Are there any plans to have Simplify3D functionality in Canvas?

@aordono,

Thanks for the reply. I have tried to slice with Slic3r/Prusaslicer engine several times and have been unsuccessful each time. Canvas returns an error shortly after hitting the slice button. The error message returned was not helpful in determining the cause. I don’t recall what it was but it happened every time. It gave no indication what setting caused it. Since Mosaic says the engine is experimental, I didn’t spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. I’ve already spent enough time fiddling with Canvas/Kissslicer to get good prints but I still can’t match the results I get with Simplify3D. My P3P is calibrated and the prints do finish successfully in terms of filament production. Pings and Pongs are good and transition quality is excellent but the QUALITY of the print is so much better when I slice using Simplify3D. Example: If I were to slice a simple 100x100x3mm block using Canvas, the results will have gaps on the surfaces (top and bottom). No matter what settings I use for gap fill, the gaps remain (on or off and a multitude of fill sizes were tried). I print with a 0.6mm nozzle with a 0.62mm width. 2 shells, 1 perimeter. The gaps are clearly visible in the preview and are represented in the final print. This does not happen in Simplify3D. The printed top and bottom surfaces are pristine. To remove the gaps in Canvas using Kisslicer, I have to “cheat” and tweak the width to 0.3mm (half of actual) and tweak the multiplier to 140%. Then when I preview, the gaps go away. It seems like Canvas/kissslicer has a difficult time creating good surface PATHS when using a larger nozzle and leaves gaps. Am I missing something? For clarification, I imported my printer profile into Canvas from Simplify3D so the print settings are identical. (speed, heights, widths, etc) That all being said, my P3P works really well. It seems like the software/slicer that is holding it back. The P3P wants rocket fuel and I feel like I’m feeding it coal.

Onto the wish list……

Yes, the two points you mentioned I requested (above) would be great to have but those need to be fleshed out further.

Being able to define starting and stopping heights for processes

• Not only being able to specify stopping and starting heights for processes but to have MULTIPLE processes in a print. This is huge in so many ways. Simplify3D allows for multiple processes so you can specify different parameters for different parts of the model. This is everything from speed, infill, support, perimeters, etc. Basically, every setting that can be set is defined within a process. Every process has its own starting and stopping points (z heights) and they cannot overlap (otherwise you would be printing in the same area twice).
• One of the most powerful features within Simplify3D is you can specify which models in a print you want a process(es) assigned to and you can assign multiple processes to a MODEL.
• Ideally, we want to be able to assign a process (or processes) to a group of models in Canvas or an individual model. This allows for variable speeds/infills, etc. Not only does this allow for better quality prints but much faster prints as well. If I needed to print a larger multi colored object and there were vertical sections that were a solid color, I could define a process within that z height range (start/stop) and increase the print speed by xxx%. Then define other process(es) for ranges where the P3P needed to splice and slow the print speed down so as to not outrun the P3P. The P3P has zero issues pushing filament at my desired print speed, it’s only when it needs to splice that the buffer could be outrun. I think this one example alone is a really good advocate for MULTI PROCESS slicing just using speed as the variable. Print times could be drastically lowered. I generally print at 75mm/sec with a 0.6mm nozzle. There are several times when my print speed was faster than what the P3P could produce and skipping would occur. This happens when there are multiple transitions on the same layer. Other users echoed similar experiences. The obvious solution was to slow down the print speed. That worked, but I had to slow down the speed for the entire print. Why not just slow it down for the areas that need transitions? In another discussion in the forums, I had suggested the slicing engine automagically accomodate for variations in print speed to allow the P3P to better manage the buffer. I realize to get Canvas(slicer engine) to do this would require some heavy lifting. It would be far easier to accomplish this if you gave the power to the user. This would be accomplished by defining multiple processes with variable speeds.

Being able to specify different print parameters for different parts of the model

• Besides the speed example above, there are many times where I want to adjust the infill % in a model or the number of perimeters. etc. Some areas in the model are purely decorative so the infill could be less while other areas are structural and the infill needs to be beefier. This not only increases overall print speed but would also use filament more economically as the user no longer has to set the maximum infill for the whole model - only the portion that requires it. Same with perimeters, etc. Too many other examples to list so hopefully this one communicates the benefits effectively.

Other items…..

#1. It would be nice to be able to adjust the user interface within Canvas. Example: In Canvas, all of the speed settings are distributed among the various sections with the slicer settings. This is cumbersome when speeds need to be adjusted. It would be nice to have the option to group settings. Speed is a major setting. In Simplify3D there is one tab that has all of the speed settings in one place. It is very convenient to have one logical place to go to set all the speeds instead of expanding/collapsing each section.

#2. OFFLINE SLICING - Being forced to use Canvas in the cloud flat out sucks. There really is no other technical term to describe it. It is brutally painful and slow. I cannot stress enough how frustrating it is having to wait to for Canvas every single time it needs to update, slice or upload new models. Other users have voiced their frustration over this as well. There is also the security issue but the latency and wasted time is massive. Last week, I clocked approx 60 minutes of processing time. Simplify3D or any other local slicer would have this done in 5 minutes. That difference is wasted time. Can we please get an offline/local solution for Canvas?

That’s it for now. Hopefully, some of these can be brought to fruition.

Thanks.