Smoothing

[Kevan]

I had an interesting email from All3DP today about using the 'Subdivision Surface Modifier' in Blender.

I loaded the Lola T163 file kindly sent to me today and tried smoothing the bodyshell...it's a RAM hungry process and if you try to push the process to far Blender crashes. After half a dozen attempts/crashes I managed to save a smoothed file.

I also had the same original file smoothed in much simpler fashion in 3D Builder...also a slow process but not crash-prone like Blender. I saved that file also.

Then I opened these two files with the original file in Qidi Print (Qidi's rehashed Cura to you and me) to compare the three:




From left to right: Original file, Blender smooth, 3D Builder smooth.
...I think 3D Builder did the best job.

[chappyman66]

Very interesting, Kevan. I have some inkling that the QidiPrint software or printer firmware has some interpolation or anti-aliasing or something built in. Racer1h and I can print exactly the same file and his Qidi is smoother than my Ender. It's not a lot.....both printers make a good body when tuned....but the Qidi has some magic somewhere in there.

But smoothing in 3D builder is pretty powerful, obviously. Hopefully the prints look good too!

[Kevan]

It makes the .stl file HUGE compared to the original...but should save a few hours post process work