Configuration editor reference

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

Editing a configuration

Global settings parameters

• 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

Configuration details for Simple-type configurations

Simple-type configurations expose or present a selection of parameters. Internally, these configurations are XML-programmable and can thus be converted into the types Programmable or Diagram. However, configurations cannot be converted or converted back to Simple-type.

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.

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.

Editing controls

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.

Toolpath filters and generators

Create offset	Draws the closed input contour displaced by this value. Positive numbers mean an offset towards the area enclosed by the contour.	Ignores open contours and hatches
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 only source if applicable. Can have multiple inputs, forwarding only the intersection formed by all involved contours.
unify	Performs a Boolean unify of closed contours, including unification of contours in its only source, if applicable. 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 contours and hatches to specified ranges along X and Y and discards any offcuts
downskin, upskin	Identifies contour segments that correspond to surfaces facing upwards or downwards 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")

Arrangement controls

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