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<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8" />
<title>skFrontend</title>
<style type="text/css" media="screen">
html {line-height: 1.3em}
code {color: brown}
p {text-indent: 1.5em}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>skFrontend</h1>
<p style="text-indent: 0; margin-left: 1.5em;">
A Skeinforge 50 Frontend for 3D Printing<br />
<a href="http://reprapide.fr/skfrontend-a-skeinforge-frontend">http://reprapide.fr/skfrontend-a-skeinforge-frontend</a><br />
Version 1.3 november 2012
</p>
<h2>Introduction</h2>
<p>
Once good Skeinforge settings are found and good prints obtained, RepRap ordinary use only leads to modify a few Skeinforge settings.
</p>
<p>
Without running Skeinforge, skFrontend allows to modify those settings and to run G-code calculation, without being faced to a complex interface. Skeinforge common use becomes easier and, if basic settings are established by an expert, becomes possible for those who don't know this software.
</p>
<p>
As Skeinforge, skFrontend is written with Python and uses Tkinter, no additional software is needed. skFrontend reads and writes settings into it's dedicated profile configuration files. Once settings are saved and a file selected, skFrontend runs Skeinforge's toolchain by calling craft.py.
</p>
<p>
Known problem: Save Modifications button state, activated or deactivated, isn't updated if values are edited into the three spinboxes: Speed Rate, Flow Rate and Infill Solidity. It is updated when values are modified with spinboxes arrows. Workaround: first change values with arrows then edit.
</p>
<h2>Modifiable Settings</h2>
<p>
Of course settings are those I often change, perhaps others could be added…
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Used Profile</strong><br />Picked among profiles into Skeinforge's extrusion directory.</li>
<li><strong>Layer height</strong><br />Layer Height into Carve plugin.</li>
<li><strong>Print velocity</strong><br />Feed Rate into Speed.</li>
<li><strong>Plastic output</strong><br />Flow Rate into Speed. When Feed Rate is changed Flow Rate is automatically modified to be equal to Feed Rate. It can also be changed independently.</li>
<li><strong>First layer speed</strong> (ratio)<br />
The for 1st layer parameters into Speed are set together at the same value. They concern feed and flow rates for infill and perimeter, which can be reduced by ratio.</li>
<li><strong>Plastic filling rate</strong><br />Infill Solidity into Infill. Unlike Skeinforge, this rate is expressed as a percentage, not as 0 to 1 value, which I found more easy to understand. skFrontend converts.</li>
<li><strong>Perimeter speed</strong> (ratio)<br />
The two perimeter parameters into Speed are set together at the same value. They concern feed and flow rates for perimeter, which can be reduced by ratio.</li>
<li><strong>Multiply plugin activation/deactivation</strong><br />
Multiply can be activated when printing only one part, to modify print location.</li>
<li><strong>Lines and columns numbers</strong><br />Number of Columns & Number of Rows into Multiply. To print several parts at once.
</li>
<li><strong>Surrounding layers number</strong><br />Layers To into Skirt. A large layers number may avoid warping. Skirt is activated by skFrontend if number is greater than 0, deactivated if not.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Configuration</h2>
<h3>1- Profile(s)</h3>
<p>
Be sure to have at least one profile into Skeinforge's extrusion directory. Locations :
<ul>
<li>Linux: <code>/home/userName/.skeinforge/profiles/extrusion</code></li>
<li>OS X: <code>/Users/userName/.skeinforge/profiles/extrusion</code></li>
<li>Windows: <code>C:\Users\userName\.skeinforge\profiles\extrusion</code></li>
<li>Windows: <code>C:\Documents and Settings\userName\.skeinforge\profiles\extrusion</code></li>
</ul>
</p>
<h3>2- Three mandatory settings</h3>
<p>
All parameters are set into <strong>config.py</strong>, skFrontend's configuration file. It contains explanations. Three mandatory parameters must be set:
</p>
<ul>
<li><code>skDefaultProfileName</code>, name of the default profile, which must exist</li>
<li><code>skProfilesDirectory</code>, absolute path Skeinforge's extrusion profiles directory</li>
<li><code>skCraftPath</code>, absolute path to Skeinforge's Craft plugin</li>
</ul>
<p>
Windows: double backslashes into <code>skCraftPath</code> and <code>skProfilesDirectory</code>.
</p>
<h3>3- Optional settings</h3>
<p>
The rest of the setup is optional and concerns user interface, especially values into interface controls:
</p>
<ul>
<li><code>layerThicknessList</code> layer thickness dropdown menu, model <code>("0.25", "0.30", "0.40")</code></li>
<li><code>feedRateMinimumValue</code> and <code>feedRateMaximumValue</code> minimum and maximum Feed Rate values spinboxes</li>
<li><code>flowRateMinimumValue</code> and <code>flowRateMaximumValue</code> minimum and maximum Flow Rate values spinboxes</li>
<li><code>multiplyRowList</code> and <code>multiplyColList</code> lines & columns numbers dropdown menus</li>
<li><code>skirtLayersList</code> surrounding layers number dropdown menu</li>
</ul>
<p>
Interface langage can also be set…
</p>
<ul>
<li><code>interfaceLanguage</code>: <code>fr</code> french, <code>en</code> english, <code>de</code> german.</li>
</ul>
<p>
…and absolute acces path to default STLs directory may be set too:
</p>
<ul>
<li><code>STLFilesDefaultDirectory</code></li>
</ul>
<p>
Name of your Python interpreter:
</p>
<ul>
<li><code>pythonInterpreter</code>: <code>python</code> (default) or <code>pypy</code> or another</li>
</ul>
<h2>Running</h2>
<p>
Linux and OS X terminal command:
</p>
<p>
<code>python /path/to/skFrontendDirectory/skFrontend.py</code>
</p>
<p>
Windows: skFronted or alias can be double-clicked. Path to your Python install directory (<span style="font-family:monospace">C:\Python27</span> for example) must be set into <span style="font-family:monospace">Path</span> environment variable.
</p>
</body>
</html>