Flashforge supplies its printers with their own slicing program called Flashprint. It is compatible with the Flashforge Dreamer, Creator Pro, Finder and Guider 3D printers. The software is easy to use and contains most of the features required for everyday use. However, programs like Slic3r and Simplify3D offer more advanced options for situations where the standard settings do not deliver the desired print quality.
If you do not want to invest time in setting up or buying a different slicing program there is also a way to change quite a lot of advanced settings within Flashforge’s own Flashprint program.
Update 9-May-2016:
Flashprint 3.10.0 was released this week. It includes a new expert mode, which eliminates the need to go into the configuration file for tweaking advanced settings in most cases. For the 2 examples discussed in this article, the features first layer speed and path length have actually been included in the expert print menu! See gallery below:
It is very good to see that Flashforge is continuously updating their slicing program with useful features.
If you still feel some features are missing, follow the instructions below to edit the configuration file.
Flashprint reads the settings for the slicing process from a plain text file which can be edited by the user. The file is called “Default.cfg”and is located in the same location as the Flashprint executable file, see screenshot below:
To open the file, right click on it and select your favorite text editor. I use the freeware program Notepad++, but Wordpad also works. Do not open the file with the regular notepad as supplied with Windows, since this program does not deal with the word wrap function at the end of the text lines correctly.
Once the file is opened, all of the available settings can be verified and changed as needed. See the gallery below for the available parameters. Click on any of the thumbnails to enlarge it to full screen.
The settings are neatly grouped in categories and at the end of each line the range within which each variable can be set is shown, including the default value.
If you have changed a setting and want to save the file notepad++ will indicate that administrator rights are required. Press yes to enter administrator mode and press the save button again.
Any changes made to the default.cfg file will become effective immediately when a new G-code file is made with Flashprint using the print button. It is not necessary to close Flashprint when changing the default.cfg file.
In this article I will describe 2 examples of changed parameters and show how they affect the generated G-code file. The first example is changing the speed of the first layer and the second is changing the length of the pre-extrude path. Although I have not tested the effect of changing each parameter, all of the listed parameters can be modified. Make sure you save a backup copy of the file before making any changes, so you can return in case of a mistake. Also I have noticed that the contents of the file may change during an update of the Flashprint software, so it may be necessary to redo your changes after an update.
Example1: change first layer speed
In this example I have changed the speed (feed rate) of the first layer from 20 to 40 mm/sec by changing the firstLayerMax parameter:
In the screenshot below the effect of this change is shown. The G-code in the top file was generated with the default setting of 20mm/sec and the bottom file with 40 mm/sec. The speed for the first layer changed from 1200 mm/min (=20mm/sec) to 2400 mm/min (40mm/sec).
Example2: change pre-extrude width and length
Under the preExtrude category several parameters are available, like pathwidth and lenght. In this example I have changed the pathWidth from 1.6 to 0.4 mm and the length from 120 to 200 mm.
In the gallery below the effects of these changes are shown:
Of course making changes to the default.cfg file takes a bit more work than changing settings in a program like slice3r, where they are available in the interface. However, if you prefer using Flashprint, then this method may be your only option for some advanced tweaking of print settings.
Hello! If you tested Flashprint with these settings, did you also test the acceleration settings? I see that there acceleration “false”. And if activated does it affect the result as well? I only use Flashprint to make lithopans. I’m still loyal to Prusaslicer :). Works very well. Thanks Egon
Hi Egon, I did not change the acceleration settings. The standard setting work fine for me, so I did not have a need to play around with this setting. Thanks for your feedback! Robin
Thank you! I asked because I discovered in Prusaslicer lowering the acceleration then I think the quality of the corners improved. And when printing harder materials (like ABS, Nylon, ASA, etc.), the diagonal artifacts on straight surfaces got a little better. I think the artifacts are caused by the microvigration of the extruder motor.
It makes sense indeed that acceleration has an effect on print quality depending on the material. I assume this is also incorporated in the different profiles, but not as a separate setting in the interface, so indeed tweaking the setting in the file could be an option. Good tip, I will keep this in mind if I run into any issues that may be resolved by acceleration.
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Hi,
Could you please guide me to make shell count “0”.
I given shell “0” in .cfg file many times but it is not working. the software defaultly considering 1mm.
Hi, although the config file mentions a minimum shell count of zero, I believe this is not possible. Note that this parameter refers to perimeter shells, not the top layer, so I am not sure why you would want to set this to zero as this would only leave the infill of the part.
Hope this helps, Robin
Thank you , top and bottom is possible. Only thing is perimeter and it is not becoming zero. If not in flash print software, How I can do this ?
If you know how to connect the cura with creator, please send the link.
Hi, I am not sure how to connect the Creator with Cura, as I am only using Flashprint and Slic3r at the moment with the Dreamer. Maybe checking out the Cura forums can point you in the right direction.
Robin
Hi, I tried to do this to change the parameter to change de nozzle from 0.4 (default) to 0.2 (new one), but when i open the flashprint, it appears with the standar Path Width = 0.4.
Have you done something similar?
Hi Nilton,
As far as I am aware it is not possible to change the nozzle size in Flashprint. The pathWidth parameter is set to 0.4 by default, but this does not change the nozzle diameter. It is changing the extrusion width, wich is set by default to be the same as the nozzle diameter, in this case 0.4. You could increase it since it is possible to extrude a wider path with a nozzle than its actual diameter. (the pre-extrusion path for example). Ingterestingly the config file indicates a range starting at 0.2mm, but since the nozzle diameter can’t be changed this value is not realistic. I would not go below the nozzle diameter in the extrusion width. For a smaller nozzle diameter you might be better off with a program like Slic3r, which does allow you to change the nozzle diameter. Hope this helps.
Robin
Hi Robin, thanks a lot for your answer, I made a report about some troubleshooting with my flashforge printer (creator pro) I am a little bit frustrated about this, since I buy it to improve my quality of print but I have a lot of problems concerning quality or maybe I am exaggerating with that, Could you give me your email to send my report? Mine is: niltondelgadorivera@gmail.com
Hi Nilton,
I have just sent you an email. If you provide me the details to your problem I try to help you resolve them.
Robin
Hello, I am a researcher at the University of Michigan and I am having trouble viewing the gcode flashprint creates. After clicking the print button, defining the setting and clicking okay, the only file type option I have to save in is .x3g, which is unreadable. I see that you have pictures of the gcode in this article, could you share with me how you got access to those please?
Hi, do you have a Creator Pro printer? In that case your only option is using x3g files, which are unreadable. The Dreamer uses standard G-code. ( If you select the .g format. The .gx format for the Dreamer is also binary but gives you a nice icon of the model in the selection menu on the printer.