Auto-populate density field

[NonaSuomy]

This was kind of a show-stopper adding filament. No spools I had seem to have this listed any place. Maybe add this generic list below to auto-populate that field if you want it a required one?

I found this list to get me through it:

Material | Density [g/cm3] -- | -- PLA | 1.24 ABS | 1.04 PETG | 1.27 NYLON | 1.52 Flexible (TPU) | 1.21 Polycarbonate (PC) | 1.3 Wood | 1.28 Carbon FIber | 1.3 PC/ABS | 1.19 HIPS | 1.03 PVA | 1.23 ASA | 1.05 Polypropylene (PP) | 0.9 Acetal (POM) | 1.4 PMMA | 1.18 Semi flexible (FPE) | 2.16

[Donkie]

I didn't want to have any hard-coded list of filaments or densities since that can quickly go out-of-date. Different suppliers can also have different values. It's important to get this value as close as possible since the whole tracking logic depends on it.

I will think about how this could be streamlined a bit more though.

[NonaSuomy]

Until you figure that out maybe just make it not a required field but add what you said in a blurb above the box and an explanation on how to obtain/calculate this information.

[samwiseg0]

@NonaSuomy I suspect since its used in the calculation for used filament that is why it is required. If it was not that would break that process.

Maybe provide the list for "good enough" values and allow the user to edit the density?

[MoshiBin]

Bumping this as I ran into the same issue and I'd love to help resolve it.

It's a required field so it's a show-stopper for adding new filament; and since there's no default or suggested value, it hurts the user experience - especially for users who don't intend to use the tracking features yet or are okay with small deviations.

I can think of two options to resolve this flow:

1) Mark the density field as not required. Filaments with an empty density field would not be able to automatically subtract their weight during the print. 2) Offer a default density value, maybe even derived from the material. Add a note that encourages users to finely calibrate this value in order to get better accuracy when automatically tracking filament use.

Which of these options is more aligned with the project's vision? I'd be happy to assist with either.

[EricZimmerman]

how about offer a way to actually calculate it on the Add page?

[spyder007]

Much like spool weights, this changes often and is subject to a number of factors. Most of the material data sheets for your filament should have this value available.

There may be a case to create a hosted API that could be hit to pre-populate spool weights and filament density/diameter, but that's an exercise in the community managing content.

[devoidv3]

Why not make a table in the open space to the right with a list of acceptable ranges or some of the more common ones for each material and a disclaimer that it varies from brand to brand encouraging them to do a little research and put in the correct one, while also providing something they can put in that's in the ballpark to at least let them get started (and edit later)

[trebory6]

I'd just like to add my two cents here that I'd like this feature to be changed/improved.

All the ideas I've had have already been listed here, so adding "good enough" values, adding a link to somewhere that helps you figure out the density.

The only thing I haven't seen is allowing the integration of an open user-updated spool information database. Like have a user-updated database of spool, manufacturer, etc. You could even allow the use of "Official" profiles that get updated by the companies themselves, and the rest are user generated.

Even if Donkie doesn't want to manage that database project, maybe allow the integration of a community effort.

Because that's a question I haven't seen here is how DO you find out the density? I can't even find anything on google for finding the density of a filament.

Ironically enough, I found this topic by googling the relatively vague "How to find the density of a 3d printer filament," and the very first result was this post and is the exact problem I'm having with the same exact plugin, Spoolman. The rest of the results were irrelevant. And despite that, there is still no answer on how to find the density, just the fact a lot of people have the same problem as me.

That tells me that finding the density of a 3d printing filament is an issue that is most common with Spoolman alone, so the fact that there is no information on HOW to find the density to me is a big issue.

[EricZimmerman]

Find frank.af on voron discord. There's some stuff underway