spiritdude / slicer4rtn

Conic slicer utilizing planar slicers for 4-axis Rotating Tilted Nozzle (RTN) 3D printers

Slicer4RTN

RTN stands for Rotating Tilted Nozzle, a 4-axis 3D printer.

Slicing4RTN is an Open Source implementation of a conic slicing procedure as invented by ZHAW (Elspass, Jaeger, Wuethrich, Gubser, Bos and Holdener) and became known as part of their RotBot announcement in 2021/01. This software has been independently developed yet is comparable to the solution of ZHAW.

Conic Slicing for Rotating Tilted Nozzle (RTN) / 4 Axis lays out more details of the slicing procedure and its application; and Slicer4RTN contains a more thorough description of the features and details how to use slicer4rtn.

NOTE: The software is in a very experimental state and defaults and settings might change during this early stage of development - please use caution when running the G-code on your 3-, 4- or 5-axis 3D printer, don't do this unattended.

Limitations

In its current state only slices in a single "conic mode" per model, either outside-cone printing or inside-cone printing (change with --mode=..) which means, only a single overhang reference is supported: conic slicing allows overhangs to be printed without support structure given they point away or to a central conic center; multiple centers are not yet supported which would require sub-volume segmenting and treat each sub-volume printed in its own mode.

A future version of Slicer4RTN might segment volumes and support multiple conic centers and more complex overhang slicing - this is why this software is released as Open Source to help to push this development.

Supported Platforms

• Linux Ubuntu/Debian, tested on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS

Updates

• 0.6.0: $efa multiplier adjusted, --rot-revolve=0 (new default, unlimited revolv), --rot-revolve=1 (single revolv) does performs smart rotate-around to immitate continenous rotation
• 0.5.2: --rotate, --scale and --translate added for pre-processing model
• 0.5.1: experimentally support .off, .obj, both more compact than .stl
• 0.5.0: fixing levelModel() affected CuraEngine/cura-slicer, version bump
• 0.4.8: support of start-gcode and end-gcode
• 0.4.7: cleaner X Y Z output
• 0.4.6: adding support for 'cura-slicer' (CuraEngine wrapper https://github.com/Spiritdude/Cura-CLI-Wrapper)
• 0.4.5: fixing config load for slic3r & prusa-slicer
• 0.4.2: CuraEngine 4.4.x & CuraEngineLegacy (15.10) experimental support added
• 0.4.0: supporting ~/.config/slicer4rtn/slicer4rtn.ini with new defaults
• 0.3.4: rot_revolv=1 better $rot calculation (rot_revolv=0 untested)
• 0.3.1: changing rot-offset 0 => -90
• 0.3.0: version bump with various cleanups, more consistent settings, --inter-steps added
• 0.2.6: diverse new settings: rot_gcode, rot_offset, rot_revolv, tilt_gcode and layer-height which is computed for core-slicer
• 0.2.5: added main $efa multiplier depends on angle, not yet sure if it's correct
• 0.2.4: making arguments for core slicer easier, --slicer.= as well --= works (better for print3r integration)
• 0.2.3: simplifying code, extrusion interpolation still off (needs reworking)
• 0.2.0: changing extrusion calculation, better apprx., flow_rate => erate
• 0.1.1: properly re-offset G-code output from slic3r and prusa-slicer as it centers model, early support for prusa-slicer
• 0.1.0: new --slicer.key=val added, added --zoff=val to re-adjust zoffset in final G-code
• 0.0.5: added --axis=3, 4 or 5 to create for 3-, 4- or 5-axis G-code 3d-printer, added --angle=45 to change angle of cone
• 0.0.4: added --mode=outside or inside to reverse order for inside/outside-cone printing
• 0.0.3: moving stl2rtn and gcodertn into slicer4rtn
• 0.0.2: bug fixed, much better G-gcode output, viewable by Cura
• 0.0.1: first functional version, various bugs

Download

% git clone https://github.com/Spiritdude/Slicer4RTN
% cd Slicer4RTN/

Installation

% make requirements

if you want to install slicer4rtn system-wide:

% make install

which installs the app and sane defaults in /usr/share/slicer4rtn/ but edit your personal settings per core slicer in ~/.config/slicer4rtn/ as those will not be overwritten in future upgrades with the same filename as in /usr/share/slicer4rtn/.

