Simplify3D User Forum

Greetings,

I have created a multi-body part in SolidWorks and exported each body as a separate STL to print them as different colors using different processes. However, the instructions per the tutorial do not work. I drop both files on the table, then I hold down the shift key and click "Center and Arrange". Instead of putting them in their "as designed" correct positions, S3D just aligns the front left corners of the two bodies. Attach is an example of what I am talking about. There is no way to change the coordinate system when you export the parts from SolidWorks. So I would think that S3D would know the relative positions and nest the parts correctly. Does anyone know how to fix this?

Side note: It would really be nice to "shift select" multiple parts to just import all the files at once.

i havent watched the tutorial or done any dual extrusion at all but if you are dropping 2 completely separate stl files on the table there is no way for s3d to know the relationship between the parts. the parts would need to be unjoined in solidworks and a single stl file saved containing the 2 parts. this way they are exported the way they are supposed to be set.

STL files have the data giving the coordinates of the vertices and normal vectors of the facets. It "should" know where the two objects are relative to each other if they were generated in the same coordinate system...

I had EXACTLY the same problem when coming out of Fusion 360 from Autodesk. Once I created a part or component I couldn't get it to align with the other part. It always aligned on the platter based on its LOCAL coordinate system instead of WORLD coordinates which, as you point out, should always be the SAME 0,0,0. Thus, you would expect the software to align the parts as intended. If I moved a component in Fusion in order to create an assembly, it still always maintained its original position on the platter and did not move relative to the other body. BTW, I had this same problem regardless of which slicing software I tried (i.e. Simplify, CURA, etc).

I submitted several examples to Autodesk for their support and, after several rounds of examples and dialog, they explained that this is intended because if you re-use parts/components in other drawings, you only care about the parts within a component relative to itself - not the old assembly in real world space. But we in the 3D print world DO care about relative positioning.

Autodesk has now looked into this and given me a work around. I don't know if SolidWorks is doing the same thing.... but here is how I currently can design around it in Fusion. Autodesk, now that they understand the issue claim that they are looking into how to deal with this requirement for this kind of application.

The work around is to create a high level component for each body or component (collection of bodies) you will be exporting into a single STL. This high level component will now be "locked" into whatever origin it is given. If you create several high level components then they will all have the same origin. Now, create your parts or sub-components within the appropriate high level component. For example, if you have two high-level components, put all the parts into the first one that are intended for one STL, and all the other parts intended for the other STL into the other. Then, you can move/align them to your hearts content and they will be referenced against the high level component's origin - giving you a common reference point in space. When you export the HIGH LEVEL components into two separate STL's they will align perfectly in Simplify.

I'm curious to see if this is the same issue and whether or not this helps. Please let me know if I can clarify any of this. (or if this is not the same problem!!!)

lkeppner... You are the man. I was able to follow your workaround and it worked! At least, I think I followed your workaround, or found one that you inspired for SolidWorks! So here is the SolidWorks translation of your AutoDesk fix for those in need of it:

1. Create either an assembly or a multi-body part with every part in the intended position.
2. Save this as an STL file with all the bodies in a single file (go to save as > select .stl > click the "options" button > STL tab > check the "save all components into single file button").
3. Import the saved STL back into SW. Do this by going to file > open > file type drop down select *.stl > click the "options" button > make sure your units are the same > select Import As: "Solid Body".
4. All of the parts/bodies should now be aligned to one corner of the largest part (view your origin). This has normalized the coordinate system of all the parts as STL files.
5. Suppress all but one body and "save as" export each body as single STL files.
6. Import them into SD3 and they will align as intended/designed.

Awesome... I love workarounds! Thanks again.

I did not want to start a new thread because I believe this thread can solve my issue. I am having a similar issue as Sean, such that my multiple .stl files will not align in simplify3d. The part was created in SW. First, I created an assembly and then exported each part from the assembly as .stl files, however, the parts did not align once in simplify3d. Second, I then tried to use the workaround stated in this thread, however, when I try to re-import the assembly .stl file, SW will not let me because it is too large and will only import as a surface body. Is there another workaround or something I can do within simplify3d to solve this issue?

Thanks in advance.

maarten74 wrote:I did not want to start a new thread because I believe this thread can solve my issue. I am having a similar issue as Sean, such that my multiple .stl files will not align in simplify3d. The part was created in SW. First, I created an assembly and then exported each part from the assembly as .stl files, however, the parts did not align once in simplify3d. Second, I then tried to use the workaround stated in this thread, however, when I try to re-import the assembly .stl file, SW will not let me because it is too large and will only import as a surface body. Is there another workaround or something I can do within simplify3d to solve this issue?

Thanks in advance.

NVM. I was able to figure out a workaround. For those with a similar problem, if you create a new coordinate system within the assembly and then output each .stl file with the new coordinate system, the files should align in simplify3d.

Thanks.

There is no need for a "workaround". Solidworks sketches (and solids) have an 'origin'. its in the Feature Manager Tree. If you click on it, it will show a dot where the origin is.

What I do is add a points to my sketches in the same relative place, and then select the entire sketch and "move entities" and drag my point over to the origin.
(in the example above, with the rectangles, put the points in the center of each for example)
That way each sketch is in the correct position relative to the origin, and therefore relative to each other. When Simplify3d aligns the sketches it uses this as the co-ordinate system to align them.

Hi,

I had the same issue, but I found the solution within Simplify3D:

Tools > Options > Models > Uncheck 'Automatically center and arrage imported models'

Now, when you import multiple stl's they will are positioned the same towards each other as they used to do in you Solidworks(/fusion?) file. Group them, and use 'center and arrange' on the group.

Hope it works!

There is also the Edit > Align Selected Model Origins feature that works very well. If they were aligned in your CAD package, this will align them in S3D as well.