Solid Filling: How to Set It Up in ideaMaker
Note: This blog is originally written in Italian by Raise3D’s client 3dingrolab:
https://www.3dingrolab.com/2023/03/03/come-impostare-il-riempimento-solido-su-ideamaker/
Getting to know these parameters and tips on setting them in ideaMaker
The solid fill is similar to the normal fill, but it handles all those parts of our model that are one hundred percent full, such as the lower and upper layers of the model (Top-Bottom Layer).
There is a dedicated tab on ideaMaker to manage these parameters. In this article, Raise3D would like to show users what they are used for and where each of these parameters can affect the model, so as to give users the necessary tools to help them configure the settings in the best possible way for your 3D prints.
Upper and Lower Solid Parts
1 Layer Lower Surface
This parameter defines how many lower layers users want below the object to be printed. It is advisable to set a value greater than or equal to three, if the idea is to increase the stability at the base of the object. However, a higher number of lower layers results in a corer increase in printing time.
2 Layer Surface
This parameter defines how many upper layers users want to be printed at the top of the object. To increase the resistance of the object, users should set a value greater than or equal to 5. A greater number of upper layers, as mentioned earlier, leads to an increase in printing time.
3-4 7-8 Flowrate Surface Lower / Upper
These two parameters have grouped together for simplicity, but in the Slicer they are quite distinct, as they control the increasing or decreasing the width of the lines (Extrusion Width), which form the fill in the upper and lower layers. For example, if the model to be printed has very small details, to increase their surface definition, it is suggested that the flow be set to less than 100%. If, on the other hand, users want good strength and robustness of the top or bottom layers, increase this value to a maximum of 200%.
5-6 Surface Type Lower / Upper
Lower / Upper Surface Type: These two parameters have been grouped together again for simplicity, and are responsible for defining the type / Texture of fill users want to give to the respective Upper and Lower parts of the 3D model to be printed. The line fill option is the one with the most pleasing aesthetic effect, while the rectangular and concentric options are more robust.
9 External Walls Filling
This parameter allows users to add extra walls to the fill, and some may find it useful when printing an object with “X” number of walls, to make the print more robust. This value can be increased to even out the number of Loops/Walls.
10 Minimum Extrusion Width
By increasing this value in millimeters, ideaMaker will ensure that details that are smaller than the set value are printed larger, so that users can avoid uneven fills on the surface of the model. See the image above to understand it a little better.
11 Expansion Solid Filling
With this parameter, an offset value which allows the upper and lower layers to be printed wider than normal can be determined. This parameter can help to make objects more resistant to forces exerted along the Z-axis, as the full contact surface is increased.
12 Fill in Empty Parts of the Model
When using concentric filling patterns, it is possible that not all surfaces and corners of the object are being printed completely filled in. By activating this function will make the Slicer create single extrusions that will completely fill the spaces left by this type of filling, in all top and bottom surfaces.
13 Expand Solid Fill to Fill Small Hole
This parameter may seem complex, but it is actually very simple. It allows users to set a minimum value in millimeters, at which point the Slicer will search for all the holes in the object. If the diameter is less than the set value, it will print a larger area than if it prints the surface layer contained within the hole. This is used to avoid printing single top layers close together for small surfaces, so as to create larger and more regular areas.
14 Monotonic Solid Fill
These parameters specify the order in which the solid fill layers are to be printed. Activating this function will make the Slicer to print all the fill lines in a continuous and uniform manner while detaching the nozzle as little as possible from one side to the other. See the image above to understand it a little better.
15 Surface Group Upper / Lower
Upper Surface / Lower Surface
This section of ideaMaker allows users to add a certain number of surface/lower layers to our model, by setting completely different values such as fill type, flow etc., for the normal surface layers. The meaning of all these parameters is the same as explained before.
16 Ironing
By enabling this function, the printer will perform what can be called a stretching on the last surface layers of the model, i.e., it will go over all the paths of the lines it has printed again and extrude a small quantity of material, resulting in a smoother and more aesthetically pleasing surface.
Upper and Lower Surface Angle
This setting allows users to set different angles for the surface fill type. Normally, default ones are the choice most favored by users.
This blog is shared by Raise3D’s client – 3dingrolab from Italy.