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Digital technologies/3D printing/3D printing- Beginner (view source)
Revision as of 21:30, 14 August 2021
, 21:30, 14 August 2021→Open Model
====Open Model====
====Open Model====
Your .stl file contains a set of triangles in 3D space. If you send this to a 3D printer, it will not know what to do. A slicer “slices” the 3D object into layers and then generates machine code. Different printers work better with different slicers. The slicers need to be downloaded onto your computer. However, all our computers have all the software for each of our printers.
Your .stl file contains a set of triangles in 3D space. If you send this to a 3D printer, it will not know what to do. A slicer “slices” the 3D object into layers and then generates machine code (contained in a *.gCode file). Different printers work better with different slicers. The slicers need to be downloaded onto your computer. If you happen to not have access to a personal computer in our space, note that all our computers have all the software for each of our printers.
====Send the code to the printer====
====Send the code to the printer====
#Open the file in Cura
#Open the file in Cura
#Select the settings you want for your print
#Select the settings you want for your print (have a look at [[Digital technologies/3D printing/3D printing- Beginner/Recommended Slicer Settings|the next section]] to see how to do this, including reorienting and moving your part)
#Click slice (have a look at the preview of your slice if you want to see the toolpath slice by slice)
#Click slice (have a look at the preview of your slice if you want to see the toolpath slice by slice)
#Save to file (this creates a *.gCode file). ''Note: you may skip this step if you do not care for keeping the file on your computer''
#Save to file (this creates a *.gCode file). ''Note: you may skip this step if you do not care for keeping the file on your computer''
Once the correct 3D printer has been selected, load your model (.stl or .obj file) into Cura. This can be done by either dragging the file and dropping it into the Cura window, by clicking File -> Open Files (Ctrl+O), or by clicking the "Folder shaped" icon.
Once the correct 3D printer has been selected, load your model (.stl or .obj file) into Cura. This can be done by either dragging the file and dropping it into the Cura window, by clicking File -> Open Files (Ctrl+O), or by clicking the "Folder shaped" icon.
=== Position your Part on the Print Bed ===
In Ultimaker Cura, moving your part around, rotating it, scaling, duplicating, are very simple tasks. All you have to do is select your component, and from the choices on the left side of your screen, you may perform any of these aforementioned operations.
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===Choose your Layer Height===
===Choose your Layer Height===
Under the "Print settings" window, you will notice a slider referred to as "Profiles - Default", with numbers ranging from 0.06 to 0.6. The numbers refer to the layer height (sometimes referred to as "resolution") in millimeters, which is the vertical (Z-axis) height of each layer of plastic the printer lays down. The lower the layer height, the longer it will take to print, but the vertical quality (slopes) will be better. If your model lacks any slopes or curves running vertically, lower layer height numbers will only take longer to print, without adding any major improvements in quality.
Under the "Print settings" window, you will notice a slider referred to as "Profiles - Default", with numbers ranging from 0.06 to 0.6. The numbers refer to the layer height (sometimes referred to as "resolution") in millimeters, which is the vertical (Z-axis) height of each layer of plastic the printer lays down. The lower the layer height, the longer it will take to print, but the vertical quality (slopes) will be better. If your model lacks any slopes or curves running vertically, lower layer height numbers will only take longer to print, without adding any major improvements in quality.