"Smooth" outer perimeters

[philyeahz]

Description

Adds a new parameter called "Outer perimeter layer divider".
This division factor is used to generate sub slices for each layer, which will be used to generate the outer perimeters.

While trying some stuff on the brick layers, I found the need for generating sub slices for slanted walls. Incidentally the outer perimeter "smoothing" could be implemented with this as well.

Not happy with the current state, but it's a start, so someone else could build on it and make it better.
Also tried implementing it the other way around, merging internal layers together,
but adding sub slices to the outer perimeters resulted in less resistance inside the code base.

Screenshots/Recordings/Graphs

Tests

Nozzle: 0.4mm
Layer height: 0.2mm
Outer perimeter layer divider: 2 (Outer perimeter layer height: 0.1mm)

Outer perimeter artifacts are mainly due to inconsistent extrusion speed.

Known Issues

• Classic wall generator
  • Thin wall and small wall detection not implemented for sub slices
• No check for minimal nozzle layer height
• Sub slice height infill will be needed for most accurate results
  • Outer perimeters might float and/or intersect on top infill
  • Top infill can peak out of outer perimeter
• Inconsistent speed on outer perimeters
• Remaining print time is not correct on printer
• Probably many more...

[philyeahz]

Miniature Test (with Arachne)

Still got some under-extrusion going on but could also be due to the speed of 60mm/s being too high.

Parameters

Nozzle: 0.2mm
Wall Generator: Arachne
Minimum wall width/feature size: 20%
Layer height: 0.14mm
Outer perimeter layer divider: 3 (Outer layer height: 46μm)
Outer wall speed: 60mm/s
Wall loops: 3
Sparse infill: Gyroid at 10%
Minimum sparse infill threshold: 5mm²
Tree support: enabled
Top/bottom z distance: 0.08

Time saving

Layer height 46μm: 3h05m
Outer perimeter divider 46μm: 1h32m
About 50% time saving

After some tests the time saving can be between 20-50% depending on the models.

[SoftFever]

That's an interesting idea. These artifacts will probably be less obvious if we print with a 0.3 mm layer height and use 2 outer wall dividers (resulting in 0.15 mm per divider). Is this intended to achieve fast printing while still maintaining a smooth finish?

[philyeahz]

These artifacts will probably be less obvious if we print with a 0.3 mm layer height and use 2 outer wall dividers (resulting in 0.15 mm per divider).

Probably, at that small scale the artifacts could be many factors, slower outer wall speed definitely helps, but still not perfect.

Is this intended to achieve fast printing while still maintaining a smooth finish?

Yes, this is based on one of the many post processing scripts from TenTech.
Specifically this one https://github.com/TengerTechnologies/Smoothificator

[TengerTechnologies]

These artifacts will probably be less obvious if we print with a 0.3 mm layer height and use 2 outer wall dividers (resulting in 0.15 mm per divider).

Probably, at that small scale the artifacts could be many factors, slower outer wall speed definitely helps, but still not perfect.

Is this intended to achieve fast printing while still maintaining a smooth finish?

Yes, this is based on one of the many post processing scripts from TenTech. Specifically this one https://github.com/TengerTechnologies/Smoothificator

I'm glad that there are skilled people like you, which turn concepts into actual slicer implementations. I love the opensource community, thanks for working on this!
I don't know if you have seen the update to the script @philyeahz @SoftFever . I didn't have the time to make a good read.me. So sorry for that. I've changed some things and "miss-used" adaptive layerheight to keep a more accurate dimensional accuracy. https://youtu.be/eIHOYqJPfSY It also now tries to get as close as possible to the desired layerheight which is not a very visible difference in layerheight to the naked eye