Ender 3 pro file format ?

[Jan Audio]

Hi, is it simple to generate a file for the ender 3 pro ?
What can i expect ?

I would like to make a generator for my casings, they all have the same design with a few variables.
Is it not to complicated ?

thanks

[hagster]

The ender 3 runs from g-code generated by a slicer such as Cura. There are lots of profiles you can download to configure Cura for the ender3

Cura take an STL file generated by your CAD software

[Jan Audio]

I am trying to make a software or hardware that generates these objects, i am avoiding software that does not run on windows XP

[hagster]

Windows XP. Really, that might be tough.

Maybe OpenScad might be the tool for you. No idea if it runs on XP though.

You will still need a slicer. You can try Cura, Slic3r or Kisslicer. Again, no guarantees on any of these working under XP.

I do think that in 2019 you should be trying to upgrade to a newer supported OS. You could install Ubuntu fairly easily, or even run it from a bootable USB stick if you want to keep XP intact.

[sn4k3]

I think most of programs accept Parameters/Variables
I work with Inventor that support parameters, but won't work with Windows XP, maybe very old versions?
You also have some internet based CAD programs but again, don't know about them, if they have variables or not.
Openscad will do: "System requirements: Windows XP or newer on x86 32/64 bit"

About slicer if you want go with PrusaSlicer i made public profiles that you can use, here: https://github.com/sn4k3/Ender3

[Hemi345]

If you want to programmatically generate gcode yourself, I'd suggest opening one of your .gcode files in Notepad and have a look at what's involved.  You can probably write the code by hand if your case design is super simple but what will be difficult is figuring out the extrusion distance based on the x and y travel distance, where you'll need to retract the filament, etc.  That's where a good slicer makes it easy. I'd suggest reading up on the various gcode commands for the Marlin-based Ender3 to see what they all mean: MARLIN GCODE LINK.

Using a free distribution of linux might be an option to use a command line slicer you can interact with on your old PC.

Here's the beginning and end of a .gcode file I used for my Ender3 with some comments (semicolon) thrown in:

Code: [Select]

M140 S60 ; set bed temp to 60C
M105 ; report temps
M190 S60 ; wait for bed to reach 60c before continuing
M104 S200 ; set hotend to 200C
M105 ; report temps
M109 S200 ; wait for hotend to reach 200C
M82 ;absolute extrusion mode
; Ender 3 Custom Start G-code
G28 ; Home all axes
G92 E0 ; Reset Extruder
G1 Z2.0 F3000 ; Move Z Axis up little to prevent scratching of Heat Bed
G1 X0.1 Y20 Z0.3 F5000.0 ; Move to start position
G1 X0.1 Y200.0 Z0.3 F1500.0 E15 ; Draw the first line
G1 X0.4 Y200.0 Z0.3 F5000.0 ; Move to side a little
G1 X0.4 Y20 Z0.3 F1500.0 E30 ; Draw the second line
G92 E0 ; Reset Extruder
G1 Z2.0 F3000 ; Move Z Axis up little (2mm) to prevent scratching of Heat Bed at a rate of 3000mm/sec
; End of custom start GCode
G92 E0
G1 F3000 E-6 ;
;LAYER_COUNT:46
;LAYER:0
M107
M204 S5000
M205 X30 Y30
G0 F2000 X102.893 Y95.189 Z0.2
M204 S500
M205 X20 Y20
;TYPE:SKIRT
G1 F3000 E0
G1 F1200 X103.365 Y94.683 E0.02301  ; move hotend to X and Y position and extrude .02301mm of filament
G1 X103.893 Y94.234 E0.04607
G1 X104.468 Y93.849 E0.06908
G1 X105.085 Y93.534 E0.09212
G1 X105.733 Y93.291 E0.11514
G1 X106.406 Y93.124 E0.13821

[lots of printing commands snipped] ...

G1 X126.51 Y100.003 E968.69219
G1 X126.51 Y134.997 E969.85609
;TIME_ELAPSED:931.509103
G1 F3000 E963.85609
M140 S0
M204 S4000
M107
; Ender 3 Custom End G-code
G4 ; Wait
M220 S100 ; Reset Speed factor override percentage to default (100%)
M221 S100 ; Reset Extrude factor override percentage to default (100%)
G91 ; Set coordinates to relative
G1 F1800 E-60 ; Retract filament 60 mm to allow removal
G1 F3000 Z20 ; Move Z Axis up 20 mm to allow filament ooze freely
G90 ; Set coordinates to absolute
G1 X0 Y235 F1000 ; Move Heat Bed to the front for easy print removal
M84 ; Disable stepper motors
; End of custom end GCode
M82 ;absolute extrusion mode
M104 S0
;End of Gcode


[beanflying]

I am trying to make a software or hardware that generates these objects, i am avoiding software that does not run on windows XP

  Please give very very good reasons why you want to go through the pain of XP which more or less pre dates the entire industry platforms?

As above yes you can write GCode but without significant numbers of files that "work and print reliably" as a starting point you are climbing a ladder with a leaky bucket of poo over your head.

There is some nerds out there who have written software to generate Laser cutting files so it could be done for 3DP but there are a lot more variable with it than simple 2D on off commands.

[Jan Audio]

Thank you Hemi, looks complicated, i mean its not only position numbers, you have to do all thinking for the machine,
i dont own a printer yet, my friend has one, i dont know enough yet, i,m still in doubt if i buy one next week.

