OrcaSlicer
OrcaSlicer copied to clipboard
SoftFever
Limit layer height to `max_layer_height` if defined when combining infills
I'm a bit hesitant to change the current behavior. Many users, myself included, are used to the existing limitation for combined infill, which is determined by the nozzle diameter. In a typical scenario (0.4 mm nozzle and a 0.2 layer height), using a 0.4 mm layer height for combined infills is pretty practical.
However, the proposed changes would force users to increase the maximum layer height in their machine settings, which is not ideal. For example, with a 0.4 mm nozzle, we typically set the max layer height to 0.32 mm, not 0.4 mm. Combined infill is kinda of an exception
I'm a bit hesitant to change the current behavior. Many users, myself included, are used to the existing limitation for combined infill, which is determined by the nozzle diameter. In a typical scenario (0.4 mm nozzle and a 0.2 layer height), using a 0.4 mm layer height for combined infills is pretty practical.
However, the proposed changes would force users to increase the maximum layer height in their machine settings, which is not ideal. For example, with a 0.4 mm nozzle, we typically set the max layer height to 0.32 mm, not 0.4 mm. Combined infill is kinda of an exception
I agree - I wouldn't change this behaviour. When combining infill you typically want it to go as fast as possible, which means that you'd want as many layers as possible combined against the nozzle size. 0.2 layer height is a bit of a problem spot as it combines to a 0.4 layer height infill that is comparatively weak due to lack of "squish", compared to a 0.16 layer height that combines to 0.32 which is fine.
Cura has an option to combine every X layers, which may be useful for smaller layer heights (eg. 0.12 over 2 layers instead of 3 which is the Orca behaviour), but again that would have limited value as it doesn't solve the 0.4 layer height "problem" above.
An alternative approach could be to allow a max layer height specifically for infill when layer height is combined, shown as an option on the strength tab. Allow for %'s and absolute value so this can be set independently of the min/max layer height of the extruder (which also affects variable layer height limits). This can be set to default at 80% which is the recommended max layer height in order to have decent layer adhesion.
That would mean that a 0.1 layer height model would combine infill to a good maximum of 3 layers (0.3mm) instead of 4 (0.4) that would result in higher strength models.
Conversely this would also allow flexibility for 0.2 layer height models to choose to override that setting and live with a weaker infill without affecting other things, like variable layer height limits which are tied to the extruder values.
Adding a new option just for this is an overkill @_@
What about putting it into the Extruder section for the machine? Most everything there is set once and forget anyway. That way it's not cluttering up the main work-flow interface but still provides the functionality that this PR is aiming for.
Personally though, I'd opt for a value like "maximum number of layers to combine" so that way it's independent of nozzle size/layer-height, with the upper limit being as it currently is.
Every other slicer has an option to set the amount of layers to combine. It seems strange that this would be emitted from orca
the ideal solution would be when selecting infill combination that you can specify how many layers
if im printing at 0.1 layer height I want to be ale to have infill at 0.2 or 0.3 layer height atm orca sets it at 0.4 which is ridiculous
. I cannot use infill combination in my prints because of this. I have max layer height set to 0.2mm on my 0.4mm nozzle and infill combination still wants to print 0.4mm high infills.
. I cannot use infill combination in my prints because of this. I have max layer height set to 0.2mm on my 0.4mm nozzle and infill combination still wants to print 0.4mm high infills.
Combination infill prints multiples of your layer height. If you have LH at 0.2 it can only do 0.4 lines (combine every two layers). If this option was implemented it wouldn’t combine your infill at all.
0,4mm is with 0.4mm nozzle is to high for infill. For this case may be the solution is to use not equal layer height for infill. For example with walls 0.2mm height use infill with layers height 0.1and 0.2 alternatively.
. I cannot use infill combination in my prints because of this. I have max layer height set to 0.2mm on my 0.4mm nozzle and infill combination still wants to print 0.4mm high infills.
Combination infill prints multiples of your layer height. If you have LH at 0.2 it can only do 0.4 lines (combine every two layers). If this option was implemented it wouldn’t combine your infill at all.
To summarize:
It's well known that layer adhesion is effective only up to about 80% of the nozzle width. So, when printing at a common layer height of 0.2mm on a 0.4mm nozzle, having infill combination layers at 0.4mm is impractical.
Furthermore, if you print with layers less than 33% of the nozzle width, like 0.1mm layers on a 0.4mm nozzle, the combination still results in 0.4mm layers. This is not always desirable, as one doesn't always want to print with such fine layers. In these cases, 0.3mm or 0.2mm infill combination layer heights would be preferable.
The optimal layer height for maximum adhesion, which happens to be around 3/8 or 40% of the nozzle width (0.15-0.16mm on a 0.4mm nozzle, producing 0.3-0.32mm combination layers), is often the only usable layer height for practical infill layer combination.
The speed aspect is crucial here. With a normal layer height of 0.2mm, combining infill layers to 0.3mm or 0.32mm would allow for faster prints. It's not about combining entire layers, but that's beside the point. Every other slicer has this option. Why doesn’t Orca?