Defining the Shell - BCN3D Stratos

 

 

 

 

Wall Thickness

In this section, you can choose the thickness of piece's walls. This measurement can be specified in millimeters or in perimeter numbers.

 

Recommendations:

 

Materials:
TPU	Making the walls thin helps achieve greater flexibility, with 0.4 or 0.6mm hotends you can make 2 perimeters, and with 0.8 or 1mm hotends, 1 perimeter.
PA | PP	Because they are translucent materials, the filling is visible through the walls. To avoid this, it is recommended to increase the thickness of the walls.

 

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Materials
ABS | PA | PP	To print these materials it is recommended to deactivate this parameter in order to avoid issues with warping.

 

 

This option allows you to fill any gaps that may remain after printing the walls. This usually occurs on models whose walls are at sharp angles, when the printer needs to print areas that are thinner than the size of the nozzle.

 

 

 

 

When the beginning and end of the layers meet at the same point along the Z-axis, a seam is formed in the printed pattern. With the seam alignment parameter, you can choose how the initial points of the layers are located in order to hide them, depending on the geometry of the piece.

 

Specify: Locates the seam in the specified direction in absolute coordinates.

Shorter: The start of each layer is at the end of the previous one, making the printing process very fast but with a more visible seam. - This option is for applications where aesthetics are not a priority and less printing time is required.

Random: The start of each layer is random and allows to eliminate stitching at the cost of increasing printing time. - This option is useful in models that do not have exterior walls with angles, such as cylinders.

Sharper corner: Place the seam in the inner or outer corner of the model whenever it is possible. - This is the best option with pieces that have exterior angles, such as cubes, because the seams are perfectly hidden.

 

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Ironing

Smoothing is a process in which the hotend moves over the top layer after printing, to iron it to a smooth surface.

The method in which the smoothing is done can be adjusted to obtain the desired surface finish:

Highest Layer Only: This option will cause only the last printed layer to be smoothed, saving printing time.

Pattern: is the method the ironing is done.

Smoothing Line Spacing: Determines the space between each stroke of the hotend. More distance means less printing time but a worse surface finish.

Flow: is the amount of extruded material during the smoothing process and it serves to fill extra cracks or holes.

Smoothing insert:  saves distance between the edge of the piece during the smoothing process. Eliminating this distance can cause jagged edges.

Speed, acceleration, and impulse.