User manual

SOFTWARE / BASICS SOFTWARE / BASICS

3332

You can check the geometry using the NetFabb soware, available at

http://www.netfabb.com/download.php (free).

Many meshes get slightly corrupted during STL-export: triangles might inter-

sect, have open edges etc. NetFabb helps to spot these problems and repairs them

automatically, so it is recommended to check every le before printing.

WATERTIGHT - meaning that there are no holes, and object

reports it’s volume properly

Objects have to be WATERTIGHT and CLOSED - they have to have volume

CORRECT DIMENSIONS - tting the printbed

Should NOT INTERSECT – if there are multiple objects, they must be added

(using boolean operations ) so there is only one object at the end

ONE SHELL PER OBJECT - No intersecting shells/meshes!

Inclination of external walls should NOT EXCEED 45-50°C

If inclination exceeds this angle, support material should be used

GENERATING GCODES

If you can’t x the problem with NetFabb, you have to remodel the object in your

native CAD soware.

Next, check the geometry. To correctly print a STL-le it has to be:

General recommendations:

To turn a 3D model into something that can be easily printed, the models geometry needs to

be saved into STL le format. Most CAD programs supports STL export. You can also download

print ready projects as STL les from the internet:

(for example www.thingiverse.com or other online repositories).

Creation of a 3D GEOMETRY

and saving as STL-format model.

VOXELIZATION - conversion from

mesh based STL-model to volumetric-

pixel data.

Generating horizontal slices

of the object, and plastic extrusion

paths as G-CODES, instructions for

machine to move in space and deposit

plastic.

Printing stage. Re-creating the

object by extruding horizontal slices.

PREPARING GCODES

The print preparation process can be

illustrated with the diagram below: