Saving Supports to STL file
I am trying to figure out how to save the supports generated to the actual model file. So far I have not been able to figure out if it is possible or not. It can't be a factory file a or a support export. Needs to be a save to an STL file type. I have tried exporting to an STL but the supports don't get included. Thanks for any help or advice.
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dreamcutter
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 2:00 pm
Re: Saving Supports to STL file
I did accomplish this inadvertently. Try exporting stl from the preview tab after PREPARE. If you delete the model, supports alone will be saved within the STL.
Re: Saving Supports to STL file
Are you sure about that? I am on the Preview tab now, with supports showing on my model, and nothing I do will include the supports in the exported STL file. As far as I can tell, S3D will not export supports. If there is a way though, I would love to know. I bought the software assuming I could do exactly that. I'll be requesting my $150 refund very soon if it's not possible. (Meshmixer exports the custom supports it generates to STL files btw, so it's not an unprecedented feature.)dreamcutter wrote:I did accomplish this inadvertently. Try exporting stl from the preview tab after PREPARE. If you delete the model, supports alone will be saved within the STL.
Re: Exporting Model with Supports
Guys get on the ball. We engineers has Cosmo and a variate of other software to use plus multiple types of printers on the network that are specifically configured to stl only files. It is a real pain in the butt to have to calculate and input the support structures. Fusion did it easily and was a nice simple simple interface. You aren't capable of pulling that code and incorporating it. If you respond to this fine , if not as director I'm having Simplify removed from my operations. You have 3 months.
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DarrylMatherne
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2016 5:44 pm
Re: Saving Supports to STL file
The STL file will not save the actual gcode that would include support structure. You need to save the factory file in order to maintain the custom supports. Do this under the File menu. Of course the Factory file is only usable with Simplify3D. Also, if you want to export the gcode for the model and include support you can do that from the preview screen after preparing by clicking "Save Toolpaths to Disk" on the preview screen. Then you can drop it onto a SD card and print from it if you have SD support on your printer. Hope that helps.
Re: Saving Supports to STL file
@Darryl, thanks, I will have to give that a try.
Re: Saving Supports to STL file
Saving the factory file, and savings the GCODE to an SD card are self explanatory (and unrelated). As the title of the thread suggests however, the question was regarding how to export to the supports to an STL file. This would allow another slicer program could open the file and further manipulate it. Unfortunately, according to Simplify3D, this is not an option (despite multiple user requests dating back multiple years, and despite Simplify3D support previously posting that function would be included in an upcoming feature release).DarrylMatherne wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 7:53 am The STL file will not save the actual gcode that would include support structure. You need to save the factory file in order to maintain the custom supports. Do this under the File menu. Of course the Factory file is only usable with Simplify3D. Also, if you want to export the gcode for the model and include support you can do that from the preview screen after preparing by clicking "Save Toolpaths to Disk" on the preview screen. Then you can drop it onto a SD card and print from it if you have SD support on your printer. Hope that helps.
