topic Re: Combining Multiple Bodies to 3d print as one in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Combining Multiple Bodies to 3d print as one

mirage2991 — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 17:46:00 GMT

I created two bodies by using the mirror function. I would like to now 3D print the whole thing but, it only let me select one of the bodies to print. I can't figure out how to make those two bodies "one" so that it will let me select the whole thing.

Re: Combining Multiple Bodies to 3d print as one

etfrench — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 18:28:26 GMT

You can 'Save As STL' or '3d Print' multiple components when they are sub-components with the same parent. This also means you can select the top node in the browser and save the entire assembly as an STL.

Re: Combining Multiple Bodies to 3d print as one

mirage2991 — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 18:41:54 GMT

I guess I should have asked this differently: I only have body 1 and body 2 in the tree, I don't have any component made from these two, so I suppose I should have asked how to I make those to bodies a single components so that it can then be 3D printed. I tried a few things I thought would be it but no dice.

Re: Combining Multiple Bodies to 3d print as one

TrippyLighting — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 19:36:10 GMT

Are you sur you understood what @etfrench has posted ?

The top node of the browser shows the component symbol. You cannot not work in a component in Fusion 360. Each new design file already is it's own first component.

So, again, when you right-click on the top of the browser tree and select "Save as STL" it will save everything in your design file as one STL.

Re: Combining Multiple Bodies to 3d print as one

etfrench — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 19:40:58 GMT

Right click on the top node of the Browser. This brings up a context menu which contains 'Save As STL'. Click on that to save the two bodies as one STL.

Left click on the top node, then select '3d Print' from the drop down File menu.

You can make components from bodies by right clicking on a body in the Browser, then select 'Create Components from Bodies'.

Rule #1 makes it easier to manage the bodies, components, and sketches in a file.

Re: Combining Multiple Bodies to 3d print as one

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 16:45:37 GMT

As a little clarification with picture since your reply (from 2017) can be understood many ways.

One can:

- right click a component that has subcomponents and 'Save as STL' all their bodies

This does, however, bring in bodies that were not necessarily wanted. In my design (below) I've created the frame from three different components and 6 bodies altogether. I would like these to be treated "as one". In addition, there are subcomponents (and their bodies) that move within the construct. Those should be omitted.

So I tried:

Trying to pick-and-export to STL (does not work)

Note that the selected bodies do belong to one higher parent component. However, when right clicking there is no "Save as STL" so I cannot merge them together this way.

Work-around:

I'll use Import Derived and carefully pick the subcomponents needed at the import stage. This way, I get a parent component that only contains the bodies to print (as one).