{"product_id":"detailed-td-calibration-step-test-for-hueforge-by-xavierfaraudo","title":"Detailed TD calibration step test for HueForge by @XavierFaraudo","description":"\u003cp\u003eNo changes from original design.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:18px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eI report original description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPDATED 2023-07-25: \u003c\/strong\u003eAdded a guide on how to use this test, plus other additional info. If you're interested just in using the test, don't read it whole; just read the “What is the Blending Distance (BD)?” section and do the steps of testing, but skip all \"Additional Info\" and \"Advanced uses\" sections.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn 2023-06-27, Steve from HueForge \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=39uGtPLUr88\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eintroduced the new “step test” calibration\u003c\/a\u003e for the all-important TD in HueForge. This may replace the good “old” FilaScope, \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.printables.com\/model\/513899-screw-on-filascope-for-hueforge\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003efor which I made a screw-on version\u003c\/a\u003e, the step test being faster and more accurate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI liked that, and I felt like it could use some improvements: space for labels, a hole for storage (keychains, etc.), and more steps than 5. Funny enough, my older \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.printables.com\/model\/268434-swatch-modifiers-filamentinfill-customizable-opens\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eOpenSCAD Filament Swatch creator \u003c\/a\u003ealready had some (very little) dabbling with filament color blending, and was more than appropiate to enhance the test model. (The guide has notes on adaptation.)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe step test(s)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThey have been made so each panel is adjacent to its nearest variations, so the rows (if more than 1 row) are read in alternate order, starting by topmost row from left to right. That is: the top row goes from left to right, but the second goes from right to left, 3r from left to right again, and so on, like the \"snake\" game. (The technical term is \"boustrophedon\", \"as the ox plows\".) That's because if all rows had the same order, it would be much more difficult to tell if there was a difference between the last panel of a row and the first of the following row.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere are 2 size factors: \u003cstrong\u003esmall \u003c\/strong\u003eand \u003cstrong\u003ecard\u003c\/strong\u003e. They come in the original \u003cstrong\u003e0.08\u003c\/strong\u003emm layer height and \u003cstrong\u003e0.05\u003c\/strong\u003emm layer height, and have been named for the nearest number of steps (see below). They all have a flat panel-less strip on top for a label, and a 3mm nominal diameter hole (3.3 real) at the top left, spaced 2.5mm from the margins.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(\u003ci\u003eAn important note\u003c\/i\u003e: In the pictures, some of the swatches have a hole \"much\" bigger than 3mm, as I was testing sizes. Anyway, in PrusaSlicer 2.6 is really easy to drill holes by adding a cylinder-shaped \"negative volume\" to the object; and you can use the \"object coordinates\" as reference instead of \"World coordinates\" (combo box above, left the coordinates and rotation). You then can export the plate contents as STL, and the STL will have the hole in it, so you don't even have to _slice_ in PrusaSlicer if you don't want to.)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003esmall version\u003c\/strong\u003e is 30mm “tall” (in depth, or Y axis), just like the original step test, but some variations are longer\/wider:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep test labeled is 30x30mm with \u003cstrong\u003e5 \u003c\/strong\u003esteps (same size as the original step test), and a narrow top strip for the label.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 10-step test is 30x55mm with \u003cstrong\u003e10 \u003c\/strong\u003esteps, with panels the same size as the original step test.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe compact 10-step test is 30x30mm with \u003cstrong\u003e11 \u003c\/strong\u003ecolor steps. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 15-step test is 30x30mm, with \u003cstrong\u003e17 \u003c\/strong\u003ecolor steps.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 20-step test is 30x55mm, with \u003cstrong\u003e21\u003c\/strong\u003e color steps.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 30-step test is 30x55mm, with \u003cstrong\u003e32 \u003c\/strong\u003ecolor steps.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ecard version\u003c\/strong\u003e is 80x55mm, the usual credit card size, and its variations are:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 10-step card (actually has \u003cstrong\u003e9\u003c\/strong\u003e color steps plus 1 blank)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 20-step card (with \u003cstrong\u003e23\u003c\/strong\u003e color steps). This has 10mm (1cm) panels, and is the smallest version I'd use with a Nix mini 2 color sensor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 30-step card has \u003cstrong\u003e31\u003c\/strong\u003e steps, also of 10mm panels.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 40-step card has \u003cstrong\u003e39\u003c\/strong\u003e color steps. This is an extreme case to be used with colorless, very translucent filaments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 95-step card (new 2023-07-07) has exactly \u003cstrong\u003e95\u003c\/strong\u003e color steps.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 125-step card (new 2023-07-07) has \u003cstrong\u003e127\u003c\/strong\u003e color steps. This and the 95-step are \u003ci\u003every extreme\u003c\/i\u003e cases, that likely you won't use in front-lit testing. They have been added, mostly, as an experimental object that roughly fits the FilaScope thickness.