Cura 3.X.X

I've had Cura 3.2.1 installed for a while, but rarely used it, instead using the 'old' number V14.

I upgraded to 3.3.1 and mistakenly uninstalled 14. I'm glad I did as after a bit of tuning I seem to be getting my best prints yet. In particular, it is doing very nicely finished top surfaces - I suspect it is using gradual acceleration when it changes speed and the default anti-stringing seems to be spot on.

Neil

Hi Neil,

Have you tried the ironing feature within the shell group of settings? I find it gives a stunning top surface finish.

Andrew.

I'm in much the same position as you, Neil. Have been running Cura 15.x and have refused its attempts to upgrade to 3.x because .... well if it ain't broke .....

Funnily enough I just installed 3.0.4 about a week ago, alongside 15.x ( it will install separately but the questions it asks during setup are oddly worded and it would be easy to delete the earlier version). I haven't used it yet although I dug up the appropriate printer profiles. Your words are encouragement - I'd probably let it update first.

I'll take a look, I assume it gently strokes the top of the print with the head without extruding?

Yes run them side by side as I'm sure you will want to tweak settings in 3.3. You also need to explore to make various advanced settings visible.

Exactly as you describe Neil, I haven't experimented with the 8 sub options, just observed super smooth top surface (for admittedly level planar surface) with the default ironing on setting.

Andrew.

Does leave a lovely finish, but tends to leave a small 'scar' in a few places by not running off the ironed area smoothly.

I had tried the fuzzy surface (to obscure the layer pattern) before, and this seems to have been improved as the default settings are giving me better results than I remember getting before.

Also impressed by the horizontal size factor, I've done prints for the inside and outside of an aluminium tube and they both fit snugly.

I'll pop up pics of the completed article soon.