User's Manual
Introducing the Objet 3-D Printing System
3–8 DOC-07000 Rev. A
Preparing Files for Use with Objet 3-D Printing Systems
BeforeusingfileswithObjet3‐Dpr intingsystems,youmustconvertthem
inyourCADprogramtoeitherSTLfilesorSLCfiles.(Foranexplanationof
thesefileformats,see“SourceFiles”onpage 3‐4.)
Afterconvertingthemodelfiles,itisrecommendedthatyoucheckthemfor
defects
inanSTL‐repairapplication(suchasMagics,byMaterialise)before
openingtheminObjetStudioandproducingthemodel.
Converting
CAD Files to
STL Format
Thisproceduremayvaryslightly,dependingontheCADsoftwareused,
butthefollowinginstructionsgenerallyapply.
To convert a file to STL format (in a CAD program):
1. FromtheFilemenu,selectSave As.
2. IntheSaveAsdialogbox,opentheSaveAsTypepull‐downmenuand
select*.STL.
3. Click
Optionsandsetthefollowingparameters:
• TotalQuality—approximately0.1mm(deviationtolerance/linear‐
dimensiontolerance)
• DetailQuality—approximately4°(angletolerance)
Note: Lowering these values produces more accurate models, but
results in larger files and longer loading and processing times. For this
reason, it is generally not recommended that you use lower values.
4. Inthefileformatoption,choosebinaryorASCII.(Bothbinaryand
ASCIIformatscanbeusedinObjetStudio.However,binaryfilesare
smaller,sothisoptionisrecommended.)
5. ClickOKorSave.
Converting
Files to SLC
Format
WhenconvertingfilestoSLCformat,itisrecommendedthatyousetalayer
thicknessof15microns(0.015mm).SinceSLCfilescannotbeorientatedin
ObjetStudio,itisimportantthatmodelsareproperlyorientatedbefore
beingsavedasSLCfiles.Considerationsforsuitablemodelorientationare
explainedin
“ModelOrientation”onpage 5‐32.