topic Re: Prepping for 3d printing. Is there a quick way to do it? in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Prepping for 3d printing. Is there a quick way to do it?

richard_markham — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 08:34:24 GMT

I have a fusion 360 assembly drawing consisting of about a dozen parts which I want to 3d print.

What's the easiest way to rearrange the parts into the correct orientation to 3d print? Do I just do this manually or can fusion360 automate this?

Re: Prepping for 3d printing. Is there a quick way to do it?

rushabhthakkar_910 — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 08:46:02 GMT

Can you elaborate your issue..?

Do you want to re-arrange the parts in the drawing..?? Or something else..?

Betreff: Prepping for 3d printing. Is there a quick way to do it?

wersy — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 11:43:21 GMT

Depending on the complexity, I would consider splitting it up for better printing.

Re: Prepping for 3d printing. Is there a quick way to do it?

TheCADWhisperer — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 12:30:44 GMT

I am not sure the issue is fully explained.

As I read it:

1. Best print is dependent on relation of Z-axis of the part, so for an assembly it is beneficial to reorient the "bottom" of the part to the platen such that Z is in best layer printing orientation.

2. When printing multiple components (in same print session) of an assembly - you probably don't want to print "as assembled", but rather oriented as in #1 and perhaps in X,Y layout as well.

My slicer does this (but I have access to a $65k printer). Actually it is only partially automated - still have to tell the slicer what you want.

I do not know of an automatic tool for this operation.

You will have to reorient the components prior to sending the the slicer software if your slicer software does not have this functionality. Fortunately - it is pretty easy to do. If you have trouble - Attach your *.f3d file here.

Re: Prepping for 3d printing. Is there a quick way to do it?

richard_markham — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 15:57:17 GMT

OK, so I do have to manually break the assembly apart and re-orientate for 3d printing. I am a total newbie to fusion 360, so before I start doing this, I just wanted to check there wasn't some automatic method to do this.
Thanks for your help.

Re: Prepping for 3d printing. Is there a quick way to do it?

rushabhthakkar_910 — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 16:04:26 GMT

There is no way that can do this for you. You'll have to manually do it.

Re: Prepping for 3d printing. Is there a quick way to do it?

etfrench — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 17:40:10 GMT

Simply send each component or body individually to the slicer and arrange them there. There is no need to break an assembly apart.

Note: I usually just save each body as an stl (or 3mf) and send those to the slicer.