![]() ![]() People only use STL as a last resort, not because it easy to use (it not).ĭuring the late 90s Engineers have opt out STL and in favour of STEP (less so for IGES) as universal standards. ![]() But for those situations, I simply import it in to one of my many CAD and/or format conversion programs and export the STL I need for the printer. I do have situations where I find a model file on a site like GrabCAD and it’s not available in STL. I’d be interested in understanding an example use case if you have the time to explain… I’ve never had a situation where I needed to edit supports more accurately than PreForm lets me place them. STL is more than sufficient to meet/exceed the resolution of the Form2. And I’d argue that for what the printer does, a different native format would not result in improved prints. But ultimately, as Frew says, a STEP would need to be converted by PreForm in to something very much like a STL since that’s the native format the printer is designed to interpret. They generate smaller files because the geometry is more “abstracted” (a curve isn’t approximated by multiple discrete points like in a STL, it’s got a start point, an end point and a radius). STEP (and to a slightly lesser extent IGES) are much more complicated to support and much less universally supported. And almost everything can read/write STL. That’s because it’s a non-proprietary standard that is very easy to support in software, using math that most of us learned in High School. STL isn’t required by printing software, however most printing software uses STL. STL is a burden not a benefit for engineers.Į - Benefit to Formlabs as well, as they can have access to open source library like CrabCAD and other free 3D CAD library for downloads IN WHICH MAKERBOT IS ALREADY DOING. As STEP file is generated from a true solid CAD from engineering CAD software like Creo, Solidworks, Unigraphics. ![]() No other industries uses STL anymore like CNC or CMM or CAD CAM or PCB gerber file or Laser cutting (vector based).ĭ - Much easier to repair or modify. (surface CAD).Īs the Preform supports generation are too limiting, meaning the Preform should be allowed to export as STEP, STL or OBJ along with the supports for customisation.Ģ - In Preform, there will be many benefit of using 3D STEP beside using the outdated STL files (so last century):ī - True geometric shapes & details, which unlike STL that uses polygons to construct an approximate 3D mesh structure. Next, you can load the custom material file, Form_1+_FLGPCL02_100.ini from the PreForm UI and print with it by selecting the "Load Custom Material." button:įor more details, see Material file detailed description.1 - This is for support modifications / improvement originated from Preform and edit it back in Solidworks, Creo (solid CAD) or 3D Max, Maya & etc. Use that version of PreForm to update the firmware. ![]() In order to use all of the firmware features and to set custom material files for Form 1/1+, you need a special version of PreForm, available here:
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