Slides for a presentation on slicing troubleshooting with Cura.

1. Slicing Troubleshooting with
Cura
Vicky Somma
@TGAW
vicky@tgaw.com

2. Cura / Cura LulzBot Edition
Different look, but concepts are the same

3. Navigating
Scroll Up to Zoom In
Scroll Down to Zoom Out
Hold Scroll Wheel to Pan
Hold Right Mouse Button to Rotate View

4. Move
1. Left click to select object
2. Use arrows to adjust
-or-
Type in exact coordinates
Practical Applications:
● Fit more on build plate
● Avoid any bed issues (like a PEI
sheet tear)
● Correct any first layer
inconsistencies (More later)

5. Scale
1. Left click to select object
2. Use arrows to adjust
-or-
Type in exact coordinates
Practical Applications:
● Correct any units issues (i.e.
model is in inches)
● Correct any sizing issues
● Adjust for better detailing

6. Scale - Snap and Uniform
Snap Scaling - Scales in 10% increments.
Uniform Scaling - Keeps everything in proportion. Turn it off if you want to adjust
only one or two dimensions.

7. Rotate
1. Left click to select object
2. Click on one of the axis circles and drag to
rotate.
If you are rotating for better bed orientation and
get close, you can click on the “Lay Flat” to finish
the work.

8. Rotate - Practical Applications
Fit more on Build Plate

9. Rotate - Practical Applications
Fit Large Parts on Build Plate
(The Hypotenuse of a triangle are larger than the parts!)

10. Rotate - Practical Applications
Fix Orientation Issues

11. Rotate - Practical Applications
Minimize Supports

12. Rotate - Practical Applications
Position Tricky Overhangs or Bridging for Cooling Fan

13. Mirror
1. Left click to select object
2. Click on the arrow to pick where you
want to flip.

14. Mirror - Practical Applications
Practical Applications:
● Print two back to back
designs for ornaments
● Fixing modeling
oversights- Cookie cutters
and stamps need to be
backwards. :)

15. Layer View
Layer View shows how the model will be sliced up. It’s a great tool for anticipating
problems with the print.

16. Layer View - Looking at First Layer
Some people put in a lot of effort to make sure their print has a great first
layer.
But is the model undermining those efforts?

17. Layer View - Looking at First Layer
Drag the scroll bar to hide or show layers.

18. Layer View - Looking at First Layer
Cork Puppy- One Leg is Not Touching the Bed

19. Correcting First Layer Issues with Move
By moving the Z coordinate down, you can lower the model until everything
touches.

20. More Than One Answer
Sometimes you can rotate for better placement

21. Assisting First Layers with Rafts

22. Layer View - Finding Missing Details
Sometimes Details are Missing in Layer View

23. Line Width and Layer Height
When crocheting, the hook size and the material size
impact the final product. Embroidery floss could make
tiny details that thick wool yarn could not.
With 3D Printing, this is similar to Layer Height and Line
Width
Source: http://craftsauce.blogspot.com/2013/05/top-10-crochet-and-amigurumi-
tips-for.html

24. Layer Height
Larger Layer Heights lead to faster print times, but lowers vertical detailing and
some small details could get skipped.

25. Layer Height
Can be changed with the Profile or by typing a specific Layer Height under
Quality.

26. Line Width
Line Width-- the thickness of the line of plastic the printer is drawing width can
impact your horizontal detailing. Details smaller than the Line Width will be
skipped.

27. Line Width
If walls of your object are smaller than the line width, sections will get skipped
altogether.

28. Troubleshooting Missing Details
1) Scale the model larger.

29. Troubleshooting Missing Details
2. Use “Horizontal Expansion” setting.
a. Click on Custom and expand Shell.

30. Troubleshooting Missing Details
If “Horizontal Setting” is not listed, click on Settings icon and check “Horizontal
Expansion” to add it to your display

31. Troubleshooting Missing Details
b. Adjust the Horizontal Expansion in small increments

32. Horizontal Expansion in Action
Also has the ability to fix missing walls.

33. Layer View - Zooming In, Changing Views
Helpers (Support material) could obscure issues.

34. Increasing Strength for Weak Points
Model is printing, but breaking. Thin areas near supports often need extra
strength to survive cleanup.

35. Increasing Strength for Weak Points
Consider increasing your Wall Line Count (or Wall Thickness) in the Shell
section.

36. Increasing Strength for Weak Points
Consider increasing Infill Density (Under the Infill section)

37. When Supports Can Be Turned Off - Bridging
The printer can handle small gaps (bridging) unassisted.

38. Finding Your Printer’s Bridging Capabilities
Ultimate Extruder Calibration Test
by Starno
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:9804

39. When Supports Can Be Turned Off - Overhangs
Sometimes the Slicer will put in supports where we may not necessarily need it.

40. When Supports Can Be Turned Off - Overhangs
If an overhang has decent contact with the layer below (as seen in Layer view),
the printer can handle it unassisted. 45 degrees is a general guideline.

41. When Supports Can Be Turned Off - Overhangs
But if there isn’t good contact, you definitely want to keep with the supports.

42. Layer Height and Overhangs
Smaller Layer Heights can also help your overhangs

43. Fixing Modeling Issues with 3D Builder
If you suspect there are model issues Cura is not fixing, Windows 10 includes the
free 3D Builder tool.
1. Click Add
2. Click Load Object

44. Fixing Modeling Issues with 3D Builder
3. Click on the Repair
Warning

45. Fixing Modeling Issues with 3D Builder
4. A progress bar keeps
you abreast of the
processing.

46. Fixing Modeling Issues with 3D Builder
5. Click on the model to
select it.
6. Click Save as

47. Fixing Modeling Issues with 3D Builder
7. Set the Save as type to
“STL format (*.stl)” and
hit Save
8. Hit Save again on the
warning prompt.

48. Vicky Somma vicky@tgaw.com