Can See Modeling Detail in Final 3d print

[mm]

In parts I have designed you can see the modeling detail in the final print, ie: the individual circles, rectangles, lines, etc that make up the structure as a whole.

I am using Fusion 360 for design, Simply 3D, and a Flashforge printer with ABS.

Below is an example image which is a screenshot from Simply 3D. It is a simple structure that started with two circles with a line drawn between them to close them up, and then fillets on all of the edges. The final print shows the lines just like you see in the image. I would like to see straight lines, or similar, and not the original drawing artifacts. 

I'm new to the design world so I am sure there is something I am missing here...

Thanks for any help in advance!

[TrippyLighting]

Quite honestly, I've read your post several times, but I still have no idea what the problem is and what role you expect for Fusion 360 to play in it's solution.

[mm]

Admittedly, I am having trouble articulating the problem...

The image you see shows what the surface of the final print looks like.  Rather than a consistent design the print shows the circles and lines around the piece rather than being one consistent object.  For example, in the middle you can see the mix of lines in the print that are outside of the actual holes, but are clearly influenced by the holes.  I would expect the object to be as a whole rather than effectively a bunch of design pieces that are connected.  Actually, I know this is possible because other peoples' designs do not show this interconnected pieces problem.

Below is a random example from Thingiverse.  The person probably designed this with a square, popped a hole in it, and put the holes in the corners.  But the final part has a consistent flow of lines rather than seeing the design pieces you can see in mine.

I am new to CAD so I do not know if the problem is with the CAD piece (export?) or if it is a problem with the slicer software.

Hopefully that helps with clarity...

Thank you

[TrippyLighting]

The model you designed in Fusion 360 does not contain these "lines" that you are refering to.

These are created by your 3D Printing software, which appears to be Simplify 3D. the printer you are working with is an FDM printer. FDM means fused deposition modeling. Basically your 3D printer needs to create your model from a more or less continual string of melted plastic, layer by layer. The 3D printing software has to figure out the optimal path for the print head, which is does based on how you feed it.

In case of your model it fills the complete part volume with plastic, which is likely not what you wando as you'd waste an enormus amout of plastic and risk uneven model shrinking and warping. You need to refer to the instructions for your 3D printing software on how to optimize this. This is not controlled from within Fusion 360.

[mm]

Gotcha on the 3d printer piece.  I have a pretty good grasp on the hardware piece, but the software piece not so much! 

Thank you for the explaination.  Not knowing the CAD piece had me thinking I was doing something wrong there with the export or, er, something.  But now I know to look elsewhere!

[mm]

External infil pattern of rectilinear is the magic thing in Simplify 3d to make the outside have straight lines rather than mimic the underlying patterns.  I am suprised at how the export works and that the underlying patterns are even exported, but I guess that is a function of the file type.

Thanks for the help, it got me what I needed!

[Anonymous]

Hi MM

This is _clearly_ an issue of your slicing software settings, rather than the design tool or output.  While I'm not familiar with your particular software (I use primarily slic3r) it is customary to have all exterior surfaces (top, bottom and sides) appearing solid from the strand density being close enough to actually fuse all together, rather than the gaps between strands (which, in your case, seem larger than the strands).  That said, the fact remains that it's nigh impossible to get rid of ALL signs of the pattern traced by the nozzle path, except for _perhaps_ the bottom layer that is pressed against a nice, smooth print bed -- post-print processing like solvent-bathing notwithstanding.  Not all material types behave the same, either!

The old pros at this will have experimented with several pertinent parameters in search of _approaching_ complete fusion to near invisibility, all part of dialing in their machine and techniques.  Choices of fill patterns are also varied, rectilinear being common but not universal.  Fill density setting in layers BETWEEN the top and bottom few will typically result in gaps between strands like you exhibit, but this should be unseen upon completion.  All in all, this is not nearly as simple as printing a page from a laser printer or inkjet.

Bottom line, though: the original disappointment at seeing major features outlined, then internal fill-in as an after-thought, is precisely how most (if not all) slicers will tackle their assignment.  I don't know of any, off the top, that would produce something like a line-by-line, left-to-right approach (akin to the electron beam scan of an old TV, for instance) for their "tool path."  Having said that, I leave myself open to a tune-up by someone who knows how to tweak theirs to do just that, but (happily) I'm not averse to learning, unlike the old saw about some other old dog.

Carry on...

pw

[PhilProcarioJr]

These were made in fusion and then printed on my 3d printer and although they are not perfect they turned out pretty nice. His problem is definitely in his slicer and printer settings.