Hex Grid Tutorial: Your First Print
A 10-minute walkthrough from empty canvas to a printable Hex Grid coaster. You'll paint a hex pattern, tune the grid, and export G-code ready for your slicer or direct print.
Step 1 — Add the Hex Grid module
From the empty canvas, click the Hex Grid card. The left dock switches to the Hex Grid panel and the main viewport splits into:
- 2D canvas on the left — click cells to activate them.
- 3D floor preview on the right — live toolpath visualization.
Step 2 — Pick a small grid
In the left dock:
- Grid Radius → 3 (small, fast to print)
- Hex Size → 20 mm (roughly coaster-sized)
- Perimeters → 3 (decent wall strength)
- Layers → 2 (thin coaster; raise to 5 for a tile)
The 2D canvas now shows 37 empty hexagons. The 3D floor shows an empty outline at the centre of your bed.
Step 3 — Paint a pattern
Click cells in the 2D canvas to activate them. Try this:
- Click the centre hex — it turns white with a curve through the middle.
- Click the 6 hexagons surrounding it — a flower pattern appears.
- Click the centre a second time — it upgrades to double-active (darker, with two parallel curves).
Watch the 3D floor preview as you paint. Hovering on a 2D cell highlights its 3D counterpart.
Step 4 — Tune the look
Parameter experiments
Perimeters = 1- Single centerline curve — thin, minimalist look. Great for airy lattice panels.
Perimeters = 5- Five parallel lines per cell — thick, dense walls. Heavier prints but much stronger.
Hex Size = 10 mm- Finer grid — more cells, finer pattern. Great for intricate panels.
Hex Size = 50 mm- Coarse grid — fewer, larger cells. Faster prints, bolder pattern.
Pick whichever combination you like best for your first print.
Step 5 — Sanity-check the 3D preview
Orbit the 3D viewport to confirm:
- The pattern fits within the bed outline.
- Curves connect cleanly between cells (no big jumps).
- Double-active cells look like two parallel curves, not one.
If anything looks off, adjust the grid radius or click extra cells to bridge gaps.
Step 6 — Export G-code
- Click the Export G-Code button in the toolbar.
- The exporter uses your active Machine / Material / Nozzle preset — startup and shutdown G-code, speeds, temperatures, and retraction all come from there.
- Pick a save location (desktop app) or let the browser download.
Step 7 — Print and iterate
Send the G-code to your printer. After the print:
- Too flimsy? Increase Perimeters or Layers. Raise nozzle to 0.6 mm for thicker lines.
- Looks messy between cells? Reduce Grid Radius (fewer cells) or up Hex Size (bigger cells) until the pattern reads cleanly.
- Fits badly on the bed? The module auto-centres; if you still clip the bed, reduce Grid Radius by 1.
Next steps
- Hex Grid overview — complete reference of every parameter and the 3D floor behaviour.
- Printer Configuration — fine-tune speeds and first-layer settings for your machine.
- Export 3D — STL / OBJ / glTF exports if you want to post-process the mesh instead of printing directly.