support you want to use, for instance, if you need support with a high resistance to bending, you should use a wider line width.
The "Nearest" parameter controls the start position of the outer wall of the 3D model. This parameter is used to minimize the visibility of the seam where the print starts, by positioning the seam in the least visible location.
When you set the seam position nearest, you are determining the position of the outer wall where the printer will start printing. By positioning the seam in the least visible location, it can help to make the final print look more polished and professional.
The "Aligned" parameter controls the start position of the outer wall of the 3D model. This parameter is used to align the start position of the seam with a specific edge or feature of the model, to make it more aesthetically pleasing or functional.
When you set the seam position aligned, you are determining the position of the outer wall where the printer will start printing, aligning it with a specific edge or feature of the model. This can help to make the final print look more polished, professional or functional, depending on the position you choose.
The "Back" parameter controls the start position of the outer wall of the 3D model. This parameter is used to position the seam on the back or hidden side of the model, to minimize its visibility.
When you set the seam position back, you are determining the position of the outer wall where the printer will start printing, positioning the seam on the back or hidden side of the model. This can help to make the final print look more polished and professional, by minimizing the visibility of the seam.
The "Slice Gap Closing Radius" parameter controls the radius used to fill small cracks during the triangle mesh slicing process. This parameter can help to improve the final print resolution and the overall quality of the print.
When you set the slice gap closing radius, you are determining the radius used to fill cracks that are smaller than 2 times the gap closing radius. This can help to improve the final print resolution and the overall quality of the print. It's important to note that the larger the gap closing radius, the more the final print resolution will be affected, therefore it is advisable to keep the value reasonably low.
The "Resolution" parameter controls the level of detail of the G-code path generated for the 3D model. This parameter can be used to balance the level of detail of the final print with the slicing time.
When you set the resolution, you are determining the level of simplification applied to the contours of the model. Smaller values result in a higher resolution and a more detailed final print, but they also increase the slicing time.
Additionally, this feature can be particularly useful for models that require high levels of detail, such as sculptures, figurines, or other highly detailed models.
The "X-Y Hole Compensation" parameter controls the size of holes in the X-Y plane of the 3D model. This parameter can be used to adjust the size of holes slightly when the objects holes are too large or small when assembling with screws or other fastening methods.
When you set the X-Y Hole compensation, you are determining the amount by which holes in the object will grow or shrink in the X-Y plane. Positive values make holes bigger, while negative values make them smaller. This feature can be particularly useful when the object will be assembled with screws or other fastening methods, to ensure a good fit.
The "X-Y Contour Compensation" parameter controls the size of the contours in the X-Y plane of the 3D model. This parameter can be used to adjust the size of the contours slightly when the objects contours are too large or small when assembling with screws or other fastening methods.
When you set the X-Y Contour compensation, you are determining the amount by which the contours in the object will grow or shrink in the X-Y plane. Positive values make contours bigger, while negative values make them smaller. This feature can be particularly useful when the object will be assembled with screws or other fastening methods, to ensure a good fit.
The "Elephant Foot Compensation" parameter controls the shrinkage of the initial layer on the build plate to compensate for the elephant foot effect. The elephant foot effect is a phenomenon that occurs when the initial layer of a print is too wide, resulting in a wider base than the rest of the print.
When you enable elephant foot compensation, the initial layer on the build plate is shrunk to compensate for the elephant foot effect. This can help to make the final print more stable and reduce the chance of warping or other issues.
The "Ironing" parameter controls the use of a small flow to print on the same height of a surface again to make it more smooth. Ironing is a technique that is used to improve the smoothness and surface finish of top surfaces of a 3D print.
When you enable ironing, the printer will use a small flow to print over the top surfaces of the model again. This can help to make the surface of the print smoother and more polished. The "Ironing type" setting controls which layer is being ironed, so you can select the appropriate layer for your specific use case.
Ironing types:
Ironing modes all share 3 parameters:
The "Classic" wall generator produces walls with constant extrusion width and uses gap-fill for very thin areas.
When you enable the classic wall generator, the printer will use a constant extrusion width to generate the walls of the model. This can result in more stable and consistent walls that are less likely to warp or collapse. Additionally, the classic wall generator uses gap-fill for very thin areas, which can help to improve the overall strength and stability of the print.
The "Arachne" wall generator produces walls with variable extrusion width.
When you enable the Arachne wall generator, the printer will use a variable extrusion width to generate the walls of the model. Unlike the classic wall generator, which uses a constant extrusion width, the Arachne wall generator adjusts the width of the extrusion depending on the geometry of the model, which can result in a more accurate and detailed print. Additionally, this feature can help to reduce the amount of material used, which can lead to a more cost-effective and efficient print.
The "Wall Transitioning Threshold Angle" parameter controls when to create transitions between even and odd numbers of walls. This parameter can be used to balance the number and length of center walls with the risk of gaps or overextrusion.
When you set the wall transitioning threshold angle, you are determining the angle at which transitions between even and odd numbers of walls will be created. A wedge shape with an angle greater than this setting will not have transitions and no walls will be printed in the center to fill the remaining space. Lowering the threshold angle will reduce the number and length of center walls, but it may also increase the risk of gaps or overextrusion.
The "Wall Transitioning Filter Margin" parameter controls the range of extrusion widths that are used to prevent transitioning back and forth between one extra wall and one less. This parameter can be used to balance the number of transitions with the risk of under- or overextrusion.
When you set the wall transitioning filter margin, you are determining the range of extrusion widths that will be used to prevent transitioning back and forth between one extra wall and one less. This margin extends the range of extrusion widths to [Minimum wall width "- margin, 2 * Minimum wall width + margin]. Increasing this margin reduces the number of transitions, which reduces the number of extrusion starts/stops and travel time. However, large extrusion width variation can lead to under- or overextrusion problems. It is expressed as a percentage over the nozzle diameter.
The "Wall Transition Length" parameter controls the amount of space allotted to split or join wall segments when transitioning between different numbers of walls as the part becomes thinner. This parameter can be used to ensure a smooth transition between wall segments and improve the overall print quality.
When you set the wall transition length, you are determining the amount of space that will be allotted to split or join the wall segments when transitioning between different numbers of walls. This feature can help to ensure a smooth transition between wall segments and improve the overall print quality. It is expressed as a percentage over the nozzle diameter.
The "Wall Distribution Count" parameter controls the number of walls, counted from the center, over which the variation of the width will be spread. This parameter can be used to balance the uniformity of the walls with the overall print quality.
When you set the wall distribution count, you are determining the number of walls, counted from the center, over which the variation of the width will be spread. Lower values mean that the outer walls don't change in width, which results in a more uniform wall thickness. Higher values will create more variations in the wall thickness, which can result in a more detailed and accurate print.
The "Minimum Wall Width" parameter controls the width of the wall that will replace thin features of the model. This parameter can be used to ensure that the walls of the print are thick enough to be stable and to reduce the risk of warping or other issues.
When you set the minimum wall width, you are determining the width of the wall that will replace thin features of the model. This value is expressed as a percentage over the nozzle diameter. If the minimum wall width is thinner than the thickness of the feature, the wall will become as thick as the feature itself. This helps to ensure that the walls of the print are thick enough to be stable and to reduce the risk of warping or other issues.