View PLA files  

RE: View PLA files

PLA files ?  PLA is one of the material types the printer can print.  It is not a file type that the printers can use.

If you mean a gcode file sliced for PLA then that would make more sense.  There are gcode file viewers available to download and ones that are based online such as http://gcode.ws/  

For future reference the files that the printer uses to print with are of a type called .gcode.  This is a simple file that directs the printers (or other cnc machine) actions, like moving, heating, extruding etc.  They are very simple and can be opened and read with any text editor.

Slicers such as PrusaSlicer, Cura, Slic3r etc work with model files (stl, .amf, obj etc) and 'slice' the geometry of the model into layers.  They then plot out the paths needed along with the tool commands (like heat extruder, extrude X mm of filament) and save this as a gcode file that the printer can then follow.  Its this file that you save to SD card or send from your pc to the printer.

Websites like gcode.ws basically generate a visualisation of the tool paths contained in the gcode files.

RE: View PLA files

As my primary G-Code viewer I use CraftWare from CraftUnique. It is a great free "not so known" slicer that runs on Windows, Chrome, Linux and Mac.

Loads 3D printer G-Code and displays in 3D viewer with the option to display section cuts, extrusion, speed etc. in different views and colors.

Here an example section view of PrusaSlicer generated G-Code in colored feed rate view.

RE: View PLA files

@neophyl

I understand that my question was a bit stupid, but the answer was not 🙂

your link was exactly what I was looking for.

Thank You!!

RE: View PLA files

@christensen-magne

Not stupid no, just new 😀  Everyone has to start somewhere and you can’t learn without asking questions. Just never stop asking questions as there is always something new to learn. 

RE: View PLA files

@area51 I was really pleased to see your recommendation of CraftUnique.

I am looking for a GCODE viewer that does one thing.. I want to see the dimensions of the part.. I currently use Simplify3D an its unbelievable that this is not included.. CraftUniques looks just as good, and it MUST have what I want.. Right?? Wrong??

Just like Simplify3D it does not show the dimensions and I just don't get they these devs don't show this...

I need this as I have objects which I vary the size very subtly and sometimes I want to check exactly what version/size an object is...

So its back to the drawing board.. I am still looking for an app (not web) based viewer which can show the dimensions of an object in GCODE.

RE: View PLA files

@jweaver

I would like a g-code and stl viewer that allowed models to me measured too - of cause not web based but portable...

RE: View PLA files

For quick checking of STL files I use 3D-Tool which will do overall size and has some very good measuring tools (point to point, face, diameter/radius etc) and will also allow cross sectional viewing.  Available from www.3D-Tool.de 

Not sure if its portable but I have it on a few pc's.

Cant help with the gcode viewer with dimensions, though if you find one be sure to let us know.

RE: View PLA files

Its bonkers that nothing is available... http://gcode.ws/ does what I want.. But its web based and I want an app so I can just double click on a file.

With 2 nice apps which do this (Simplify3D and CraftUnique) its just staggering that they don't show the dimensions of the print.

For me, I just need to know "height".. And a guess a quick scan of the GCODE to look at the number of layers might tell me what I want.. But then again, i use variable layer height on some of the layers, so its not quite as easy as that.

RE: View PLA files

3D-Tool from www.3D-Tool.de only runs on Windows. I'm looking for at tool that is also running on Linux, like CraftUnique ans PrusaSlicer does.

RE: View PLA files

Posted by: @area51

3D-Tool from www.3D-Tool.de only runs on Windows. I'm looking for at tool that is also running on Linux, like CraftUnique ans PrusaSlicer does.

Windows is fine for me.... does 3d-Tool display GCODE files.. i assumed not based on your comment but wonder if i misunderstood.

RE: View PLA files

@jweaver

No its not a gcode viewer.  

RE: View PLA files

Posted by: @neophyl

@jweaver

No its not a gcode viewer.  

Thats what i thought. Im sent a message to CraftUnique asking for them to consider added this functionality.. so hopefully they might on day...

RE: View PLA files

Posted by: @jweaver

[...] I am looking for a GCODE viewer that does one thing.. I want to see the dimensions of the part..

Are min/max dimensions sufficient, or do you need an actual visual representation and the ability to dimension individual parts on the bed? 

RE: View PLA files

Posted by: @bobstro

Posted by: @jweaver

[...] I am looking for a GCODE viewer that does one thing.. I want to see the dimensions of the part..

Are min/max dimensions sufficient, or do you need an actual visual representation and the ability to dimension individual parts on the bed? 

I would quite like to see the object, but for my purposes just seeing the dimensions would do. I dont need to measure anything i just want to see how tall the object is.

http://gcode.ws/ does it perfectly.. but its web based so not ideal.

RE: View PLA files

Incase anyone is interested, I wrote to CraftUnique and at first they misunderstood what I was asking.. But they now understand the request and he put it in as a feature request.

I told them that I was expecting nothing in the near future due to CV, but he said they were still hard at work developing it, so I got a feeling they might add this soon, as I would imagine this is quite easy to impliment..

So fingers crossed we might see this sooner rather than later.

RE: View PLA files

If you're after a quick & dirty solution, you just need to search for the last instance of:

G1 Zxx.xxx ; restore layer Z

in gcode sliced by PrusaSlicer. I have a post-processing script written in python that parses out the extremes of XY movements based on the skirt. It could easily be hacked a bit to spit out the maximum z-height. Just be sure to ignore the post-print Z moves.