Tweaker-3

The Tweaker is an auto-rotate module which finds the STL or 3MF object's optimal orientation on the printing platform to improve the efficiency of 3D printing.

Auto-rotation of a model Author: Christoph Schranz, 12.01.2016

Salzburg Research

Quickstart:

python Tweaker.py -i demo_object.stl -vb

Extended mode:

This mode yields the most reliable results, but needs slightly more computation time. This is the suggested mode.

python Tweaker.py -i death_star.stl -vb -x

Minimise the necessary support material:

If you want to optimise the print in terms of minimal support surfaces instead of the default volume, add the parameter -min sur or --minimize surfaces

python Tweaker.py -i demo_object.stl -min sur -x

Convert a 3mf object to stl without tweaking:

python Tweaker.py -i pyramid.3mf -c -o pyramid.stl

Choose the output type of the STL format:

python Tweaker.py -i pyramid.3mf -t asciistl

You can choose the output types "asciistl" and "binarystl" (default). "3mf" is not supported yet.

Just see the results:

python Tweaker.py -i demo_object.stl -r

Show the progress of tweaking:

python Tweaker.py -i demo_object.stl -x -p

Designer Mode:

In some cases the smoothness of one side's surface may be more important. Therefore, orientations closer than 45 degrees to a vector can be weighted. The use of the extended mode -x is also recommended. Here is an example of how to favour the side x,y,z=0,-1,2.5 with a weighting factor of 3:

python Tweaker.py -i demo_object.stl -vb -x -fs "[[0,-1,2.5],3]"

Find Help:

python Tweaker.py -h

Version:

python Tweaker.py -v

Plugins:

Cura 15

There is a plugin for Cura 15.04 in the directory AutoRotate Plugin/Cura15_04. This version of Cura, however, is outdated and later versions are recommended.

Cura 2, 3 and 4

In recent versions of Cura, the Tweaker-3 is available as Auto-Orientation - plugin in the Marketplace (Cura >= 4) respectively the plugin manager. The plugin's source can be found here.

OctoPrint

The Tweaker-3 is available as PrePrint-Service in OctoPrint and can be installed as described in this instruction. Note that this module combines the auto-rotation functionality with slicing in an external Docker service.

Webservice

Another way to test the functionality of the Tweaker-3 is the usage of a Docker-based web service as described in this PrePrintService-repository.

Interested in how the algorithm works?

This Whitepaper declares this program. Additionally, background infos and benchmarks are provided.

Donation

Most of this code was developed in my spare time to provide a performant auto-rotation module to the open-source 3D printing community. If you like this project or it helps you to reduce time to develop, I would be very thankful about a cup of coffee :)