If you want to give your printed piece a certain texture, you can use silk filament for a glossy or shiny finish, or matte filament for a classic non-glossy appearance. In addition, you can also utilize slicing software features to make the outer surface rougher. Both Cura and PrusaSlicer offer the "Fuzzy Skin" feature. Today, let's discuss this feature in Cura and how to use it.
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What is Cura Fuzzy Skin in 3D Printing?
(Printed by Anycubic Kobra 2 Max; Model from Thingiverse)
Fuzzy skin is a feature within Cura slicer that provides a unique rough and fuzzy texture to the outer walls of 3D printed objects, and can hide imperfections such as 3D print Z-seam and layer lines. This uneven texture, simulating animals' fur, is created by the nozzle irregularly jittering while extruding material along the outer walls. It's particularly suitable for creating a fuzzy surface on artistic decorations like 3D printed animals or generating a textured surface on printed pots and vases. However, it might not be suitable for all 3D models, especially those with large sizes and complex geometries, as it may deceases dimensional accuracy and structural strength.
Pros of Cura fuzzy skin:
- Creating a unique texture.
- Hide imperfections like Z-seam and layer lines.
- Suitable for printing decorations and grips with non-slip surfaces.
Cons of Cura fuzzy skin:
- Not suitable for large and detailed models.
- Increases printing time.
- May produce more noise than regular printing due to nozzle wobbling.
How to Enable Fuzzy Skin Feature in Cura
Make sure that all parameters in Cura's print settings are visible and not hidden. You can manage setting visibility by selecting 'All', making it easier for you to locate 'Fuzzy Skin'. Then, follow either of the two methods to turn it on.
- Method 1: Print settings window >> Experimental >> Enable Fuzzy Skin
- Method 2: Input 'fuzzy' in the print settings search bar. Next, find and click the checkbox of 'Fuzzy Skin' to activate it.
Best Settings of Cura Fuzzy Skin for Your Prints
Once you enable "Fuzzy Skin" in the Cura program, it will unlock four parameters that need adjustment based on your 3D projects and preferences.
Fuzzy Skin Outside Only: If this setting is selected, it will only create a fuzzy texture on the outermost walls of the model and not on the inner wall surfaces. For example, if your model has holes, this setting will not generate a rough texture inside the holes but will keep it smooth.
Fuzzy Skin Thickness: It is the depth and width of nozzle wobbling. The larger this value, the rougher and fuzzier the surface will be. It's recommended to keep it smaller than the outer wall line width to achieve stable results.
Fuzzy Skin Density: It refers to the density of nozzle jitter points. The lower the density, the more obvious the fuzzy result will be.
Fuzzy Skin Point Distance: This setting controls the distance between each nozzle jitter point. Increasing this value will result in a rougher texture.