Stratasys Objet500 - Preparing Files for Use with Polyjet 3 D Printing Systems; Converting CAD Files to STL Format; Converting CAD Files to WRL Format (VRML); Converting CAD Files to SLC Format

Objet500 User Guide 3 Introducing the Objet500 3D Printing System
DOC-07027 Rev.E 3-8
Preparing Files for Use with PolyJet 3D Printing Systems
BeforeusingdesignfileswithStratasys3Dprintingsystems,makesurethat
theyareinasupportedfileformat.(Foranexplanationofthesefileformats,
see"SourceFiles"onpage3-4.)
Converting
CAD Files to
STL Format
Thisproceduremayvaryslightly,dependingontheCADsoftwareused,but
thefollowinginstructionsgenerallyapply.
ToconvertafiletoSTLformat(inaCADprogram):
1. FromtheFilemenu,selectSaveAs.
2. IntheSave Asdialogbox,opentheSave As Typedrop-downlistand
select*.STL.
3. ClickOptionsandsetthefollowingparameters:
❒ TotalQuality—approximately0.01mm(deviationtolerance/linear-
dimensiontolerance)
❒ DetailQuality—approximately5°(angle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thefileformatoption,choosebinaryorASCII.(BothbinaryandASCII
formatscanbeusedinObjetStudio.However,binaryfilesaresmaller,so
thisoptionisrecommended.)
5. ClickOKorSave.
Afterconvertingthemodelfiles,itisrecommendedthatyoucheckthemfor
defectsinanSTL-repairapplication(suchasMagics™,byMaterialise
®
)
beforeopeningtheminObjetStudioandproducingthemodel.
Formoreinformation,searchfor"CADtoSTL"onwww.stratasys.com.
Converting
CAD Files to
WRL Format
(VRML)
YoucansaveCADdesignsasVRMLfiles(WRLformat)forprinting.Ifyou
assignRGBvaluestoshells(parts)intheCADdesignandthenimportthe
VRMLfileinObjetStudio,DigitalMaterialsthatprovidethebestcolormatch
areautomaticallyassignedtotheshells.TheprinterfabricatestheseDigital
Materialsfromthebasematerialsloadedintheprinter.
ObjetStudiosupportsVRML2files(alsoknownasVRML97files).
Converting
CAD Files to
SLC Format
WhenconvertingfilestoSLCformat,itisrecommendedthatyousetalayer
thicknessof15microns(0.015mm).SinceSLCfilescannotbeorientatedin
ObjetStudio,itisimportantthatmodelsareproperlyorientatedbeforebeing
savedasSLCfiles.Considerationsforsuitablemodelorientationareexplained
in"ManualPositioning"inChapter3onpage5-33.