Fusion STL files not the correct size?

[Anonymous]

I've been exporting my Fusion 360 parts to STL and then loading them into Repetier Host to print. however they are never the size that I have them drawn at. I'm printing to a Solidoodle 4

I'm unsure if the problem is the export, if I happen to use MeshMaker, or Repetier... 

Has anyone had any luck with any of this?

Thanks

Scott

[jakefowler]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for posting this, and sorry that you're encountering this issue. A couple of quick things to check:

1. How are you exporting the STL data from your model? There's a couple of ways to do this. You can export an STL of the entire model using the online translation on A360. Or, from the application itself, you can right-click a component/body node in the browser and select Save as STL (right-click the top-level node to export the whole model). Generally I recommend this second option, since this gives you more control over the exported result.

2. What are the document units for your Fusion model?  The STL file format does not record unit information (only unitless data), and RepetierHost treats the STL units as mm (AFAIK this is a fixed setting, although I could be wrong). A unit mismatch might explain this issue. Do you have a rough idea of the scale the model is out by? (3x? 10x?)

Many thanks,

Jake

[cekuhnen]

I noticed that Fusion started to export STL at different sizes recently when bringing it into different poly modelers later.

[Jon.Dean]

The STL file format is a unitless format.  Often when importing, there are options to specify whether to import the STL file into inches or mm (most common options). If the Fusion 360 units are set to mm, but then you import the STL file into another program as inches, you may find that the scale is off by 25.4 (25.4 mm to 1 inch).

[Anonymous]

Repetier-Host seems to only have a single unit, presumably MM.

But I'm sure I'm getting size differences when going from Fusion to Meshmaker to Repetier. 😕 

I'll try again and hopefully narrow down the problem.

[Jon.Dean]

Any update to this issue. Did you do further testing?

Jon.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

I think that sticking with mm's is working correctly.

It isn't an issue at all with Fusion and Simplify3D. (a great combination, you should just buy them up for a good slicer and printer for your upcoming hardware. 🙂

[geoffUUV2R]

I have had this situation too. I have designed a simple plaque with raised lettering in Fusion 360. The dimensions as designed were 100mm x 67.5mm. The 3D printed model came out 102mm x 65mm, i.e slightly longer length and shorter width. I made an identical model in Sketchup and the printed dimensions are spot-on. Both were printed on the same Weistek WT280A printer with the same slicer (The proprietory Doraware-P, the only option for this printer). Slicer settings were the same and the filament was the same, except that the Fusion STL file had to be rotated 90º in the slicer to make it flat on the bed. I could not get Fusion to output in this orientation even when I changed the TOP orientation in the model.

Seems like Fusion could do with some preset user X-Y-Z scaling factors to fine-tune the STL - unless there are some that I haven't found yet... I am a new user!

The design thickness was 3mm and as far as I can tell seems to be right.

[PhilProcarioJr]

@geoffUUV2R

Something is a miss here because I 3d print parts all the time from Fusion and there are no scaling or orientation issues, and I use 4 different 3d printers. Can you share your file with us so we can see what is going on?

Is your modeling viewport set to Z up?

[geoffUUV2R]

Here is a link to my file: http://a360.co/2eLX1I6

I have tried setting the view so that the face is "TOP" or so that the face is "FRONT", but either way when I save the STL it still shows the plaque standing up on its edge. The preview in meshmixer is showing like this too. I am going to try printing it "as is" to see if the distortion in the size is actually caused by rotating it in my slicer, and will report back.

I can't see how to successfully re-orient the STL from within Fusion though.

Thanks for your time.

[PhilProcarioJr]

@geoffUUV2R

The reason it is not properly oriented is because you don't orient the model by setting the view that is facing up. The model should be built with the top of the model facing the face marked TOP on the view cube. If you rotate your model so this is the case then you model will be oriented as you want it to be. Here is the fixed file. I exported your model and printed the first 5 layers and the dimensions are correct to your model. Also in your preferences you should be working with Z face up. It won't fix any models you have done already but will help in the future.

[geoffUUV2R]

Thanks so much Phil.

I didn't know how to set Z 'up', I just used the default settings. It does look like my slicer must be poorly re-orienting models on the plate. I have just started the "on edge" print for confirmation and I'll let you know how it comes out. 

You must sigh at all the dumb problems us newbies report!

Thanks again

Geoff

[PhilProcarioJr]

@geoffUUV2R

"You must sigh at all the dumb problems us newbies report!"

I was a newbie once and others helped me get to where I am at today. I only hope that some day you will help a newbie in the same way I am helping you. And for the record there are no dumb problems or questions. That's why I come to the forums is to help people like you that need a little guidance.

Make sure when you build your models that the top of your model matches the top face of the view cube.

Here is how you setup default view orientation.

[PhilProcarioJr]

@geoffUUV2R

This is where your build plate will be in Fusion.

[geoffUUV2R]

That's very clear, concise and helpful information Phil, thanks. I can confirm that my slicer was responsible for distorting the dimensions when the model was rotated. With your tips I will be able to get the orientation right first time!

[etfrench]

When the component is part of a larger assembly, you may not have the option of creating it with the print top the same as the workspace top.  Rotating the model in Fusion 360 doesn't change the rotation of the stl file which appears to depend on the relative location of the model origin, not the workspace origin.  When I printed the attached files, I had to recreate the model with a new origin that corresponded to other models that needed to be included in the print (print modifiers in Slic3r).

Attached are the stl and Fusion 360 files.

[Anonymous]

Hi, everyone!
I'm having the same problem. Can't believe there's no way to export .stl in the same size of the object I created.
I migrated to fusion360 cos I can input the right size that I need in a part, but I can't export with that size.
Thinking about leaving fusion because of it!

I have two 2 parts created in fusion, almost the same size. One is giant in simplify3D, another is smaller than a bean.

=,(

[Drakenfly]

Not sure why this was picked as the answer. Telling people to go out and buy a new program does NOT resolve the issue that is being created in the 1st place.  Why bother with Autodesk if it's NOT going to do what it was coded to do which is to use MM or inches. The whole thing centers around a issue with Autodesk and NOT the "other" products...

[Anonymous]

The answer was to stick to using mm’s when you export your stl.  It had nothing to do with Simplify3d.  Although I stand by my suggestion that Autodesk buy them and make that the slicer of Choice

[Anonymous]

The problem is that .stl files seem to be unit less, so the export works right, but many slicers screw it up.

ill also note this was 3-4 years ago.