Introduction to Dragon
What is Dragon?
Section titled “What is Dragon?”Dragon is a cloud-based thermal simulation and optimization engine for polymer-extrusion-based 3D printing. It uses first-principles physics to simulate how temperature evolves throughout a print.
By predicting temperature distribution across your part, Dragon automatically optimizes your G-code to improve print quality, increase part strength, and reduce failures, without the need for trial-and-error tuning.
Dragon takes into account part geometry, nozzle and bed temperatures, material thermal properties, and ambient conditions like chamber temperature. The result: more reliable, high-quality prints with less manual intervention.
How Dragon Helps You Print Better
Section titled “How Dragon Helps You Print Better”✅ Enhance part strength
Section titled “✅ Enhance part strength”Dragon improves interlayer bonding by optimizing thermal perfomance based on your specific material and geometry. Stronger bonding means higher mechanical strength, better durability, and more reliable part performance.
⚠️ Reduce risk of print failure
Section titled “⚠️ Reduce risk of print failure”By simulating how your print will behave thermally before committing to the print, you can adjust process variables in advance. Dragon-optimized G-codes reduce failures such as delamination, warping and reduced mechanical strength.
♻️ Cut material waste
Section titled “♻️ Cut material waste”Dragon minimizes the need for trial-and-error tuning prints. Instead of wasting material on test runs, you go straight to printing validated parts, saving material, time, and cost.
⚡ Print faster by failing less
Section titled “⚡ Print faster by failing less”Dragon ensures reliable, consistent output across your printer fleet, reducing failures and minimizing manual intervention. With fewer surprises, manufacturers can scale production faster and more confidently.
How does it work?
Section titled “How does it work?”1. Upload your G-code
Section titled “1. Upload your G-code”Start by uploading a standard G-code file from your slicer and triggering an optimization.
2. Dragon simulates and optimizes
Section titled “2. Dragon simulates and optimizes”Dragon runs a thermal simulation based on material properties, geometry, printer settings, and ambient conditions. It identifies areas with poor thermal performance and generates optimized G-code to improve bonding, reduce warping, and increase print reliability.
3. Review the results
Section titled “3. Review the results”After simulation and optimization, you’ll receive:
- An optimized G-code ready to print
- A thermal performance visualization
- A summary of key changes to layer print speeds and times, and thermal quality index
Learn more about interpreting results here
4. Download and print
Section titled “4. Download and print”Start your print with the optimized G-code for stronger bonding, fewer defects, and higher reliability.