Configuration editor reference

Dialog elements and functions explained

To enter the configuration editor, click Change in the context view of a PBF-type machine workspace.

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Working with a selection in the configuration editor

This is the first page of the configuration editor. Select a configuration to proceed.

Context menu options

Edit: Opens the parameter pages available for editing in of the selected configuration. These pages are specific to the type of configuration (simple, programmable, EBPA, machine-specific). Only custom configurations can be edited. Attempting to edit a built-in configuration prompts to create an editable duplicate.
New from template: Opens a dialog to create a custom configuration from a selection of built-in configurations
Delete: Deletes custom configurations. Built-in configurations cannot be deleted.
Duplicate: Immediately duplicates the selected configuration, built-in or custom, and renames the duplicate by prepending "Duplicate of"
Import: Opens an Open File dialog to browse for an importable build configuration in the TOOLPATHXML format previously exported from Netfabb
Export: Opens a Save File as dialog to save the selected configuration in the TOOLPATHXML format. EBPA configurations can be exported like that as well, but maintain the encryption for the logic part.
Import EBPA buildstyle: Opens an Open File dialog to browse for an EBPA file

Selection options

Show only custom configurations: Hides all built-in configurations
Show laser distribution: Hatch the build platform in different colors to illustrate the areas where multiple lasers are able to reach, where applicable

Selection buttons

New, Delete, Edit: as above
Select: Closes the configuration editor and sets the selected configuration as the one to use in the current machine

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Editing a configuration

Current configuration
Name	Text that appears in the machine workspace context view to indicate which configuration was chosen.	Caution: Netfabb does not prevent you from having multiple configurations with the same name.
(UUID)	A unique ID used by Netfabb to tell configurations apart. Normally nothing to worry about during regular work, but may be used for trouble-shooting when suspecting configuration-related conflicts.
Description	Text to provide more detail, or a comment
Type	One of Simple, Programmable, Diagram, EBPA, or a machine-specific custom type
Change type	Simple-type configurations may be converted to Programmable or Diagram, and configurations of type Programmable or Diagram may be converted into their respective opposite.
Configuration details
(parameter list), XML program code, or (visual programming tools)	Lists parameters exposed by Simple- or EBPA-style configurations, or lists the XML source code for the build strategies contained in the configuration, or visualizes relationships between calculation blocks in it For EBPA-type configurations, shows a separate page for platform settings that affect the whole build. This can include an exposure order setting that overrides the one set on the Global settings tab.
Global settings
(parameter list)	Lists parameters pertaining to, or affecting, the whole build

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Global settings parameters

Note: The availability of these parameters may depend on the machine type. Exemplarily, these are the parameters available for the Autodesk Generic MPBF machine.

Build time calculation
- Spot size: Used to calculate the volume occupation for volumeless, open structures such as open structured support that is exposed with just a single line
- Build rate: Used to estimate the build time of the project
- Recoating time: Period of time inserted between layers to account for recoating in the build time estimation
Tray settings
- Pretoolpath scaling X, Y, Z: Scales the entire buildroom before slicing and toolpath generation by these amounts
- Part order: Determines the order in which the parts are exposed.
  Choose from:
  - Project tree: Same order of parts as in the project tree. Use drag&drop to change the order.
  - Left to right: +X
  - Right to left: -X
  - Front to back: +Y
  - Back to front: -Y
  Caution: Toolpathing algorithms in an EBPA may override these.
Scan first layers multiple times: Repeats exposure of the first few layers
- Number of layers: How many of the first few layers to repeat the exposure for
- Multiple scan count: Expose this many times per layer
Naming
- Part suffix
- Open support suffix
- Closed support suffix

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Configuration details for Simple-type configurations

Simple-type configurations expose or present a selection of parameters that are converted internally to XML-programmable toolpathing. Simple-type configurations are not user-definable, configurations cannot be converted to this type.

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Configuration details for Programmable-type configurations

The Programmable type is a text-based display variant for Netfabb's XML-programmable toolpathing, showing the actual XML code.

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Configuration details for Diagram-type configurations

The Diagram type is a graphical display variant for Netfabb's XML-programmable toolpathing. Configurable function blocks and connection lines both visualize and provide visual programming access to the definition of the build strategies contained within a build configuration.

Graphical toolpath editor

Select: Use to select existing function blocks and reveal their settings in the view by the right-hand side of the editor. This mode must also be chosen when right-clicking a connection to access its context menu.
Create connection: Use to define output-input relationships between function blocks. Functions can have as many outputs as required. Some functions require multiple inputs.
Create offset: Draws the closed input contour displaced by this value. Positive numbers mean an offset towards the area enclosed by the contour.
thinwalls: Generates a hatchline along very narrow or acute sections of contours where regular filling or contour offsets would leave an unacceptable gap.
subtract: Performs a Boolean subtract of two closed contours.
Requires two inputs. Right-click their + and - labels and choose Switch input for Subtract from the context menu to flip assignment when the connections have already been created.
intersection: Performs a Boolean intersect of closed contours, including intersecting contours in its own source.
Can have multiple inputs, forwarding only the intersection formed by all involved contours.
unify: Performs a Boolean unification of closed contours, including intersecting contours in its own source.
Can have multiple inputs, forwarding the unification formed by all involved contours.

Tip: Use to unify solid support bars in bouquets as bundling the individual bars naturally creates multiple intersections.
linestippling: Subdivides contours into short segments that are then exposed in interleaved order
axisfilter: Crops input toolpath to specified ranges along X and Y and discards any offcuts
downskin, upskin: Identifies contour segments that correspond to upwards or downwards-facing surfaces with shallow angles against the horizontal
hatchfilling, stripefilling, quadfilling, checkerboard, radial hatches: Generates area-filling hatching in various variants from contour input
layerfilter: Selectively forwards or discards toolpath data for calculated layers
hatchsort: Changes the draw order of hatches
regionsort: Changes the draw order of contours
hatchcutting: Trims hatches with a contour as a stencil
Requires an input of hatches and an input of contours. Right-click their H ("hatches") and S ("stencil") labels and choose Switch input for Hatch cutting from the context menu to flip assignment when the connections have already been created.
hatchextension: Uses an experimental algorithm to lengthen hatches for machines that do not compensate for laser switching and galvo acceleration themselves ("skywriting")
Rasterization: Toggles grid snapping for positioning the function blocks
Arrange: Attempts to distribute the function blocks across the available space to avoid overlapping
Freeze: Toggles fixation of the function blocks to the view area
Undo, Redo: Takes back changes, or applies them after all