First off, I'm a huge S3D fan. It's the only program I use to run my printer.
And that is why I'm posting here. I own the program, I use it on all of my prints.
Every one.
That said....
I'm wondering about 3D file downloads.
If you were a new, or casual user, and you were to read in a magazine (online or in print) that you subscribe to that you could download a file for you to print on your 3D printer, what kind of file would you like go download?
It's a semi-complex model with about 20 parts. All can be printed on a 1 head machine.
Would you want an STL file that had everything set for a single print?
Would you want a series of STL files with lots of small parts? This would be a compressed package in a single download.
Would you like a generic 3D file, like OBJ, so you could decide what you want to do later...divide or print whole?
What is the easiest for you...as a new or casual 3D printer?
Again, I'm wondering what you would would WANT. I'm in the trenches with you guys.
Re: Do you download 3D files?
Hi
I would like the whole shabang.
1 file print stl.
Seperate stl files for the different parts so i can print parts seperate.
The obj (source) file so i can modify the files if needed.
.Anders
I would like the whole shabang.
1 file print stl.
Seperate stl files for the different parts so i can print parts seperate.
The obj (source) file so i can modify the files if needed.
.Anders
Re: Do you download 3D files?
Without knowing the size of the parts I would say ideally you would want to offer both a "plate" with all the parts and also a zip containing the individual STL files.
If your printing area isn't large enough you can print what fits or if you have one of parts fail you can re-print just the parts that didn't come out correctly.
If you want users to be able to more easily modify the actual geometry of the parts then offer STEP or OBJ files also. (Never really easy. Non-native formats with the CAD packages I'm familiar with typically import to what I refer to as a "dumb 3D lump" )
If your printing area isn't large enough you can print what fits or if you have one of parts fail you can re-print just the parts that didn't come out correctly.
If you want users to be able to more easily modify the actual geometry of the parts then offer STEP or OBJ files also. (Never really easy. Non-native formats with the CAD packages I'm familiar with typically import to what I refer to as a "dumb 3D lump"
)Re: Do you download 3D files?
I wouldn't prefer a complex model. The less parts the more I would like it.
A single stl if all parts can be printed using the same settings.
On the other hand I would prefer multiple stls with single parts (or group of parts) in case they have to be printed using different colors or settings.
Good luck !
A single stl if all parts can be printed using the same settings.
On the other hand I would prefer multiple stls with single parts (or group of parts) in case they have to be printed using different colors or settings.
Good luck !
Re: Do you download 3D files?
I'd generally prefer the individual part files, but it's also convenient to have a 'plate' of all of the parts.
It's bad to just get the 'plate' because if your printer's print area is smaller than the designer's, you can't print the plate. And even if you can print the plate, if you have one part print badly, you are forced to print the entire plate over.
And with S3D, you can load all of the pieces and auto-arrange them to fit your build platform!
Note that if you're talking about Thingiverse, the site knows how to package files into a zip file, so the best thing is to upload the STL files individually. Then users can download individual files or the zip of everything (built by the site), as they prefer.
It's bad to just get the 'plate' because if your printer's print area is smaller than the designer's, you can't print the plate. And even if you can print the plate, if you have one part print badly, you are forced to print the entire plate over.
And with S3D, you can load all of the pieces and auto-arrange them to fit your build platform!
Note that if you're talking about Thingiverse, the site knows how to package files into a zip file, so the best thing is to upload the STL files individually. Then users can download individual files or the zip of everything (built by the site), as they prefer.
