Using Slic3r with the

XYZprinting DaVinci 1.0

Introduction:
XYZware has had quite a few problems for DaVinci users. The
software tends to freeze when slicing more complex files, and there are few
options for customization. Ive seen some forum posts and a YouTube
video detailing this following procedure, but theyre not the easiest to follow.
Read along to see how you can get those Slic3r outputs printing on your
XYZ DaVinci!

Software Used:
Slic3r
XYZware
Notepad++

Step 1: Download your Object and Open in Slic3r
I really liked this treefrog on Thingiverse, so were going to have that as our
example. Download the .stl (or whatever youre using) onto your
computer.



Step 2: Slic3r Settings
Im only going over the settings you need to change. Everything else is up
to your discretion.
Speed: The DaVinci isnt fast
enough to handle the default
printing speeds in Slic3r. Ive
included a screenshot of the
settings that work for meyou
can make changes as you see
fit.
Filament: Make sure the
diameter is 1.75mm, and I like
to set the extruder multiplier to
1.05. Here is where you can
make your temperature
changes. The printer WILL
NOT PRINT at higher than
default temperatures unless
youve changed the maximum
temps with the filament re-setter
mod.
Printer Settings: Make sure the
dimensions match those of the DaVinci. That would be 200mm x
200mm, with an origin at 100mm,100mm. The GCode flavor should
be set to RepRap (Marlin/Sprinter/Repetier). For extruder settings,
make sure the nozzle is at 0.4I left everything else on the default
settings.
Now you can generate your .gcode! Once thats done, open the .gcode file
in Notepad++

Figure 1: Speed Settings for the DaVinci

Step 3: Editing with Notepad++










Next we need to base-64 encode our .gcode. Hit ctrl+a to select all of the
text in the file, then go to Plugins > MIME Tools > Base 64 Encode







Now save your gibberish-looking .gcode file as a .3w file.
Open up the
.gcode file with
Notepad++. You
should see
something like this:


Now replace
the header with
the following
(highlighted,
taken from an
XYZ print file):


Step 4: Open in XYZware
Open up your new .3w file in XYZware. What you see is the same as after
XYZware slices, before it sends a job to the printer! Note the skirt around
the frog that Slic3r created. I like that a lot better for clearing the nozzle
than sweeping along the edge of the bed! You can click print and the
DaVinci will do its thingbe warned that if you raised the temperatures, it
will take a few minutes longer to heat up.

Ill let the two frogs speak for
themselves. The one in the
background (White ABS) was my
first print on the DaVinci, using
the default software. The frog in
front (Natural ABS) was printed
using the Slic3r code. The finish
is a good deal smoother because
I was able to set a higher printing
temp of 230C. Happy Printing!