<p>I have a seemingly unique problem. I'm trying to design models that print with single extrusion walls and are not closed volumes. For example, a topographical map model printed on an edge. It has height and width, but no depth. I want the model to print with a single, non-closed extrusion per layer. Printing back and forth as it moves up the model.</p>
<p>When slicers cut up a model, historically each plane must result in a closed shape. The slicer then determines the tool path to create that shape. But what if, instead of a closed shape, the slice results in lines. No area or volume, just lines. Couldn't the slicer then create a tool path at each line?</p>
<p>Is there anything like this available anywhere?</p>
<p>Also, to be clear, I've been doing this 3D printing thing for a long time and know pretty well how slicers work and their resulting models. I've also been 3D modelling for a long time.</p>
<p>The simplest solution I can think of would be to modify a slicer or find a plugin or something that already does what I'm looking for. The second possible solution would be to find 3D software that can &quot;extrude&quot; an arbitrarily complex surface in such a way that normal slicing software with the &quot;detect thin walls&quot; setting enabled would result in a single extrusion resulting in the desired outer surface. I haven't found either in my searching.</p>
<p>The solution should work with nearly any extrusion width or any nozzle. You have a 0.4mm nozzle, you can print the part with wall widths anywhere from ~0.4mm wide to around 1mm. Your choice when slicing. If you have a 1mm wide nozzle, you could print the part with much thicker walls. It would be configurable in the slicer because the model only defines the surfaces, no volume data.</p>
<p>Like I said, this is a seemingly unique problem.</p>

[{'answer_id': 18097, 'author': 'fred_dot_u', 'author_id': 854, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/854', 'pm_score': 1, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>If you are designing a model that has single extrusion walls, you are constructing a design which has volume. A single extrusion wall will be dependent on the nozzle diameter and extrusion multiplier. For the sake of discussion, consider the theoretical nozzle 0.4 mm with a true 0.4 mm extrusion and a 0.2 mm layer thickness.</p>\n<p>Your design should reflect this fact. You can/should design your non-dimensional lines to be 0.4 mm wide and 0.2 mm thick in whatever manner you use to create models.</p>\n<p>Slicer settings can be adjusted to permit single extrusion walls. A common example is vase mode, in which the printer is directed to construct a single extrusion wall in a specified pattern, usually with an appropriately thick base.</p>\n<p>The caveat in this case is that the model file was created to match these requirements. It will be represented as a solid with a thickness to the wall appropriate to the nozzle size.</p>\n<p>If you create test models representing a small sample of your overall project and slice them with your preferred slicer, you can examine the resulting g-code, or use the preview feature common in slicers to determine if your objective is accomplished.</p>\n<p>In summary, every 3D printed model has all three dimensions. This cannot be avoided, other than in a virtual/simulated environment.</p>\n'}, {'answer_id': 18111, 'author': 'R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE', 'author_id': 11157, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/11157', 'pm_score': 3, 'selected': True, 'text': '<p>Use Cura to slice and check out the &quot;Surface Mode&quot; option (might be hidden by default; if so, search for and unhide it). Also known as <code>magic_mesh_surface_mode</code>. The &quot;Surface&quot; choice sounds close to what you want and might suffice.</p>\n'}, {'answer_id': 18160, 'author': 'janherich', 'author_id': 31405, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/31405', 'pm_score': 1, 'selected': False, 'text': '<p>You can also have a look at <a href="https://github.com/janherich/chisel" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chisel</a>, it basically does what you want - creates G-code directly from parametric patches (Bezier, Nurbs), you have fine control over extrusion width in every part of your model (perimeter, infill...).</p>\n<p>It\'s optimised for efficient structural panels so currently always expects 2 faces + infill configuration (could be none for hollow structure), but I will very soon add features like specifying arbitrary number patches with no infill, that way you will have full freedom to design part however you like.</p>\n'}]
['https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/18096', 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com', 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/31235/']