Product Overview > Slicing a First Print File

When the Simplify3D and the ZYYX profiles are installed you can "slice" your first print file.

"Slicing" is the process necessary to convert a 3D model into a file that can be understood by the 3D printer.

1. Adding a model

Click the Import button and select an STL file that has been exported from your CAD software.

Click open.

In our example the ZYYX proCarabiner is used.

The model may be reviewed and manipulated using the Tool Bar options (listed vertically on the right side of the window).

Simplify3D start5B Open model → Simplify3D start6

2. Placing the model on the print surface

Depending on how the STL file was exported, you may need to place it in a suitable position for printing.

Do this by marking a suitable surface on the model and pressing CTRL-L (=menu Edit - Place Surface on Bed). You may also use the Center and Arrange button.

Doing this wisely may save trouble and time when printing and reduce the need for support structures.

3. Adding a process and selecting profile

Click Add to see the FFF settings screen as shown to the right.

Simplify3D start6B Add process → Simplify3D start6C Process screen

4. Selecting profile

Select the profile for the SwiftTool nozzle that you will use. In the example, the Carbon0.6 is chosen to print with proCarbon filament.

Please note that ZYYX pro profiles are not compatible with ZYYX+ or ZYYX Classic machines, and vice versa.

Simplify3D start7B select ST

5. Selecting material / filament

Select the filament to use for your print. In the example proCarbon is chosen.

It may be useful to check the table in section Printing to know what materials to use with which profile.

Simplify3D start8B select Filament

6. Other process settings

There are many different settings that can affect the print result. Most are automatically selected by the profile, but there are some important ones on top, as highlighted in the picture to the right.

Simplify3D start6D Process screen infill+raft+support beskuren

Print Quality: Controls vertical resolution. The medium setting is usually sufficient. A fine quality print takes roughly twice the time to print compared to a medium.

Infill Percentage: Decides how much material will be used inside massive parts. A lower number gives faster prints, a higher usually gives stronger parts.

Include Raft: Adds a plate below the print. This is default for all ZYYX profiles and gives better adhesion and quality.

Generate Support: Add support if your model has flat overhangs or other complex structures that e.g. begins in free air, and has no natural attachment from the build-plate and all the way up.

Below these four settings, there are many more settings that may be useful for an expert user. Use of the ZYYX profiles optimizes all these automatically.

Click OK to close.

7. Creating the sliced model

Click the button Prepare to Print!.

Simplify3D start10 beskuren

8. Viewing the sliced model and saving print file

In this view, a preview is shown of what the print will look like. The sliced model can also be zoomed and rotated the result, just as in the previous 3D model view.

There are also lots of other useful information as shown in the picture to the right.

A: Estimated print time, material use, and cost.

B: Saves the sliced model to the X3G format file for the printer.

C: Allows a layer-by-layer preview of the print process.

Finish by clicking the B button and save the X3G file to a known place. We suggest that the file name also includes information about material and SwiftTool size. The file name is limited to 32 characters, so a short

Simplify3D start11 slice+pilar

code suffix like "-P04" for proPLA with 0.4 SwiftTool or "-C06" for proCarbon with 0.6 SwiftTool allows more space for the description.

9. Copying file to SD Card

Finish the process by copying the X3G file to the SD card. Go to the Printing section to continue.

More details on the Simplify3D software is found at www.simplify3d.com. A Simplify3D Quickstart Guide is found at www.simplify3d.com/support/quick-start-guide/.

Please note that damage occurring due to deviation from our provided profiles (including printing without a raft) will not be covered under ZYYX Labs's warranty policy.

Due to limitations in the Simplify3D software it always ask you to save any profile settings that you have modified. Always click "No". If you by mistake click "Yes" we recommend that you to restore the ZYYX profiles by deleting and adding them again, as described in section Setting Up the Simplify3D Slicer Software and ZYYX pro Profiles.