scaling, sizing before importing mesh

[srlake314]

I created a model in Maya 2016, and set it to a size unit of 11 cm. I sent that to the printer, and it printed around 3 1/2 to 4 inches, roughly. Next I increased the scale to measure 16 units(cms), and it still shows the same size in simplify 3d. Is there a measurement tool that shows the actual print height? Or will I just have to keep track of scaling the model so that his companion can be scaled to the exact height?

[dkightley]

In S3d, double-click on the model in the view window....and the detail panel that opens up has the x, y & z dimensions in the Change Scaling section.

You can also change the model size from this very same panel....

[srlake314]

In S3d, double-click on the model in the view window....and the detail panel that opens up has the x, y & z dimensions in the Change Scaling section.

You can also change the model size from this very same panel....

Yeah, I figured that, but what I was wondering is why when regardless of how much I scale the object prior to saving in stl format, it still is loaded into the same size in S3D?

[dkightley]

Lets think about this logically......

You design a shape in your 3D CAD package that is sized at 10mm x 10mm x 10mm, and you then saveit as an .stl format file.

You load the file into S3D and according to S3D the shape is sized 10mm x 10mm x 10mm.

You then go back to your 3D CAD package and resize the shape so its 15mm x 15mm x 15mm, and save it again as an .stl file.

You load the newly saved shape into S3D. Are you saying that S3D says the revised shape is still 10mm x 10mm x 10mm???

If Yes, then either the file was not saved by the 3D CAD package after updating, the shape was not actually resized by your CAD package as you thought, or you're loading the original .stl file into S3D in error.

If No....then I'm more confused than you are!!

[srlake314]

Lets think about this logically......

You design a shape in your 3D CAD package that is sized at 10mm x 10mm x 10mm, and you then saveit as an .stl format file.

You load the file into S3D and according to S3D the shape is sized 10mm x 10mm x 10mm.

You then go back to your 3D CAD package and resize the shape so its 15mm x 15mm x 15mm, and save it again as an .stl file.

You load the newly saved shape into S3D. Are you saying that S3D says the revised shape is still 10mm x 10mm x 10mm???

If Yes, then either the file was not saved by the 3D CAD package after updating, the shape was not actually resized by your CAD package as you thought, or you're loading the original .stl file into S3D in error.

If No....then I'm more confused than you are!!

LOL. You would correct in assuming the later. I do resize the mesh in Maya. It's default is set to cm, and at first modeling was around 11cm/units high. I scaled it uniformly in Maya and saved a new .stl file, however when I bring it into S3D, it is still the same size, so my only option is guesstimate the size in S3D by scaling it. Not exactly accurate, but the only way around this confounding issue .

[dkightley]

My only conclusion is that "scaling" in Cura does not result in the model being RESIZED....and resaving the .stl results in absolutely no change to the dimensions of the model in the .stl file!!

[fritz]

Maybe you haven't scaled the actual mesh in Maya but merely applied a non-destructive scaling modifier to the object represented by that mesh, which then doesn't get exported? I haven't used Maya in a loooong time, so I don't know the correct terminology but I think I remember that such a thing might be possible.

[srlake314]

Maybe you haven't scaled the actual mesh in Maya but merely applied a non-destructive scaling modifier to the object represented by that mesh, which then doesn't get exported? I haven't used Maya in a loooong time, so I don't know the correct terminology but I think I remember that such a thing might be possible.

Hey man,

thanks for responding. actually when you build anything in Maya, you have a world/global setting of units. Mine is currently set to the default, centimeters.
1 unit doesn't necessarily mean 1 cm, but it's assumed to be. This is one reason building precise modeled parts aren't usually done in Maya, it's just the program that I am familiar with when creating characters. I also use Zbrush, and it does actually have a 3D printer export plugin. I've just recently been playing with that. I guess the thing will be to do all the final processes in Zbrush, JUST to be sure the size and scale are correct to the stl format.

Thanks!