Usage

% ./slicer4rtn
USAGE Slicer4RTN 0.6.0: [<opts>] <file.stl> ...
   options:
      -v or --verbose      increase verbosity
      --version            display version and exit
      -k or --keep         keep all temporary files (temp.stl, temp.gcode)
      --rotate=<x,y,z>     rotate model
      --translate=<x,y,z>  translate model
      --scale=<s>          scale uniform
      --scale=<x,y,z>      scale individually
      --recenter           recenter model X- & Y-wise
      --subdivide=<n>      set midpoint subdivisions (default: 2)
      --mode=<mode>        set cone mode, either 'outside' or 'inside' (default: 'outside')
      --output=<fname>     override default naming convention file.stl -> file.gcode
      --axis=<axis>        set axis count of printer: 3, 4 or 5 (default: 4)
      --angle=<angle>      set angle of cone (default: 45)
      --center=<cx,cy>     set conic slicing center (default: 0,0)
      --bed-center=<cx,cy> set bed-enter, only affects output G-code (default: 100,100)
      --layer-height=<z>   set conic layer height (default: 0.2)
      --rot-gcode=<v>      set G-code symbol for rotation (default: A)
      --rot-revolv=<mode>  set rotation revolution, 0 = unlimited, 1 = once (default: 0)
      --rot-offset=<a>     set rotation offset (default: -90)
      --rot-fixed=<angle>  set fixed rotation angle, usable if --axis=3 but 4-axis or 5-axis printer is target
      --tilt-gcode=<v>     set G-code symbol for tilt for 5-axis operation (default: B)
      --zoff=<v>           set z-offset, will be added to G1 ... Z<v>
      --erate=<f>          set extrusion rate (multiplier, default: 1)
      --efmin=<v>          set extrusion factor minimum, (default: 0.01)
      --efmax=<v>          set extrusion factor maximum, (default: 3)
      --inter-steps=<n>    set interpolation steps per mm (default: 2)
      --motion-minz=<v>    set minimum Z level for motion (without extrusion) (default: 0.2)
      --max-speed=<s>      set maximum speed (default: 0)
      --slicer=<slicer>    set core slicer slic3r, prusa-slicer, CuraEngine{Legacy}, cura-slicer, mandoline (default: 'slic3r')
      --start-gcode=...    set start gcode (disables core slicer's start-gcode)
      --end-gcode=...      set end gcode (disables core slicer's end-gcode)
      --slicer.<k>=<v>     add additional slicer arguments, e.g. --slicer.infill-density=0
      --<k>=<v>            all other arguments not for slicer4rtn will be passed to the core slicer (slic3r)

   examples:
      slicer4rtn sphere.stl
      slicer4rtn overhang.stl --output=sample.gcode
      slicer4rtn overhang.stl --axis=5 --output=sample.gcode
      slicer4rtn overhang.stl --axis=3 --output=sample-belt-printer.gcode --fill-density=5
      slicer4rtn model-6.stl --angle=25 --subdivide=5

