GCodeZAA

UPDATES:

Thanks to the coverage by CNC Kitchen this idea has been getting a lot more attention.

• ~~@mnott has started a Pull Request to OrcaSlicer~~ the pull request was taken over by @adob and is being welcomed by @SoftFever, builds are already available.
• @adob has implemented ZAA directly into BambuStudio
• As it turns out I'm not the first one to come up with this idea

This is a post-processing script to enable smooth(-ish) non-planar top surfaces through a process I've come to call "Z Anti-Aliasing", to differentiate it from true non-planar top surfaces. Maybe "Surface Layer Contouring" would be a better name.

This script is not super user friendly, but should be fine as a proof-of-concept to hopefully get this implemented in slicers directly.

Features

• Close to zero extra printing time cost
• Works on any model
• Works on any surface (not just the top most like many other projects)
• Sub-layer z-details. You can finally add surface textures in your 3d editor!
• Greatly improved surface finish of shallow angle surfaces
• Supports most of the slicer features

Limitations

• Only works in OrcaSlicer
• Non-planar extrusion flow is not great and needs further testing
• Overlapping/double extrusion (this might be solveable by using ironing lines)
• Random artifacts in walls (this might be solveable by using ironing lines)
• Only STLs are supported
• Requres inner/outer wall order
• Only Klipper is supported (marlin could be done with some more work)
• Layer height is less flexible towards coarse heights

Todo

• [x] Ironing support
• [x] Smooth flow transition
• [ ] Flow normalization (right now speed is kept constant)
• [ ] Travel moves!
• [ ] Overhang z contouring
• [ ] Integrate properly into OrcaSlicer
• [ ] Arc (G2/G3) support

Usage

Orca Slicer + Klipper

1. Slice normally
2. Create a new directory for the plate models
3. For each object on the plate, right click and select "Export as one STL..." and save it as the exact object name to the directory
4. Export the gcode file
5. Run the script as python gcodezaa [path to gcode] -o [path to output] -m [path to the stl directory]

You can use PrusaSlicer to preview the generated GCode, though line height and width will not be displayed properly.

Bambu Studio

Disable Arc fitting

1. Note down the x and y position of your object
2. Slice normally
3. Create a new directory for the plate model
4. Add the following to the post-processing script

python path/to/gcodezaa -m path/to/models -n object_name.stl -p x,y;

Results