PrusaSlicer 2.3.0-beta3

PrusaSlicer PrusaSlicer 2.3.0-beta3

Summary

This is the third, hopefully the last beta release of PrusaSlicer 2.3.0, following 2.3.0-alpha1 ↗, 2.3.0-alpha2 ↗, 2.3.0-alpha3 ↗, 2.3.0-alpha4 ↗, 2.3.0-beta1 ↗ and 2.3.0-beta2 ↗.

This release mostly fixes bugs found in previous beta, but it also brings several improvements, namely completely reworked Avoid crossing perimeters feature. For the new features in the 2.3.0 series, please read the change logs of the 2.3.0 alpha and beta releases.

To let you enjoy the beta without worries, the beta builds save their profiles into PrusaSlicer-beta directory, so you may use the beta side by side with the current release without ruining your production configuration. If upgrading from any of the PrusaSlicer 2.3.0 alpha releases, you may consider to rename your PrusaSlicer-alpha directory to PrusaSlicer-beta.

Reworked Avoid Crossing Perimeters

Avoid crossing perimeters is an algorithm to minimize crossings of external perimeters during travels, thus reducing stringing and improving overall print quality. The algorithm we inherited from Slic3r has gained a bad reputation for being suboptimal and very slow. After analyzing various path planning strategies, we have completely reworked the algorithm in this release. The old algorithm by Slic3r tried to minimize time spent when traveling over external surfaces of an already printed object. Such strategy may have been effective in the olden days of very leaky extruders.

Today stringing is more an issue than leaking, thus a different strategy is called for. The new algorithm tries to route a travel path inside object islands with a shortest path while avoiding holes and concavities, while it takes the shortest path when traveling between islands.

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The old algorithm often produced travels that crossed perimeters, while the new one decreases the number of perimeter crossings to a minimum. Compared to the old algorithm, slicing time is also significantly reduced. This fixes issues #355, #587, #2213, #2495, #2872, #2899, #3185, #3307, #3466, #4102, #4219, #4881, #5120, #5177 and most likely also #2604, #2891, #3968 and #4030. We have added a new parameter Avoid crossing perimeters - Max detour length, which allows to limit the maximal length of a detour.

For example, traveling from one end of a spiral to the other end inside the spiral while avoiding crossing perimeters is likely not the best idea and a straight path should be taken instead.

Other improvements with respect to PrusaSlicer 2.3.0-beta2

• The existing 'G-Code thumbnails' parameter has been made available at the Printer Settings parameter page. The new field accepts entries such as "16x16, 220x124" describing picture sizes to be exported into the G-code file. The printer firmware or an OctoPrint plugin may then show the print thumbnail on the screen. Thumbnails were generated by PrusaSlicer 2.2.0 already, but the option was not available in GUI. (#4112)
• About Dialog newly provides a button to copy PrusaSlicer version information into clipboard. (#4990)
• PrusaSlicer newly maintains a "converted from inches to mm" flag at each object model, and this new "sourceininches" tag is also stored into AMF and 3MF files. PrusaSlicer no more allows to convert one geometry "from inches" twice in a row, and the 'Reload from disk' action reproduces conversion from inches to millimeters. (#5007)
• PrusaSlicer no more offers conversion from inches for small objects when loading 3MFs or AMF saved by PrusaSlicer, as these are considered project files. (#5006)
• Improved error reporting when loading invalid preset bundles. The line where the error occurs is now mentioned in the error message. (#5291)
• Hotkeys to add/remove instances (+ and -) newly work in the object list, not just in the Plater 3D scene. Unfortunately this does not work on OSX with non-US keyboard layouts. (#5350)
• Minimal height of the object list has been increased. The object list was getting smaller gradually as new features were being added to the side panel. (#5162)
• Preferences dialog has grown over time and became cluttered. It is newly split into several Tabs for clarity and to fit smaller screens. (#5381)
• A new macro function random(min, max) has been added to custom G-code parser. The new random() function returns a random number in the range specified by the parameters. The type of parameters defines the type of the output. (#4001, #5219) thanks @ardenpm.
• When using Spiral Vase mode, it is not possible to print more objects or object instances unless sequential printing is active. The latter information has now been added into the error message appearing after the user attempts to add multiple objects to Plater in non-sequential mode. (#2500)
• Refreshing G-code Preview after changing visualization options should now be faster.
• The "Export to hard drive finished" notification newly fades out after 20 seconds.
• When closing PrusaSlicer while an upload of a G-code or SL1 file is in progress, PrusaSlicer newly asks whether to cancel the upload and close PrusaSlicer, or whether to open the Upload dialog and wait.