Prepare a file for printing6
The printer cannot interpret a 3D image file directly: you must use software to convert it into a format
that the printer is designed to accept.
Introduction
You can create a print job using HP SmartStream Build Manager or various third-party programs.
HP SmartStream 3D Build Manager supports STL and 3MF files.
The software creates slices that the printer can convert to layers in order to prepare the job. This
pr
eparation process may take from 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on the complexity of the job. It can
be done while printing other jobs. Once ready, you can select the job to be printed from the job queue on
the printer’s front panel. If an error occurs while processing, a message appears on the front panel, and
the printer cancels the job. To retry, you have to resubmit the job.
The rest of this chapter may help you to avoid such errors.
File preparation
Tips to help you prepare files for printing.
Tessellation
Before sending a job to a 3D printer, the model to be printed needs to be tessellated. That means that its
geometry needs to be converted into triangles, which are used by the printer to create layers.
It is very important to pay attention to this step: if not done correctly, it can cause problems such as
inaccuracy or slow processing.
Standard formats in the additive manufacturing industry include 3MF (with more information about the
model) and STL.
A normal file size for a model is about 1–30 MB, but the size depends on the type of software that
created it, the number of triangles, the number and level of details, and so on.
When exporting to STL in a CAD package, you are often required to introduce some parameters such as
angle tolerance and deviation chord height. These parameters define the resolution and file size of the
part. The following tips may help you to export with the best surface to file size ratio.
Solid Designer settings
Solid Designer is one of the available software options.
Save as STL, click Options, and check the ASCII option. The recommended values for the Distance and
Angle bo
x are 0.05 and 1.
44 Chapter 6 Prepare a file for printing
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