Customizable Temperature Tower Version 2
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About this print
A calibration tool used to find the optimal printing temperature for a given filament on a desktop 3D printer. The tower is printed in a single run while a slicer script steps the temperature down at set layer intervals, allowing the user to compare surface quality, bridging and fine detail across a range of temperatures. It is printed in whichever filament is being tested, typically PLA for most users, as the results are specific to each material.
From the original design page
Original maker's notes
By quirxi on Thingiverse · CC-BY
[2018-01-25] Thanks to user *groenewaldd's* hints in the comments i have adapted the script to work for **slic3r** *and* **Cura**.
This is practically a remix of https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2614204. The difference is that it has an overhang on the right side with a pointy cone on top of it. This is supposed to show how exact your printer prints (and cools) small pointy details. You also can change the direction of where the highest and the lowest temperature will print: on top or on the bottom of the tower. ### Usage example in Slic3r: - - - #### 1. Generate the tower with openscad: $ openscad tempTower.scad Set the following variables in the openscad window to your liking: // temperature of the first lowest block start_temp = 220; // temperature of the last highest block end_temp = 185; // change in temperature between successively printed blocks temp_step = 5; Render and export the model to .stl and close openscad. #### 2. Generate gcode with Slic3r: 1. Open the .stl file in Slic3r. 2. Set layer height to 0.2mm. If not, multiply the skip and block parameters by (0.2mm/new_layer_height). 2. Add the following to: "Printer Settings" -> "Custom G-code" -> "Before layer change G-code":
;LAYER:[layer_num]
This makes it possible for the 'setLayerTemperatur.py' script to recognize the single layers.
3. Set the initial temperature in the filament settings. The pedestal on which the temperature tower stands will be printed with this temperature.
4. Save the .gcode file of the model.
__Attention:__ maybe you will have to disable the 'Enable variable layer height feature:' checkbox in the printer settings in order to avoid messing up the temperature distribution over the tower height!
#### 3. Write temperature settings to gcode file with setLayerTemperatur.py:
1. On the commandline:
$ ./setLayerTemperatur.py -h
usage: setLayerTemperatur.py [-h] -s STARTTEMP -e ENDTEMP -t TEMPSTEP -f GCODEFILE
Sets the proper temperatures to the corresponding layers of a gcode file
exported from Slic3r. This allows the temperature tower to have different
temperatures per block.
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
required arguments:
-s STARTTEMP, --startTemp STARTTEMP
Temperature of the first (lowest) block.
-e ENDTEMP, --endTemp ENDTEMP
Temperature of the last (highest) block.
-t TEMPSTEP, --tempStep TEMPSTEP
Temperature change between successively printed
blocks.
-f GCODEFILE, --gcodeFile GCODEFILE
The .gcode file to process.
$ ./setLayerTemperatur.py -s 240 -e 215 -t 5 -f tempTower_PETG_Black.gcode
startTemp: 240
endTemp: 215
tempStep: 5
gcodeFile: "tempTower_PETG_Black.gcode"
outFile: "OUT_tempTower_PETG_Black.gcode"
step: -5
-> M104 S240
-> M104 S235
-> M104 S230
-> M104 S225
-> M104 S220
-> M104 S215
By now the different temperatures should have been written to a new .gcode file that starts with "OUT_" and ends with the name of your old .gcode file. This file you can send to your printer and the tower should be printed out with the different temperature settings.Formatting may have been simplified. These are the independent maker's instructions and fitment claims; Hark Tech has not independently verified them.
Printing Customizable Temperature Tower Version 2
For Customizable Temperature Tower Version 2 we would normally reach for PLA — it is the easy, economical default and suits the majority of models. We set the layer height, wall count, infill and supports to suit the model and how you will use it, and those choices are already priced into your instant quote. Want a specific colour or material? Tell us and we will match it where we can.
Model details
| Downloads at source | 51,465 |
|---|---|
| Likes at source | 1,470 |
| Original model | View on Thingiverse |
| Designer | quirxi |
| Licence | CC-BY |
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