Simplify3D User Forum

subject I think covers it I'd like the ability to apply a scale factor to all parts loaded vs one by one.

You can do this one of two ways:

Import all items, then select all models, group them, then scale the whole group.

or

go to the settings > Models tab and add an import action to scale all imported models. Be sure to remmeber to turn this off if you don't want it happening everytime you import model(s)

Could I append that request by suggesting scale be included in the FFF profile as a material specific parameter?

I just (this hour), printed a large PETG bracket and found that it shrunk .9% (a 220mm part came out to 118mm). It would be very handy if I could set 1.009 as the scale in my FFF settings for that material.

~Justine

If you find out that you always need to print your parts a big bigger, then I would use an import action. It will automatically scale any parts that you import, for example, if you determine that your parts always shrink by 0.5%. This video explains how to set it up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8ytvwfCn5g

As far as scaling multiple models at once, you just need to select the model you want to change before scaling them. For example, they do that at 2:59 in this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIhpUfCorSM) and also a similar video about selecting and grouping if you haven't done this before (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQFhDZcEPhc)

Joe, thank you very much for that tip. I'll be adding the import option right away.

Per the OP, as suggested select all the objects and apply scale variable.

As for using the material profile for adjusting scale, JoeJ's advice is pretty nifty. You could also experiment with increasing the extrusion multiplier to compensate for shrinking. This method would allow control through the Profile, and not have to get into preferences when materials are changes.

If the extrusion multiplier doesn't change when changing autoconfigureMaterials. Export the FFF and manually add the following to the autoconfigure Material you're trying to use (substitute .## with the value which minimizes the material shrink):
<extrusionMultiplier>0.##</extrusionMultiplier>

So, I've now used the import action feature for scaling but I'm dissapointed in realizing that it needs to be set every time I open S3D (I thought it would be permanent). For a particular material, whether or not it's critical for the part, scaling really always needs to be set to compensate for shrinkage. If one is printing toys and bunnys it will never come up but for large prints that interface with machined parts it matters.

Unless there's another nifty feature I'm not aware of, I reiterate my opinion that this should be settable in the FFF profile. .85% is the number I'm honing in on for PETG, so any part I import to print in that material -- ever -- will want to be scaled.

~Justine

jhaupt wrote:So, I've now used the import action feature for scaling but I'm dissapointed in realizing that it needs to be set every time I open S3D (I thought it would be permanent).

It is permanent. At least it is for me. Did you click Add and then save them preferences? Perhaps you have a permissions issue where the software isn't allowed to save your settings. What happens if you change other settings in the Tools > Options window?

Oh how odd, now it's sticking (nothing done differently). I'm on Debian so who knows.

Thank you for all your tips and advices.