Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Using Multiply

I found using multiply beneficial for certain prints. Below is the base portion of http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7850 where I show the results of printing one part alone (left) and one which was part of a group of four (right).
The multiply parameter in Skienforge allows you to take a single part and print a grid of them. This allowed each layer to solidify before the next was added. For a part like this where the stem section is built quickly, the layers tend to melt together and lean as it is printed. By allowing a short time between layers the shape is significantly better.
I seem to recall reading about another parameter which allows this for a single part where basically the printer head "circles" before laying down the next layer. I don't recall what it is but it might be an alternative.