Todo

• improve extrusion accuracy (needs to be tested more thoroughly)
• more core slicer support
  • Slic3r 1.2.x (slic3r): gives reliable results for now
  • Prusa Slicer 2.x (prusa-slicer): it makes assumptions of printability, e.g. an inverse conic mapped cube creates "Empty layers detected, the output would not be printable", and fails to be sliced; not recommended
  • Cura Engine 4.x (CuraEngine): gives very good results, but is tedious to configure without GUI
    • Cura CLI Wrapper (cura-slicer): easier to use than CuraEngine
  • Cura Engine Legacy 15.10 (CuraEngineLegacy): gives good results as well
  • Mandoline (Python) (mandoline): creates faulty G-code for now, struggles with pointy structures after inverse conic mapping, not recommended yet (but might become the most relevant slicer in the future of slicer4rtn)
• port to Python: larger developer pool than with Perl (must be fully compatible with its Perl version) in order to push development like
• support for Multi Cone-Mode/Centers printing, requires overhang recognition and sub-volume segmentation

3-, 4- and 5-axis Printing

• 3-axis: use --angle=25 or so, and preview the G-code before you print, see 90 deg Overhangs without Support Structure with Non-Planar Slicing on 3-axis Printer
• 4-axis: not yet tested in physical, only as simulation
  • RotBot: use --rot-gcode=U, --rot-revolv=0 and --rot-offset=0 (untested)
• 5-axis: not yet tested in physical, only as simulation

See Rotating Tilted Nozzle for more details.

slicer4rtn's Issues

stl2rtn and gcodertn

Can you send me a Slicer4RTN v0.0.2 ?
when it still consisted of stl2rtn and gcodertn.

How do I even install this or use it?

How does someone go about using this? Do I need to download a program and install it through it, I have no clue about how to go about installing or using this, can you explain how or make a video tutorial on how to use it?

rot-revolv=0 spins in place and runs into the part

rot-revolv=0 spins in place every layer change and runs into the part

Where is the home location of the rotational axis?

I built a RotBot from a slightly modified version of the ZHAW design.

What angle is the machine's home (zero) supposed to be for the rotational axis?

transforms in slicer cause adjusted "layers" to warp

slicer4rtn_warped.zip
a few prints are oriented for traditional supports and bridges, where conical slices might eliminate such need. however, using transforms in the slicer (such as --rotate-x) seem to cause warping of the object after the conical slices are applied.

I've included the original STL, final gcode and both temp files in the attached zip file. These files were generated with the command: ./slicer3rtn --angle=8 --load=AllSpark.ini --load=0.16mm\ OPTIMAL\ \@CREALITY\ -\ Copy.ini --slicer="./prusa-slicer-console.exe" --load=TPU.ini /cygdrive/c/Users/matt/Downloads/POD4560.stl --recenter --mode=outside --rotate-x=270 --rotate-y=315 --rotate=90 --z-offset=46.94 -k

I got the numbers for the rotate and offset values by loading the STL in prusaslicer GUI, making the transforms and copying the numbers over.

REALLY loving this idea, i know its still very new, but i've been printing a ton of stuff with slicer4rtn lately on my mostly stock ender3, this thing is pretty amazing. being able to eliminate supports is awesome, particularly when dealing with TPU, i don't know anybody that likes supports lol

Why the tilt for 5-axis operation is always 45?

How can I set it?

unclear documentation

It isn't clear how to enable conical slices. I've got the slicer working with prusa-slicer, but i seem to be getting tilted slices instead of conical slices and i'm not sure why.

FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory

hello greetings to all from mexico

When I try to run a test I get the message: FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory

I have tried to find a solution but I can't find one... could someone help me?

Why PERL ?

Awesome idea. I was wondering why you used PERL as a programming language ?
I'd have expected Python to be a lot more easier to use and interact with slicers.

Can you describe the process a bit more so it's easier to understand what's going on ?
So far, I've understood that the process is a bit like this:

1. The model is opened (OBJ or STL) and you get a list of vertices and faces
2. You map the vertices to a different space (this part needs more documentation, if possible)
3. You write a STL with the updated vertices position
4. You ask a slicer to slice the model
5. You open the output gcode and (this part I don't understand how) you get the vertices back
6. You unmap the vertices to cartesian space and output the unmapped' gcode

Can you confirm ?