Extrusion Multiplier

Specifies a multiplier to adjust the flow rate

Use the factory files available on our website and don’t change this value

Retraction

Retraction is when the extruder reverses briefly in order to suck filament up a small amount so that it does not ooze out when it shouldn’t

If you use our materials, use our presettings values

If you still get oozing problems, check the quality guide

Wipe Nozzle

It will wipe over the last outer perimeter and let the filament ooze out, before the retraction

It has much lower risk of part quality being negatively affected than coasting

Around 5mm is usually enough. You can go higher for large objects.

This option is by default deactivated.

Primary Layer Height

Determines the thickness of each layer

Remember that lower layer heights imply better surface definition but also longer printing times

It should stay between 40 and 90% of your nozzle diameter

Remember you are using a big printer! We recommend not to use low layer heights

Top/Bottom Solid Layers

Number of layers to close your object

This number depends on geometry and amount of infill

Generally stay between 2 (for flat surfaces and/or high infills) and 4 (for curved surfaces and/or low infills)

Outline/Perimeter Shells

To get good quality first layer results, it is important to set specific settings for the first layer

2 or 3 are usually  enough

Outline Direction

Outside-In can give you a better surface finish, but Inside-Out is helpful when printing models with overhangs, to give the outermost perimeter something to cling to.

Print Island Sequentially without optimization

This means the printer will print all the islands of a layer in order, then do the next layer in reverse order so that time isn’t wasted in traveling back to the original first island to start over.

This is good for reducing print times, but for small objects where each layer doesn’t take a long time, it is bad for cooling.

Vase Mode

Mark this option when you want to print a single outline print, without infill or support.

First Layer Settings

Specifies a multiplier to adjust the flow rate

Normally, leave the values from the presettings file: 100%, 100%, and 60%.

For prints with LH < 0.5 mm, a thicker first layer (110 %) can improve adhesion and tolerances

For LH > 0.5 mm, a reduction of the first layer height (95%) can improve underextrusion problems on the top layers.

Start Point

This parameter determines where the retraction points of your print will appear

Choose “optimize start points for fastest printing speed” if you don’t mind the quality of your surface.

Choose a specific starting point on the print bed, and Simplify 3D will locate the seam the closest to this coordinate, so you get better surface quality.

Skirt

 The skirt is an outline that is printed to prime the extruder and establish a smooth flow of filament.

Always use a Skirt

Brim

A brim is a skirt with a 0mm offset from part and multiple outlines.

Use a brim when your first layer doesn’t have enough surface to stick to the build platform surface.

Raft

A raft is an initial 2 or 3 layers surface on top of which your print will be printed

Use a raft when you have a complex print that needs a strong foundation on which to build the upper layers.

Prime Pillar

The prime pillar is an additional object that will be the first thing printed when changing nozzles. This will ensure that the nozzle is primed and ready to print before it continues the print.

 Use a prime pillar when printing dual extrusion where both extruders are not printing on the same layer or constantly changing, or when using extruders that use multiple filaments through one nozzle.

Ooze Shield

The Ooze Shield is a perimeter printed around your print to ensure that leaking and oozing will wipe off on the shield rather than your model.

Use a shield when you are printing complicated dual extrusion prints that require both extruders constantly changing in the middle of a layer

Infill Extruder

Determines the extruder with which you will print the infill

Usually, print the infill with the same extruder than the rest of the print

Internal Fill Pattern

Determines the geometry of the infill

The strength of your print will vary depending on the internal infill you choose

For strong prints, choose Grid, Solid Honeycomb or Triangular

For prints that don’t have to be strong use Fast Honeycomb or Rectilinear to get a faster print

External Fill Pattern

Determines the geometry of the infill

The external infill will affect the aesthetic look of your print

Interior Fill Percentage

Defines the amount of infill you will use. Remember the higher the percentage, the longer the print and higher the material need and cost, but also the higher the strength of the object

Between 10% and 30% is for most  prints enough

Outline Overlap

Determines  much of the infill will overlap the outline to join the both of them together

Between 15% and 25%

Don’t forget that the support generation toolbar (    ) is just a visualization tool. After you have decided your support, you have to mark the “Generate Support Material” box on the process settings to print the support.

Support Extruder

Determines the extruder with which you will print the support

Unless you are printing the support with a different material (e.g. PVA), or a different nozzle diameter, print the support with the same extruder than the rest of the print.

Support Infill Percentage/ Dense Support Layers

Determines the strength and density of your support

If you find your support too weak, increase these values

Separation from part

Determines how much spacing there is between the support structures and the outline of your part.

If you are having trouble removing your support material, you may want to increase the upper and lower vertical separation layers.

The horizontal offset form part allows you to define a higher distance between the object and the support pillars on the X and Y direction, which can help you place the tools better to remove the break-off support.

Automatic Placement

Includes the exact same options that were found in the support generation toolbar (Check out the BigRep Support Guide)

If you do not need to manually edit the support structures for your model, you can configure these settings appropriately and let the software automatically generate the support structures without any input from you.

We don’t recommend this option

Default Printing Speed

Defines the default speed of your print. The rest of speeds will be a percentage from this one.

30-50 mm/s

Low speeds: you will get long prints and better quality

High speeds: you will get short prints and lower quality

Outline Underspeed

Outlines printing speed in relation with the default speed
As the outlines are the part of the print that you get to see, it’s better to reduce their printing speed to get better quality

70-80%

Solid Infill Underspeed

Infill printing speed in relation with the default speed

80-100%

Support Infill Underspeed

Support printing speed in relation with the default speed

Supports can be tall, fragile towers, so it is sometimes helpful to reduce their speed to reduce the chance of knocking them over

70-80%

Bridging

These values define special settings for the behavior of the printer while printing bridges

You don’t need to change them

Horizontal Size compensation

These setting allows you to modify the tolerances of your object without changing the 3D Model.

Important for dual extrusion prints with no tolerance.

0.1 – 0.3 mm

Filament Properties

These values are used to calculate the price and the weight of your object on the preview

They are set for the specific BigRep filament the factory file is thought. You don’t need to change them.

Tool Change Retraction

These settings allow you to set specific retraction values for the tool change.

Only important for dual extrusion prints

You don’t need to change them

Layer Modifications

This setting is useful if you want to use different processes within the same object.

E.g. If you would like to use a second process on your print, starting at 90mm, you would set:

Process1:

·          Start printing: 0mm

·          Stop printing: 90mm

Process 2:
Start printing: 90mm

Thin Wall Behavior

This is an important setting when printing objects with thin walls

Check out the quality guide for a deep understanding of this setting

Movement Behavior

This setting can help you decrease possible surface defects by avoiding crossing the object while traveling, but your print will take much longer

If you are having trouble removing your support material, you may want to increase the upper and lower vertical separation layers.

The horizontal offset form part allows you to define a higher distance between the object and the support pillars on the X and Y direction, which can help you place the tools better to remove the break-off support.