Tinkercad is great for 3D printing simple geometrical objects. Select your CAD software:ĭon't have CAD software? SolidView is an affordable solution for non-CAD users to prepare STL files from many popular CAD formats.
If your CAD software is not listed below or if you require additional assistance, please contact your CAD software technical support for information about exporting to an STL. The following step-by-step instructions for converting CAD files to STL came from each CAD software company’s website or from 3D printing and design user forums it’s an overall simplified step-by-step process from the greater 3D printing community. We’ve compiled tips on exporting for the best “surface: file” size ratio below. These are the parameters that affect the faceting of the STL. When exporting to STL in your CAD package, you may see parameters for chord height, deviation, angle tolerance, poly count, or something similar. 3D printing can only accept a certain file size therefore it’s important to find a balance between your model, its desired surface, and the 3D printing process of your choice. However, the smoother/ less faceted your surface is, (the higher the poly count or triangulation) the larger your file. If the STL is coarse and faceted the physical 3D printed model will be coarse and faceted as well.
You cannot build the model smoother than the STL file. The parameters used for outputting a STL will affect how much faceting occurs (Figures 2 and 3). The triangulation (or poly count) of a surface will cause faceting of the 3D model. STL is a triangulated representation of a 3D CAD model (Figure 1). Note: This list will display all scene files currently linked to the drawing.STL is the standard file type used by most additive manufacturing systems. Select the desired document to reference the property values. Right-click on a drawing background and select Sheet Setup from the resulting pop-up menu. To Specify the Properties Used as Defined in the Sheet Setup:
Note: Uses can manual type the Property Link String into the Text edit mode as well as the text property dialog.
The text in the drawing will update to display the property information once the dialog is closed.
Select the OK to the Text Properties dialog. Once the Property Name is selected, the text string will display in the text field. Select the Property Name in the drop-down list. Select the location in the text field to create the text link. Select Properties in the resulting pop-up menu. Right-click on a text box used in the drawing or in a text with leader. To Link a Text or Text with Leader to a Property: Note: If Scene containing part to which annotation is attached is used, the view will need to be updated in order to update the text to the latest information. Once the Property has been specified, the text will automatically update on the drawing to reflect the property information. Formatting can be applied to the entire string. When the property is selected, the text string will modify to denote the link reference type (example: $PRPDrawing:"IC-PropertyName"). Users can link to standard property names or custom property names added in the custom tab of the file properties. Once the type of link is specified, a user can specify which Property Name to link to (i.e. Property Name string will display as - $PRPScene:"IC-PropertyName" Link to the scene properties of the scene containing the part referenced by the annotation. Scene containing part to which the annotation is attached. Property Name string will display as - $PRPSheet:"IC-PropertyName" Link to properties based on the specified document properties in the sheet setup.
Property Name string will display as - $PRPView:"IC-PropertyName" Link to the scene properties referenced in the drawing view that the annotation is associated to. Scene in view to which the annotation is attached. Property Name string will display as - $PRPDrawing:"IC-PropertyName" Link to the current drawing document properties. Link to property information can be defined in the following methods:Ĭurrent document. This is useful for setting up template information that may need to change based on information stored in the properties of the documents. Text located on the sheet and in Text with Leader annotations can reference document properties of the drawing, part properties, or scene document properties linked to the drawing.