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Settings management
All packers provide means to store to and recall from presets for convenience.
| Option | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Manage Settings |
Saves and loads presets of packer settings. |
Use
The presets are stored as SETTINGS files at %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\netfabb\PackerSettings\ in their respective subfolders. |
to save the current settings as a new preset,
to load or overwrite the selected, existing preset, and
to delete the selected preset.
Simple Outbox Packing
| Option | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Minimal Part Distance |
Minimizes the gap between part outboxes |
Minimum distance between parts; applied after finding suitable positions from the specified accuracy. |
|
Voxel Size |
Determines the granularity of checking for available build space. Range: 0.001-1000 mm |
As the size decreases, the sampling resolution of the build space increases, increasing the number of locations that are evaluated for fitting parts. Smaller values will lead to tighter packing at greater computational cost. |
|
only 2D |
Allows or disallows stacking. |
You may wish to disallow stacking for processes that require supports. Parts which do not fit onto the bottom plane are moved out of the platform. |
2D Packing
| Option | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Performance |
Allows for some generosity in checking available build space. Range: 9 steps |
The more accuracy is favored over time spent calculating, the tighter the packing. |
|
Z-Rotation Steps |
Specifies how finely parts may be rotated around the Z axis. Range: From None to 18 divisions of a full rotation |
The more steps you allow, the more variations the packer tries to get a tighter fit, and the costlier the calculation. |
|
Distance to Platform Border |
Sets a margin at the build space's walls at X and Y, within which parts cannot be packed. |
Set an offset to the platform borders, to prevent parts from touching the machine walls and melting. The distance you should set depends on both your machine and process. |
|
Distance between parts |
Pads the voxelized parts with 0, 1, or two layers of voxels |
This bulks up parts as far as the packer is concerned, closing finer contours that become intentionally ignored. |
|
Voxel Size |
Determines the granularity of checking for available build space. Range: 0.5-2.5 mm |
As the size decreases, the sampling resolution of the build space increases, increasing the number of locations that are evaluated for fitting parts. Smaller values will lead to tighter packing at greater computational cost. |
|
Pack only Selected Parts |
When selected, this moves only parts you have selected. |
This can be used to fill gaps between large, manually placed parts using small parts. Works best with part grouping to allow selection of multiple, associated parts at once. |
3D Packing - Scanline
| Option | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Performance |
Allows for some generosity in checking available build space. Range: 9 steps |
The more accuracy is favored over time spent calculating, the tighter the packing. |
|
Voxel size |
Determines the granularity of checking for available build space. Range: 1-5 mm |
As the size gets smaller, the sampling resolution of the build space increases, and the higher the amount of locations that are evaluated for fitting parts. The smaller the size, the tighter the packing can be. |
|
Z-Rotation Steps |
Specifies how finely parts may be rotated around the Z-axis. Range: None to 18 divisions of a full rotation |
The more steps you allow, the more variations the packer tries, to get a tighter fit, and the costlier the calculation. |
|
Allow Part to be flipped upside down |
Enables part to be turned upside down to potentially find denser packings. |
|
|
Rotate XY axis |
Enables the part to be tilted. |
A tilted part may fit better and tighter in smaller spaces. However, depending on the type of machine, this could cause unwanted side effects such as needing more or different support, as well as changed alignment of material grain against the part's geometry. |
|
Pack only Selected Parts |
When selected, this moves only parts you have selected. |
This can be used to fill gaps between large, manually placed parts using small parts. Works best with part grouping to allow selection of multiple, associated parts at once. |
|
Use Interlocking Protection |
Prevents placing parts in positions from which they cannot later be separated. |
This is highly calculation-intensive. You should keep this disabled unless you really need it. When you can already tell from your parts that no interlocking is to be expected, you will not need this option. To prevent large apertures or gaps from having smaller parts intrude or even interlock, consider adding a simple break-away structure to fill such zones. |
|
Limit Platform Height |
Enables you to set a ceiling height that is artificially lower than the actual build room. Range: Up to full build space height |
Set a limit in the z-direction (from the platform top) to ensure you have enough powder above the part to support it, and to prevent quick cooling off. |
|
Distance Side Walls (XY) |
Sets a margin at the build space's walls at X and Y, within which parts cannot be packed. |
Set an offset to the platform borders to prevent parts from touching the machine walls and melting. The distance you should set depends on both your machine and process. |
|
Distance to Platform (Z) |
Raises the part off the platform by the set amount. |
Applies in addition to any setting of Limit Platform Height. Ensure you have enough powder below the part to support it, and to prevent quick cooling off. |
3D Packing - Monte Carlo
Adjust your settings before you start packing. Otherwise, to apply and pack with different settings, you will have to reopen the packer dialog.
| Option | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Performance |
Depending on your selection, packs the parts more or less densely. |
Select Fast to pack faster but more loosely. Select Accurate to pack the parts as densely as possible, at the cost of greater packing duration. |
|
Minimal Distance between the items |
Minimizes the gap between parts |
Minimum distance between parts; tested for after finding suitable positions using the performance setting. |
|
Start Packing from the current Item Positions |
Respects the parts' current positions instead of completely discarding it for the packing to be performed. |
With this option enabled, the packing starts or continues from the current positioning. This ensures that the packing does not deteriorate. Uncheck this option if you want to start over, and also to potentially have parts rotated again. You must close the packer and relaunch it to change your selection. |
|
Lock positions of selected items |
Enables you to anchor selected parts, so that they don't move. |
Use this option to lock one or two important pieces in the exact position you have placed them. Locked items don't move. Other items are then packed in around the locked items. |
|
Initial Item Rotation |
Arbitrary, Around Z Axis only, No rotation |
The packer may attempt to rotate parts at the start of packing, and then pack with the new orientations. Select how you want the initial rotation to occur, if at all.
