Simplify 3D is software that translates 3D models into instructions for the 3D printer. Models can be easily imported and optimized. The software makes it possible to simulate the printing sequence before printing and thus to identify possible problems at an early stage.
After setting up Simplify3d you will find yourself in the preview window after opening the software. In the middle area is the preview window, in which the build space of the 3D printer is shown, to the left of it, in the upper half of the window, the loaded models are displayed, below the created processes are displayed. On the right side of the window there are the tools for manipulating the model, setting the view and a button for controlling a 3D printer connected via USB and for generating a user-defined support structure.
After setting up Simplify3d you will find yourself in the preview window after opening the software. In the middle area is the preview window, in which the build space of the 3D printer is shown, to the left of it, in the upper half of the window, the loaded models are displayed, below the created processes are displayed. On the right side of the window there are the tools for manipulating the model, setting the view and a button for controlling a 3D printer connected via USB and for generating a user-defined support structure.
In the control bar at the top of the screen, under the “Files” tab with the “Import Models” option. After selecting this option, a window of the Explorer opens in which you can navigate to the corresponding model and select it. You can also select several models in the same folder, these will be arranged automatically. Alternatively, this workflow can also be started using the “Import Models” button on the left-hand side of the screen or using the “Ctrl + I” shortcut.
In addition, models can be loaded directly into the preview window using drag and drop.
If models are not imported together, it can happen that they overlap. In this case, they can simply be arranged using the “Center and Arrange” button on the left-hand side of the screen. If too many models have been loaded, they can be selected with a left click from the preview window or the list on the left edge of the screen and deleted with the "Delete Models" button.
If the models have been imported into the preview window, they can also be examined here.
The view can be zoomed with the mouse's scroll wheel, the view can be rotated with the left mouse button and the view can be moved with the right mouse button. The middle mouse button or the click on the mouse wheel reset the view.
This navigation is identical in the G-Code preview window.
There is also a button with predefined views on the right edge of the screen.
The models can also be modified to a certain extent within the preview window. A double click on the model opens a button on the right edge of the screen.
In the uppermost area "Change Position", the position of the model can be changed by defining the offset of the model origin to the origin of the installation space.
In the uppermost area "Change Position", the position of the model can be changed by defining the offset of the model origin to the origin of the installation space.
The orientation of the model can be changed in the bottom area of this button, "Change Rotation". This is done by rotating it around the individual axes at a defined angle.
In the upper area of the right edge of the screen there is also another button with which the model can be modified "freehand" directly in the preview window.
One of the greatest strengths of Simplify3D is the generation of a support structure defined by the user. The corresponding button is on the right edge of the screen. The corresponding workflow is explained in more detail under "User-generated support structure".
The “Processes” area is located in the lower half of the left edge of the screen. Simplify3D's slicing process is based on processes. The processing parameters for different regions of the model can be varied using different processes. This is examined in more detail in the section "Working with multiple processes". support structure ".
Another process can be added to the process button using the “Add” button. After pressing the button, a window opens in which the process settings can be made. The settings in this window are explained in more detail under the point "Settings in the process window".
Next to the "Add" button is the "Delete" button, with which processes that are no longer required can be deleted. The "Edit Process Settings" button below can be used to change the settings of a process.
With the "Prepare to Print" button, the models are prepared for 3D printing. After pressing the button, a window opens in which the process to be used can be selected. If there is only one process in the process window, the preview window changes directly to the G-code preview.
The tool paths of the print head are graphically displayed in the G-code preview. On the left edge of the screen there is a small window in which data is displayed for printing. Simplify3D calculates the printing time, material consumption and material costs (if this information about the filament is available).
The preview can be adjusted in the area below. The checkboxes can be used to display the construction platform, the print head, the empty travel paths and the positions of the retractions. The dropdown menu offers the possibility to change the color representation. By default, the different features are displayed here, but the printing speed, the tool head responsible for a process and the process can also be displayed.
The generated tool path can be saved using the “Save Toolpaths to Disk” button.
At the bottom of the screen there is a button for visualizing the printing process. Since the printing process can be simulated in this way, problems that may occur later on the machine can be identified early on and corrected with appropriate changes to the settings.
An FFF profile saves the entire settings of a 3D printer profile. It is mainly used to configure the software after installing it on the corresponding 3D printer.
Um ein FFF-Profil zu laden gibt es am linken obern Bildschirmrand, unter dem Reiter „Datei“ den Menüpunkt „Import FFF“.
A factory file saves the models currently in the preview window, as well as the process in the process window. The main task of this file format is communication. In this way, processing parameters can be communicated directly and do not have to be read from the G-code first.
Below you will find detailed information on the other program tabs with detailed explanations and screenshots: