Saving STL file for 3D printing

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BP9819
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2022 3:28 pm

Saving STL file for 3D printing

Post by BP9819 »

I have designed a simple part. However when I try to export it as an STL file many of the features are missing. I have tried highlighting all the components in the model as well as individual components and cannot figure out what I am doing wrong. It did work one time where I only highlighted one feature (Fillet004 the final feature in the tree) but I have not been able to repeat it. The pocket is consistently missing. I know this is addressed in the 3 most common questions but I still can't get it to work. I'm sure it's a simple issue but I don't use this program much and cannot figure it out. Have looked at a lot of documentation with no avail. I am using version .20 revision 29177
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CouchLegTall.FCStd
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TheMarkster
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Re: Saving STL file for 3D printing

Post by TheMarkster »

Select the last feature or the Body, then in mesh design workbench create mesh from feature in the menu. Export the mesh object from the same menu. Before exporting you should also check the mesh for defects using the analyze and repair tool.

Works fine here:

Code: Select all

OS: Windows 10 (10.0)
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.20.28929 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: master
Hash: 9251480ddb
Python 3.8.13, Qt 5.12.9, Coin 4.0.0, OCC 7.5.3
Locale: English/United States (en_US)
Installed mods: 
  * A2plus 0.4.56 (Disabled)
  * Assembly4 0.12.0
  * BOLTSFC
  * CurvedShapes 1.0.3
  * Curves 0.3.0
  * DynamicData 2.46.0
  * fasteners
  * FCGear
  * frame 0.1.0
  * FreeCAD_mcm_addon
  * gears
  * hfcInventorMentorA
  * InvGears
  * lattice2
  * Manipulator
  * MeshRemodel 1.8919.0
  * POV-Ray-Rendering
  * sheetmetal 0.2.49
  * ThreadProfile 1.81.0
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adrianinsaval
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Re: Saving STL file for 3D printing

Post by adrianinsaval »

selecting the body for export works fine for me, never select all features in PD for export as all their shapes will be superimposed
NHSA_Rainer
Posts: 104
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2021 3:37 pm

Re: Saving STL file for 3D printing

Post by NHSA_Rainer »

Hi,

In Part Design just click on Body, it highlights everything and then File > Export > *.stl and done

Couch.JPG
Couch.JPG (69.6 KiB) Viewed 1251 times
Last edited by NHSA_Rainer on Fri Jul 01, 2022 5:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
NHSA_Rainer
Posts: 104
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2021 3:37 pm

Re: Saving STL file for 3D printing

Post by NHSA_Rainer »

... and opened in CURA slicer and looks like this after slicing

Couch_1.JPG
Couch_1.JPG (90.75 KiB) Viewed 1250 times
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Shalmeneser
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Location: Fr

Re: Saving STL file for 3D printing

Post by Shalmeneser »

* you can fillet multi edges in the same fillet function
* you should avoir sketching upon face (Topological_naming_problem)
* you can include fillets in the sketch
* you should use cleverly the axis
Attachments
CouchLegTall_SHALM.FCStd
(49 KiB) Downloaded 12 times
Capture d’écran 2022-07-02 143818.jpg
Capture d’écran 2022-07-02 143818.jpg (37.4 KiB) Viewed 1172 times
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Krypto
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Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2017 1:45 am

Re: Saving STL file for 3D printing

Post by Krypto »

NHSA_Rainer wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 5:44 pm In Part Design just click on Body, it highlights everything and then File > Export > *.stl and done
Unfortunately using this method you will eventually export something that is round and it will look like crap because the default angular deviation is high. Good on screen, but bad for prints.

You can easily modify these settings in the mesh workbench.
BP9819
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2022 3:28 pm

Re: Saving STL file for 3D printing

Post by BP9819 »

Thanks for all the help. I eventually uninstalled and reinstalled FreeCad and now it seems to be OK though I haven't printed it yet. I don't know what I was doing wrong but I believe it may be OK now. Thanks again.
NHSA_Rainer
Posts: 104
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2021 3:37 pm

Re: Saving STL file for 3D printing

Post by NHSA_Rainer »

Krypto wrote: Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:28 pm
NHSA_Rainer wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 5:44 pm In Part Design just click on Body, it highlights everything and then File > Export > *.stl and done
Unfortunately using this method you will eventually export something that is round and it will look like crap because the default angular deviation is high. Good on screen, but bad for prints.

You can easily modify these settings in the mesh workbench.
Hi,

Since I am doing this, not very long I have always had nice printing whatever radius or diameter I had in my drawings.

Please elaborate further so I can take a look at it more closely and perhaps avoid a problem.

Thanks Rainer
NHSA_Rainer
Posts: 104
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2021 3:37 pm

Re: Saving STL file for 3D printing

Post by NHSA_Rainer »

NHSA_Rainer wrote: Fri Jul 08, 2022 1:33 am
Krypto wrote: Sat Jul 02, 2022 3:28 pm
NHSA_Rainer wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 5:44 pm In Part Design just click on Body, it highlights everything and then File > Export > *.stl and done
Unfortunately using this method you will eventually export something that is round and it will look like crap because the default angular deviation is high. Good on screen, but bad for prints.

You can easily modify these settings in the mesh workbench.
Hi,

Since I am doing this, not very long I have always had nice printing whatever radius or diameter I had in my drawings.

Please elaborate further so I can take a look at it more closely and perhaps avoid a problem.

Thanks Rainer
Hi Krypto,

Thanks for the hint. Watched some videos and played with Mesh Design and saw the differences.

Will do a test part and print it out in different mesh settings.

Thanks Rainer

;)
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