Tip: This can be overridden individually per part from the part's context menu.
|
|
Limit Platform Height |
Enables you to set a ceiling height that is artificially lower than the actual build room. Range: Up to full build space height |
Set a limit in the z-direction (from the platform top) to ensure you have enough powder above the part to support it, and to prevent quick cooling off. |
|
Distance to Side Walls (XY) |
Sets a margin at the build space's walls at X and Y, within which parts cannot be packed. |
Set an offset to the platform borders, appropriate to your machine and process, to prevent parts from touching the machine walls. |
|
Distance to Platform (Z) |
Raises the part off the platform by the set amount. |
Lift the part above the platform to ensure you have enough powder below the part to support it and to prevent quick cooling off. |
|
Packing Status |
Packed Platform Height, Packed Volume Fraction, Elapsed Time |
Tells you to what height the platform has been filled. Monte Carlo works to limit the packing height. The packing status also tells you what volume of the platform has been filled, and how long the process took. |
|
Show motion of the parts |
Animates the movement of the parts as they are packed. |
Watch the items move into place. Packing takes longer with this option enabled. |
|
Enables you to pack the parts, stop packing the parts, or close the dialog. |
Stop packing if you are already satisfied with the result. Restart packing if the result is unsatisfactory and you want the packer to try again. Close packer to continue with other actions. |
3D Packing - Gravity
| Option | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Performance |
Increases or decreases the physics step |
|
|
Pack only Selected Parts |
When selected, this moves only parts you have selected. |
This can be used to fill gaps between large, manually placed parts using small parts. Works best with part grouping to allow selection of multiple, associated parts at once. |
|
Distance between parts |
Minimizes the gap between parts |
Minimum distance between parts; tested for after finding suitable positions using the performance setting. |
|
Item Rotation |
Arbitrary, Around Z Axis only, No rotation |
The packer may attempt to rotate parts at the start of packing, and then pack with the new orientations. Select how you want the initial rotation to occur, if at all.
Tip: This can be overridden individually per part from the part's context menu.
|
|
Distance to Side Walls (XY) |
Sets a margin at the build space's walls at X and Y, within which parts cannot be packed. |
Set an offset to the platform borders, appropriate to your machine and process, to prevent parts from touching the machine walls. |
|
Preprocess starting positions |
Packs parts into the XY boundaries first |
Use to catch any parts that may lie at least partly outside the buildroom. |
|
Starts the packer Saves the current settings to the currently selected preset Leaves the packer without doing anything |
3D Packer - Size sorting
| Main settings | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Distance to side walls for the central area |
Reserves this size within the buildroom for large parts. |
|
|
Volume threshold A |
Parts larger than this are packed first. |
These parts are placed in the reserved space in the center of the build room. |
|
Volume threshold B |
Parts smaller than this are packed last. |
|
| MonteCarlo settings 1 & 2 | Function | Notes |
|
Minimal Distance |
Parts are packed with at least this distance apart |
|
|
Packing quality |
(Five presets of general packing density) |
|
|
|
Sets a margin at the build space's walls at X and Y, within which parts cannot be packed. |
Set an offset to the platform borders, appropriate to your machine and process, to prevent parts from touching the machine walls. Phase 2 only |
|
|
Raises the part off the platform by the set amount. |
Lift the part above the platform to ensure you have enough powder below the part to support it and to prevent quick cooling off. |
|
|
Arbitrary, Around Z Axis only, No rotation |
The packer may attempt to rotate parts at the start of packing, and then pack with the new orientations. Select how you want the initial rotation to occur, if at all.
Tip: This can be overridden individually per part from the part's context menu.
|
|
|
Respects the parts' current positions instead of completely discarding it for the packing to be performed. |
With this option enabled, the packing starts or continues from the current positioning. This ensures that the packing does not deteriorate. Uncheck this option if you want to start over, and also to potentially have parts rotated again. |
| Scanline settings | Function | Notes |
|
|
Allows for some generosity in checking available build space. Range: 9 steps |
As the size gets smaller, the sampling resolution of the build space increases, and the higher the amount of locations that are evaluated for fitting parts. The smaller the size, the tighter the packing can be. |
|
|
Specifies how finely parts may be rotated around the Z-axis. Range: None to 18 divisions of a full rotation |
The more steps you allow, the more variations the packer tries, to get a tighter fit, and the costlier the calculation. |
|
|
Keep this distance to prevent parts touching the side walls |
Set an offset to the platform borders to prevent parts from touching the machine walls and melting. The distance you should set depends on both your machine and process. |
|
Packing quality |
(Five presets of general packing density) |
Affects the voxel size of the scanline packer |
|
|
Prevents placing parts in positions from which they cannot later be separated. |
This is highly calculation-intensive. You should keep this disabled unless you really need it. When you can already tell from your parts that no interlocking is to be expected, you will not need this option. To prevent large apertures or gaps from having smaller parts intrude or even interlock, consider adding a simple break-away structure to fill such zones. |
|
|
Enables part to be turned upside down to potentially find denser packings. |
