topic 3D Printing in AutoCAD Forum

3D Printing

alexisn39CNC — Tue, 20 May 2025 15:48:41 GMT

Hello. I've been modeling a simple box in AutoCAD and having it 3D printed. This is for work and I have no experience in 3D printing. I've just been using CAD and handing the STL model file to someone else who is actually doing the printing. Unfortunately, he doesn't know much either, and together we've been trying to address any problems.

So our boss wants to paint the 3D printed model, but there is one side that has diagonal lines and this is creating a texture. He wants it smooth. Before sending off the CAD model, I've been using the 3DPRINT command that sets the facetres value to 10 which helps smooth surfaces.

I do not think there's anything else I can do in CAD to fix this. I'm thinking this has to do with the 3D printer and the 3D printing process. If anyone has any advice, I appreciate it. Though I really don't think there's much I can do on my end.

Thanks.

Re: 3D Printing

Patchy — Tue, 20 May 2025 16:51:50 GMT

Use acetone to smooth it, everyone knows that.

Re: 3D Printing

autoid374ceb4990 — Tue, 20 May 2025 21:37:28 GMT

Are all the other faces smooth? I took your picture and brightened it and you can see that the lower left corner looks smooth. Assuming that this face was the top and was printed last, perhaps there is something in you printer settings causing the diagonal lines. Could you post your drawing?

What material are you printing with?

Nozzle size?

Speed?