Export assembled components as a single object in 3mf file

[andyvincentuk]

I get that one advantage of the 3mf format is that it can represent multiple components in a single file. However, I build my object using components and rigid assembly and I actually want this to be exported as a single object. This is the behaviour of STL (save as mesh) and it would be good if there was an option to export as a single object using 3mf format.

I accept that the downstream applications could do a better job when importing multiple objects with a positional relationship in a 3mf file but just exporting the assembly as a single object would be very helpful.

Thanks  

[jhackney1972 · Accepted solution]

You probably have two choices here.  One, you can create a single body from the assembly model before exporting your mesh or Two, you can open your exported 3mf file, after export, and use the Mesh command Combine on it and then saving as another 3mf file.  If you are interested in the first method, this Blog Article and Video may help you out.

[andyvincentuk]

That video is stunningly clever - but for my case opening and merging the meshes is much simpler! I had played with the mesh options but the error I made was to try and work with the active document rather than importing the exported mesh.

Very many thanks

Andy