3D Systems, Inc.
34
SETTING UP A BUILD PACKET
A
build packet (.bpf) file
is created using the
Build Setup
application . It contains the setup information necessary to process the print
job . The Build Setup application contains extensive online help with further details pertaining to the operation of the software .
Build Setup can be launched and run on the computer connected to the ProX 500 or on a standalone computer . If you are using Build
Setup with an offline (standalone) computer, you must export the .bpf file which creates a
.bpz file
, a compressed zip file that contains
the .bpf file, sorted facet files and other associated files that are required. You must then copy it to the ProX 500 computer.
The .bpz file must be unzipped before starting the build. To do this, the user must launch Build Setup on the computer connected to the
ProX 500 printer and open the .bpz file. This automatically unzips the files and places them in the appropriate directories.
To set up a build packet, you need to do the following:
•
Run the Build Setup application
•
Add STL files (“parts”) to your build
•
Reposition parts in the build volume
•
Set “build” and “part” parameters
•
Save the build packet file.
•
If Build Setup is run on a standalone computer, export the .bpf file to convert it to a .bpz file and copy it to the computer on the ProX
500 where you will unzip and print it .
Each procedure is summarized below .
Run Build Setup
1 . Choose
Start > Programs > SLS System > Build Setup
.
2 . Build Setup starts with its
Main
window displayed showing an empty virtual build volume, known as the
Workspace
.
Add tab in
Build Setup
Main View
Workspace
Add STL Files to the Build Packet
The ProX 500 can build parts from computer-aided design (CAD) data saved in the STL file format. You add parts to your build by
selecting the
Add
tab on the left side of the window. Then use the file browser to locate an appropriate STL file, and drag and drop the
file onto the representation of the build area on the right.