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch4\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to use and print\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eI added a comprehensive PDF guide in the “Other Files” section. \u003cstrong\u003eYou don't need to read it whole\u003c\/strong\u003e, just read the \u003ci\u003eWhat is the Blending Distance (BD)? \u003c\/i\u003esection to cover the basic concepts\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eand then do the steps in order, but skip all the \u003ci\u003eAdditional Info\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eAdvanced uses\u003c\/i\u003e sections, until you've got the hang of it and \u003ci\u003eif \u003c\/i\u003eyou want to know more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe modifiers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince the 2023-07-07 update, you can add modifiers to the panels and fine-tune them without interfering with the base, even make the slicer slice them as individual cubes instead of a single surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e(In case you don't know what modifiers are, let's just say that they are objects that are not printed, but instead they modify the slicer settings and behaviour for a given volume (their volume, of course). They may be called \"modifier\", \"modifier mesh\", \"negative volume\" and other names. Refer to your slicer documentation on how add and use them exactly, as the exact method may vary, but they are easy to use and \u003cstrong\u003eextremely powerful\u003c\/strong\u003e.)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the Files sections, you'll see folders with “modifiers” by the folders with the tests themselves. There are modifiers available for all form factors, sizes and layer heights.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll the modifiers have a centering non-printable fillet (unless you're using a 0.15mm nozzle, in which case you'll have another thin brim), so all you need to do to place them is set them in the same coordinates as the modified object, at Z = 0.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere are three types of modifiers included here: \u003cstrong\u003efull-panel\u003c\/strong\u003e (or all-panel), \u003cstrong\u003esplitter \u003c\/strong\u003eand \u003cstrong\u003ehole\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ehole\u003c\/strong\u003e modifiers are to be used as \u003cstrong\u003enegative volumes to make a hole bigger\u003c\/strong\u003e. They come in a range from 3.5 to 6.5mm (plus a 0.15mm radial allowance), in 0.5mm increments. They are named for card format, wide compact and narrow compact. Note that the number of panels doesn't matter for the hole (just the main area size and shape).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003efull-panel modifiers affect all panels\u003c\/strong\u003e, including the first \"zero-height\" panel that's flush with the swatch. This allows you to set quirky and strange settings for better comparison, without affecting the base integrity (that is, the main settings).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSplitter modifiers are an extremely thin grid for the panels\u003c\/strong\u003e (1 micron wide at most). This fools the slicer so it considers each panel as a separate cube, yet they're fused when printed (you'd need a separation of at least one hundred times more for them to not be fused!).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou can play a lot with these and find a unique combination that works best for you. There are a couple examples in the PDF guide, plus more in \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ly3VcAU1a94\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eMarkury's video tutorial\u003c\/a\u003e. I've added the examples from the guide to the Files section, made in PrusaSlicer (for 0.6mm nozzle); they're in the \"Modifier examples\" folder.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTranslucent filaments (and lithophanies and backlighting)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eTranslucent filaments will need (logically) swatches with a higher number of steps, often about or beyond 20. Opaque filaments won't need more than 10; semi-translucent will be in the 10+ to 20 steps range. The only one I've found requiring more than 30 is Spectrum Translucent PLA, which is an exceptionally clear filament (I guess Fillamentum Crystal Clear will be more or less like it). If you use a 0.05mm layer height, you'll need also more steps. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll that said, I think that this swatch-like test is better than FilaScope for filament painting (color blending on an opaque surface), but I don't think that it renders the FilaScope completely obsolete, quite the opposite. For lithopanies, if you have the same light source that you'll be using, the FilaScope is IMHO a better sampler —moreso if you happen to have some luminance tester or sensor. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI'm planning on “mixing” the Swatch\/Step test and the FilaScope “style” in a side-by-side, backlit test, which I call the “Steposcope”. The first prototype is in the “Files” section, but is sure to change. I've left it just in case you want to play around with it and a page binder to hold things in place. See more on my evilian plans for the Steposcope in the PDF guide.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to make your own customized swatches\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs said, these can be made with my  \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.printables.com\/model\/268434-swatch-modifiers-filamentinfill-customizable-opens\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eOpenSCAD Filament Swatch creator\u003c\/a\u003e, that also lets you add text, create modifiers, and some other things.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe newer version 1.1, published on 2023-07-07, includes all presets for everything here, the new features and parameter changes needed, \u0026amp;c. Just select a preset and follow the directions in the “Using OpenSCAD Customizer” PDF that you'll find there.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the PDF guide there are more details on the relevant parameters, as well as an adaptation in case you're using the legacy version 1.0 of the OpenSCAD Filament Swatch creator.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd that's it! Happy transmissivity!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesign by Z3Dartandtech on MakerWorld (license: BY-SA).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mymadmanlab","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67394544533808,"sku":null,"price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0987\/0809\/5280\/files\/0_6c98a586-07cf-4f3c-98e6-3b98cc3dce9e.png?v=1784819439","url":"https:\/\/mymadmanlab.com\/products\/detailed-td-calibration-step-test-for-hueforge-by-xavierfaraudo","provider":"Mymadmanlab.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}