3D Printers

Most slicers will take in models in STL format and render them as G-code, but the G-code will be for a specific printer.

The source file formats for the design are typically specific to the 3D design software, which can then output STL. STL is a bit like the 'PDF' of

Theo

Thank you both.

I’ve found a local company which offers a prototyping service and uploaded the files. I can’t believe how cheap they are for one offs. True, the parts aren’t large or complex, essentially two boxes without tops or bottoms ( ie just sides) about 15 cm by 2 cm at an estimate which clip together.

The price, under £2 each - although that is in the cheapest material.

The files I downloaded, which were made available to people to use etc, are indeed Stl files.

More or less.

My mate who does 3D for me accepts .STL fiiles, (STereoLithography, I think) which are huge mathematical descriptions of polygonal surfaces. A solid object is simply a closed surface. It is essentially a series of X,Y, Z points that define the surface.

That gets sent to a piece of software - freeware in fact - that generates 'slices' exactly one plastic layer thick, in another file format. That is what the printer uses to actually spit out the hotSnot. So *that* software needs the printers parameters feeding in. Its output is simply a file that you can stick on a pen drive and plug into he printer. At the most basic level anyway.

My actual CAD is done in a completely incompatible format using a different mathematical description, but fortunately it has the ability to turn that into polygonal meshes and export those via the STL format.

That amazes me, not having needed any 3-D printed parts. I would never have thought that something that, not long ago, was a new concept, could be so cheap so soon. I might just investigate this. I recently looked at the prices of the printers in my latest CPC catalogue, out of interest, and again I could not believe how cheap they are.

Can you tell us whom you are using, please?

I've used jlcpcb.com who are in a similar ballpark, but in China. I'd be interested to know of UK suppliers.

Theo (whose 3D printer is currently broken and have been ordering 3D printed parts to upgrade it)

Likely to be PLA which is pretty good for most things. if you know what 3D printer they are using you could download the slicing app to produce the gcode. Although any slicer will give you an idea of material used and time taken. You can also watch an on screen simulation of the print head moving to produce the print, which is more exciting than watching love isalnd etc.. :-)

The advantage would be knowing how much material/plastic will be used in grams and metres and how long it might take, if you're curious* that is. a 1Kg reel is typically £30, more for fancy colours I've got an ender 3 at home and use an ultimaker 2+ at work. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is density of the job, the default is 20% which gives a honeycomb like structue to the finshed job, but this can be increased to 100% if you need higher density. Also the resultion can be set the ender 3 has 0.2mm, 0.15mm and 0.1mm, the unltimaker has 0.15mm, 0.1mm and 0.06mm