Get a file to print

[last updated: 2022-11-09]
3d printing home page
-----

This page needs editing...

• Find a model online or Create your own with modeling software:
  • You must have a .gCode file to send to your printer:
    That's the ONLY type of file that printers accept.
  • my notes on gCode
  • (link to:) wiki

  • The Prusa SD card contains (on my card) 16@ .gcode files ready to print.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Find a model online:
  • Models you find online will (almost always) be in .stl format
    .stl files are converted to .gCode files in the process of "slicing."

  • Lots of online sources for models to print:
    (link to:) 35 best sites for free models
    (link to:) Thingiverse
    (link to:) cults3d
    (link to:) prusaprinters
    (link to:) myminifactory
    (link to:) grabcad
    (link to:) stlFinder
    (link to:) do3d.com
    • When you download a model from online, it will usu. come as a zipped file
    • Extract the zipped file, and you'll find the .stl file of the model (usu. in Files folder).
      This is the file you will load into your slicer program to create your gcode file for your printer.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

  • Create your own model with modeling software:
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

  • Or: Modify a model you got online:
    This is problematic. I have not yet found an easy way to do this.
    The methods shown here do work, but they involve converting the stl file into a mesh, which is a very large file that is difficult to edit.
    Regardless, here's where I am in the investigation process so far ...
    • If you want to reverse-engineer & edit the model by putting it into your own Sketchup or FreeCAD file, do this:
      • for Sketchup, you must convert the stl to a dae:
        In MeshLab, File > Import Mesh
        Browse to desired .stl file, and double-click to load into MeshLab.
        File > Export Mesh As...
        in Files of Type, select Collada File Format (*.dae), then Save, then OK
        In SU, File Import, with Collada Files selected, browse to desired .dae file, then double-click to load
      • If the model is huge (ie you have not reduced it in MeshLab - see below) then theoretically you can reduce/scale it in SU.
        Click the model, click the scale icon, drag a corner to reduce the model size.
        You may need to then zoom in and repeat until it's into a manageable size.
      • However, I have not had much luck with this, as the large number (10's or 100's of thousands of faces) totally bogs down SU for anything, moves, etc.
      • If the model comes into MeshLab huge, like thousands of mm's, reduce it like this:
        • Filters (top menu bar) > Remeshing, Simplification, & Reconstruction > Simplification: Quadric Edge Collapse Decimation
        • Enter a smaller "Target # of Faces"
        • Apply, then Close
        • Export Mesh As ... .dae
        • Import into SU, then scale...
      • for FreeCAD:
        import stl
        Part > create mesh from shape
        prompts...
        (You can also import a .dae file into FreeCAD)

    -------------------------------

.

.

.

eof