Tag Archives: Cura

3D Printing: Cura CLI Wrapper (cura-slicer)

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Updates:

  • 2021/05/01: 0.0.7: support legacy Cura and --binary=.. to change binary name
  • 2021/03/24: 0.0.5: public release

Introduction

I’m a great admirer of the Ultimaker Cura slicer since years, yet I predominantly have been using CuraEngine on the command-line via Print3r, which hides all the tedious configuration. But it came the point (2021/03) when I needed to have a simpler interface than CuraEngine – hence I wrote Cura CLI Wrapper, the executable cura-slicer looks like prusa-slicer or slic3r and has similar usage.

Speciality is to query all the settings from cura-slicer directly: 

% cura-slicer --help
acceleration_enabled = 0 (default)
acceleration_infill = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_ironing = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_layer_0 = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_prime_tower = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_print = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_print_layer_0 = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_roofing = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_skirt_brim = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_support = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_support_bottom = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_support_infill = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_support_interface = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
acceleration_support_roof = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
...

which lists ~570 settings as of CuraEngine 4.4.1 and its defaults and from where the defaults come from (definition defaults, config or cli), and you can query also a term e.g. like ‘brim’:

% cura-slicer --help brim
acceleration_skirt_brim = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)
brim_gap = 0 [mm] (default)
brim_line_count = 0 (config)
brim_outside_only = 1 (default)
brim_replaces_support = 1 (default)
brim_width = 8 [mm] (default)
jerk_skirt_brim = 20 [mm/s] (default)
prime_tower_brim_enable = 0 (default)
skirt_brim_line_width = 0.4 [mm] (default)
skirt_brim_material_flow = 100 [%] (default)
skirt_brim_minimal_length = 250 [mm] (default)
skirt_brim_speed = 30 [mm/s] (default)
support_brim_enable = 0 (default)
support_brim_line_count = 20 (default)
support_brim_width = 8 [mm] (default)

and with -v switch you even get a more descriptive output:

% cura-slicer --help brim -v
== acceleration_skirt_brim (Skirt/Brim Acceleration) ==
   The acceleration with which the skirt and brim are printed. Normally this is done with the initial layer acceleration, but sometimes you might want to print the skirt or brim at a different acceleration.
   acceleration_skirt_brim = 3000 [mm/s²] (default)

== brim_gap (Brim Distance) ==
   The horizontal distance between the first brim line and the outline of the first layer of the print. A small gap can make the brim easier to remove while still providing the thermal benefits.
   brim_gap = 0 [mm] (default)

== brim_line_count (Brim Line Count) ==
   The number of lines used for a brim. More brim lines enhance adhesion to the build plate, but also reduces the effective print area.
   brim_line_count = 0 (config)

== brim_outside_only (Brim Only on Outside) ==
   Only print the brim on the outside of the model. This reduces the amount of brim you need to remove afterwards, while it doesn't reduce the bed adhesion that much.
   brim_outside_only = 1 (default)
....

Essentially it makes Cura and CuraEngine easy to use on the command-line and provides a way to learn of the hundreds of settings available.

Usage

USAGE Cura-Slicer 0.0.7 aka Cura-CLI-Wrapper (CuraEngine 4.4.1): [<opts>] <file.stl> ...
   options:
      -v or --verbose         increase verbosity
      -vv or --verbose=2          "       "
      --version               display version of this program and exit
      --load=<config>         load config file
      --load <config>           "         "
      --output=<fn>           set output filename
      --output <fn>             "         "
      -o <fn>                   "         "
      --binary=<exe>          set executable of CuraEngine (default: CuraEngine)
      --version=<v>           set version of CuraEngine (default: 4)
      --<k>=<v>               set CuraEngine settings (keys with '-' will be converted to '_')
      -h or --help            display all settings
      -h or --help <term> ..  display settings matching term

   examples:
      cura-slicer --help
      cura-slicer --help retract
      cura-slicer -hv retract 
      cura-slicer sphere.stl
      cura-slicer overhang.stl --output=sample.gcode
      cura-slicer overhang.stl --layer-height=0.1 --support-enable=true -o sample.gcode

Settings

The user settings reside in ~/.config/cura-slicer/base.ini and will not be overwritten when upgrading Cura-CLI-Wrapper, make your changes there.

The system-wide settings reside in /usr/share/cura-slicer/base.ini and should not be be changed as it will be overwritten when upgrading Cura-CLI-Wrapper.

Download

https://github.com/Spiritdude/Cura-CLI-Wrapper

Examples

% cura-slicer cube.stl
== Cura-Slicer 0.0.3 aka Cura-CLI-Wrapper (CuraEngine 4.4.1) == 
processing cube.stl, slicing to cube.gcode
   took 0.62 secs total, done.

% cura-slicer --support-enable=true overhang-inout.stl
== Cura-Slicer 0.0.3 aka Cura-CLI-Wrapper (CuraEngine 4.4.1) == 
processing overhang-inout.stl, slicing to overhang-inout.gcode
   took 0.99 secs total, done.
  • cube.stl
  • overhang-inout.stl
  • with support

References

Whereever I used CuraEngine before in my existing software packages I will switch to Cura-CLI-Wrapper with cura-slicer.

3D Printing: Print3r 0.1.6 Release

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Following major changes of 0.0.9 to 0.1.6 regarding Print3r (command line tool for 3d printing):

Multiple Slicers Support

Now print3r natively supports 4 different Open Source slicers:

  • Slic3r (slic3r)
  • Slic3r PE (Prusa Edition) (slic3r-pe)
  • CuraEngine Legacy (15.04) (cura-legacy)
  • CuraEngine (3.5.x) (cura)

which can be set with --slicer=<slicer> on the command line.

Slicer Independent Settings

Starting with 0.1.0 print3r provides a slicer-independent layer with a growing list of settings:

  • temperature
  • nozzle-diameter
  • filament-diameter
  • bed-temperature
  • etc.

Full list of settings you find at Print3r Github Wiki.

Slicer Specific Settings

Yet, if you must, you can still use slicer-specific settings to fine-tune settings according your print needs and printer capabilities.

Macros (other Profiles)

For often used settings like print quality, or filament settings, you can gather those settings and reference them in the command line like:

% print3r @filament/prusament @thin @hollow cube.scad

Quality Presets:

  • @coarse
  • @medium
  • @fine

Infill/Wall/Perimeter Presets:

  • @heavy
  • @light
  • @feather

OpenSCAD Integration

print3r already supported to print or slice .scad files,

% print3r print cube.scad

and now since 0.1.6 also following command line code integration is possible:

% print3r --scad print "cube(20)"
% print3r --scadlib=washer.scad --scad print "washer(5)"
% print3r --scadlib=parts.scad --scad "c_2020()" "edge_idler()"

Arbitrary Baudrate

Since 0.1.0 also arbitrary baudrate like 250000 (default of Marlin) is supported (Linux only, other platforms not yet), aside the common 115200.

Preview

As external Gcode viewer for preview command yagv is used, a very basic viewer – at a later time it might be replaced.

% print3r preview cube.scad

which converts, slices and preview the Gcode.

Extensive Documentation

Since the functionality of print3r is growing steadily, the requirement for proper documenation demanded its own Print3r Wiki where you find up-to-date information.

Download

https://github.com/Spiritdude/Print3r