Stratasys P750K, User Manual

Page: 28 / 196

Introducing the Stratasys P750K 3D Printing System
3–8
DOC08010 Rev. A (DRAFT 1)
Preparing Files for Use with Objet 3D Printing Systems
Before ȱ using ȱ files ȱ with ȱ Stratasys ȱ 3D ȱ printing ȱ systems, ȱ you ȱ need ȱ to ȱ convert ȱ
them ȱ in ȱ your ȱ CAD ȱ program ȱ to ȱ a ȱ file ȱ format ȱ supported ȱ by ȱ Objet ȱ Studio. ȱ (For ȱ
an ȱ explanation ȱ of ȱ these ȱ file ȱ formats, ȱ see ȱ “Source ȱ Files” ȱ on ȱ page 3.)
Converting
CAD Files to
STL Format
This ȱ procedure ȱ may ȱ vary ȱ slightly, ȱ depending ȱ on ȱ the ȱ CAD ȱ software ȱ used, ȱ
but ȱ the ȱ following ȱ instructions ȱ generally ȱ apply.
To convert a file to STL format (in a CAD program):
1. From ȱ the ȱ
File
ȱ menu, ȱ select ȱ
Save As
.
2. In ȱ the ȱ Save ȱ As ȱ dialog ȱ box, ȱ open ȱ the ȱ Save ȱ As ȱ Type ȱ drop Ȭ down ȱ list ȱ and ȱ
select ȱ
*.STL
.
3. Click ȱ
Options
ȱ and ȱ set ȱ the ȱ following ȱ parameters:
•
Total ȱ Quality—approximately ȱ 0.01 ȱ mm ȱ (deviation ȱ tolerance ȱ / ȱ
linear Ȭ dimension ȱ tolerance)
•
Detail ȱ Quality—approximately ȱ 5° ȱ (angle ȱ tolerance)
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. In ȱ the ȱ file ȱ format ȱ option, ȱ choose ȱ binary ȱ or ȱ ASCII. ȱ (Both ȱ binary ȱ and ȱ
ASCII ȱ formats ȱ can ȱ be ȱ used ȱ in ȱ Objet ȱ Studio. ȱ However, ȱ binary ȱ files ȱ are ȱ
smaller, ȱ so ȱ this ȱ option ȱ is ȱ recommended.)
5. Click ȱ
OK
ȱ or ȱ
Save
.
After ȱ converting ȱ the ȱ model ȱ files, ȱ it ȱ is ȱ recommended ȱ that ȱ you ȱ check ȱ them ȱ for ȱ
defects ȱ in ȱ an ȱ STL Ȭ repair ȱ application ȱ (such ȱ as ȱ Magics™, ȱ by ȱ Materialise
®
) ȱ
before ȱ opening ȱ them ȱ in ȱ Objet ȱ Studio ȱ and ȱ producing ȱ the ȱ model.
Converting
CAD Files to
SLC Format
When ȱ converting ȱ files ȱ to ȱ SLC ȱ format, ȱ it ȱ is ȱ recommended ȱ that ȱ you ȱ set ȱ a ȱ layer ȱ
thickness ȱ of ȱ 15 ȱ microns ȱ (0.015 ȱ mm). ȱ Since ȱ SLC ȱ files ȱ cannot ȱ be ȱ orientated ȱ in ȱ
Objet ȱ Studio, ȱ it ȱ is ȱ important ȱ that ȱ models ȱ are ȱ properly ȱ orientated ȱ before ȱ
being ȱ saved ȱ as ȱ SLC ȱ files. ȱ Considerations ȱ for ȱ suitable ȱ model ȱ orientation ȱ are ȱ
explained ȱ in ȱ “Model ȱ Orientation” ȱ on ȱ page 5 Ȭ 26.
For more information, search for “CAD to STL” on www.stratasys.com.