MatterControl Basics: Slicing
MatterControl is a very complete 3D printing package and it's got a LOT of options.
Some people can find this intimidating, but I assure you – there's nothing to be worried about!
MatterControl is an integrated host application. This means that it provides everything
needed to control the Orion and to prepare models for printing. The task of preparing a model
for printing is called “slicing”. It's a very descriptive term for what is actually happening. In order
to print a 3D model, it needs to be converted from a solid object into a series of very thin layers
that are in turn converted into G-Code (more on this later). For example, if your print layer
height is 0.2mm, the slicing tool is going to “slice” your model into a number of layers – basically
the model height divided by 0.2mm. For a tall part, this can mean a LOT of layers!
MatterControl provides three slicers for your use. MatterSlice, CuraEngine, and Slic3r.
This guide will only cover the specifics of MatterSlice, but don't let that stop you from
experimenting with and using the other slicers! I'll show you how to change the slicing engine
later on in this guide.
The final task of the slicer is to translate the sliced layers of model into something called
G-code. G-code is a simple control language that's used to position the print head and tell the
extruder how much plastic to deliver and at what rate. Going into the details of G-code is
beyond the scope of this guide, but if you'd like to learn more you can check out the following
resources:
http://en.wikipidia.org/wiki/G-code
and
http://reprap.org/wiki/G-code
.
For the most part, you'll never directly interact with G-code, but it's nice to know what's
going on behind the curtain!
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