![]() People only use STL as a last resort, not because it easy to use (it not).ĭuring the late 90s Engineers have opt out STL and in favour of STEP (less so for IGES) as universal standards. But for those situations, I simply import it in to one of my many CAD and/or format conversion programs and export the STL I need for the printer. I do have situations where I find a model file on a site like GrabCAD and it’s not available in STL. I’d be interested in understanding an example use case if you have the time to explain… I’ve never had a situation where I needed to edit supports more accurately than PreForm lets me place them. STL is more than sufficient to meet/exceed the resolution of the Form2. ![]() And I’d argue that for what the printer does, a different native format would not result in improved prints. But ultimately, as Frew says, a STEP would need to be converted by PreForm in to something very much like a STL since that’s the native format the printer is designed to interpret. They generate smaller files because the geometry is more “abstracted” (a curve isn’t approximated by multiple discrete points like in a STL, it’s got a start point, an end point and a radius). STEP (and to a slightly lesser extent IGES) are much more complicated to support and much less universally supported. And almost everything can read/write STL. That’s because it’s a non-proprietary standard that is very easy to support in software, using math that most of us learned in High School. STL isn’t required by printing software, however most printing software uses STL. STL is a burden not a benefit for engineers.Į - Benefit to Formlabs as well, as they can have access to open source library like CrabCAD and other free 3D CAD library for downloads IN WHICH MAKERBOT IS ALREADY DOING. As STEP file is generated from a true solid CAD from engineering CAD software like Creo, Solidworks, Unigraphics. No other industries uses STL anymore like CNC or CMM or CAD CAM or PCB gerber file or Laser cutting (vector based).ĭ - Much easier to repair or modify. (surface CAD).Īs the Preform supports generation are too limiting, meaning the Preform should be allowed to export as STEP, STL or OBJ along with the supports for customisation.Ģ - In Preform, there will be many benefit of using 3D STEP beside using the outdated STL files (so last century):ī - True geometric shapes & details, which unlike STL that uses polygons to construct an approximate 3D mesh structure. If you are using Cura on your own computer, make sure you select either the Ultimaker 2+ Extended or Ultimaker 3.1 - This is for support modifications / improvement originated from Preform and edit it back in Solidworks, Creo (solid CAD) or 3D Max, Maya & etc. This will ensure the correct G-Code is created for your printer. The printer’s name can be found on the top of the machine near the Ultimaker logo on the computer in the DSC. In the top left hand corner, select the printer with which you will be printing. Furthermore, you will not need to sign in to an Ultimaker account or connect to Ultimaker Cloud.Ģ. ![]() The version in the DSC makerspace has already been set up to be used with the DSC printers, so you won’t need to add or manage any of the printers within the software. There is lots of great information on Ultimaker’s webpage about how to use Cura. To ‘slice’ your STL into a G-code, you will use Ultimaker’s Cura software. gcode file extension) and the process of turning an STL into a G-code is called slicing. The file of code is called a G-code (with a. Once you have your fully repaired file, you will need to turn that STL file into a file format that the 3D printer can read: that is, a file of code that includes specific movements that the machine will make. Slicing the print job in Cura (Ultimaker only) follow the steps on this video to repair the model:
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