@beanflying : i give you a good reason, why would i buy a new computer to support windows10 ?,
my computer is good, i have to vacuum clean it and remove dust in cooling block soon.
MPLABX works, the latest v2, you can download old version, and XC compilers work.
3D max works, and my visual professional package works.
Not gonna buy software that only works online.
I CAN NOT INSTALL WINDOWS 7 or up.

[beanflying]

So you only build Valve Amps then 

With both your hands tied behind your back by XP in a modern world and refusing to look at online which may have been your only path forward your future with 3D Cad and 3D printing will remain largely a WOFTAM because no one will keep or create reverse compatibility for your hair width narrow requirements.

Good luck with staying planted in the past.

[Jan Audio]

Good luck with buying a new computer the latest antivirus firewall and with the updating.
My computer is mine, on yours artificial intelligence is being developped ( not by you ).

[bd139]

Lose XP now. Total liability. As bad as the fucking anti vaxxers.

I am using FreeCAD and Cura for mine.

[Jan Audio]

And good luck with formatting your hard-disk, you are not allowed 

[Jan Audio]

Like windows 10 was ever good ?
Lose win7 also in 3 months.
It wont be good ever.
Whos computer ?, you say its my computer and i dont mind they taking control over it for building artificial intelligence, have you installed anything from adobe ?

[bd139]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004CR6AM4/

[tautech]

I reluctantly moved on from XP years ago to W7 and it was great. For a while I had W7 and 8.1 dual booting then moved to W10 a year or so back. Zero regrets !
Been running just I3's and 8GB of RAM and it does everything I need.

[Jan Audio]

Well i have a celeron,
i have computer on all day, looking at source code, add a line, text only.
The computer suppose to do nothing all day.

With windows 10 its different, its alive, i bet your HD will die from win10 without doing anything.

[tautech]

Nope, OS is on SSD, that’s the way we do things these days.

[Jan Audio]

Back to the 3D format.
Then i need to generate something and use cura no problem.
The cura does all the heating and moving then ?, ok.

[bd139]

Cura generates a gcode file from the stl. Then you shove that on an SD card and stick that in the front of the machine and it reads it.

stl file is a 3d mesh. Cura slices a solid representation of that mesh and turns that into movements for the machine to make (gcode). The printer just runs the gcode program.

[NiHaoMike]

If you have a PC that old, a Raspberry Pi 4 would be a decent upgrade.

[Jan Audio]

So i need to generate STL files, thank you

[Jan Audio]

If you have a PC that old, a Raspberry Pi 4 would be a decent upgrade.

It is about time, i want to program pic chips from a pic chip, monitor keyboard + mouse & compiler without windows.

[hagster]

I can understand wanting to stick with XP. That's fine, your choice.

But I can also understand why software developers don't want to develop tools or provide patches for it. It's also totally vulnerable to viruses and malware. Fine for a standalone that never connects to the internet, but otherwise you will just end up with a bit running malware, sending spam and mining bitcoin.

I would suggest that Linux is a great alternative to XP if you don't want to move to Windows10.

It's also worth considering online CAD software such as Onshape.

[sn4k3]

I use Windows XP, a dedicated host for my CNC machine, amazing startup times with old HDD and low resource hog, but is only for offline use without any other program than Mach3.
Windows 7 was good but 10 is even better. Of course each version will suck more resources but that's the way things goes, the more we have more they will use. Try install chrome on XP, it will draw same ram if you have it, problem on old PCs are the new software, made for the new modern pcs with more resources. The only way to survive on very old machines are the outdated sofware made for that years. Or try a linux with lightweigth interface and software.

If you fear the spy there are scripts to put Windows10 under a cage eg: https://github.com/W4RH4WK/Debloat-Windows-10
NOTICE: A tentacle may can pass the cage

But if you use Windows XP online the changes are worst than windows 10 due security brench.
Windows XP is excellent to run hidden code with admin permissions to do whaever dev want, you may be spyed right now and every key recorded. If you search for Windows XP vs 10 the results may be influenced and praise XP, hackers manipulating your search to make you keep on XP.

[Jan Audio]

If you fear the spy there are scripts to put Windows10 under a cage eg: https://github.com/W4RH4WK/Debloat-Windows-10
NOTICE: A tentacle may can pass the cage

The first thing i read : These scripts have not been tested with the Creators Update.
MS is very smart, they give you a update and set all privacy settings to leak again.
So does google and the rest, data is the new gold.

50% of all telephone calls in the USA is coming from a robot who you learn to speak.

Same with adobe shit ( dont install anything from them ), you install it and you are leak again + AI mined on your computer.
Google learning from you, and tracking you with keypress speed, keywords etc, not just IP or computer.
MS aint dumb, they have a gold mine.

So XP was so unsafe that MS banned it, they are forbidding you to use it, because of the big bad internet virus and criminals ( including governmental and polices ),
how logical is it to make a new windows that only works if you go online ?
They still advicing you to use antivirus, it is the same as saying our product is unsafe, you have to figure out yourself what is the best protection.
So what is the difference with XP ?

WinXP is so old it is accepted you copy it, you dont steal anything from MS because they dont sell it anymore, they wont miss income.
After all these years hobbyists must have made something to hack XP so they can make it how they like, it is common knowledge that wont be updated anymore.
Fresh install and modify, will be better then win10 ever will be from MS, they are doing this on purpose.

If your XP is running slow you can format HD and fresh install.
Win10 wont give you any update after fresh DVD install, new policy, you need to have updates no older then 1 year.
So whats the difference ?

Eventually you be paying per update.