New add-in to export STL, STEP and F3D files in various granularity and refinements

[lichtzeichenanlage]

A couple of years (???) ago I've written a little add-in to export STLs and F3D files called Filtered Export. Larger parts were driven by the community, which did not always meet my requirements. That's fine and I'll used it all the time.

Now I've created a new add-in that can exports various formats in different granularity and refinements in one job and the configuration is stored within the design. So it's easy to export updated designs at the push of a button.

Feedback is very welcome.

https://github.com/WilkoV/Fusion360_ExportIt

[LeonardoBN]

Thanks for sharing, @lichtzeichenanlage!

I have been using Filtered Export for a year or so. Now I am going to test the ExportIt, and I think the feature I will like the most is the Default Configuration. It is very convenient the "one-button" export.

[lichtzeichenanlage]

Great to hear! If something missing or you have a problem just drop a message here or create an issue on github. 

[kshea9RNL8]

What would be the steps to install this to use in Fusion 360?

Thank you

Ken

[lichtzeichenanlage]

More or less the same steps that are needed for all add-ins that are not downloaded from the store. I'd placed a rough description here. Isn't it working this way?

[kshea9RNL8]

I've only added one add on and that was way back ans I've  forgoten how it was done, like many things, it's simple once you know how. I'll check on your link.

Thanks for the reply.

[lichtzeichenanlage]

Drop me a message if I can provide further help

[LeonardoBN]

Hi @lichtzeichenanlage. I have a question regarding to ExportIt. 

I need to export my files to STL in the settings I like the most (One File per Body in Component, High Refinement and other Filename Options), but each time in a different folder.

Is there a way I would be prompted by the ExportIt for the directory? I suppose I'm killing the nice ideia of Default Configurations with one of them I want to change everytime. 😶

[lichtzeichenanlage]

One of the base ideas of ExportIt is to no change the directory often - that's why the location is on the 2nd tab. What do you exactly mean with "different directory". For each export but the same design? Each time a different base directory? Or something completely differnt. 

[MRWakefield]

I love the add-in but I also find this aspect of it a bit frustrating. I like to keep all files belonging to a project in their own local folder and these folders don't always have the same parent (some might be under 'Personal Projects' or 'Work Projects' for instance so I'd also like to vote for a 'Save to' dialogue so I can choose where I want to put the exported files.

Hope this makes sense.

[lichtzeichenanlage]

But you're storing exporting the same project design always in into the same directory?

[MRWakefield]

Yes, at least I expect that to be the case for >90% of the time. I'm thinking that the first time you export a particular design it would prompt the user for a 'root' folder and subsequent exports of that design would no longer prompt. If you then export a different design it would again prompt (if it were the first time exporting this design) with subsequent exports (of this design) not prompting. It would also be useful if there was a method to reassign the root export folder for a design in case you've done some tidying up and moved your folder structure around. Perhaps a button or checkbox on the export settings dialogue to display a folder selection dialogue might be possible?

I've not done much coding for Fusion so I'm not very familiar with what can and can't be done so it might not be possible to implement it in the way I've described, but hopefully you get the general idea.

Does that make sense?

[lichtzeichenanlage]

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@MRWakefield wrote:

Yes, at least I expect that to be the case for >90% of the time. I'm thinking that the first time you export a particular design it would prompt the user for a 'root' folder and subsequent exports of that design would no longer prompt. If you then export a different design it would again prompt (if it were the first time exporting this design) with subsequent exports (of this design) not prompting.

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Okey - I can easily change the code that way, that you don't have to define a base directory in the defaults editor. That way you would be ask (and forced) to define an export directory if you call the export design process. That way the export directory will be handled like all the other configuration changes and you can store it in the design. If you do so, you will not be asked on the next export of this design (but on new designs).

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@MRWakefield wrote:

I've not done much coding for Fusion so I'm not very familiar with what can and can't be done so it might not be possible to implement it in the way I've described, but hopefully you get the general idea.

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The API does not offer a simple button. Actions based on a "click" have to be solved differently, and that usually doesn't feel very natural.

The current implementation allows you to  empty the field Export Directory, leave the field and the directory dialog will be displayed again. The only problem right now is that the new directory will not be shown in the but used in the process. I'm not sure if this is a bug in the API, the framework or in my add-in, but I'm sure I'll solve the problem at some point 😉 

Another solution could be, that I could add a checkbox labeled Reset export directory on export, that will show the dialog if you start the export. I'm not sure if I would store this flag in the design settings but I'm having a tendency to not store this flag.

These changes would not destroy my workflow and I think they would solve your problem. Or am I wrong?

[MRWakefield]

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@lichtzeichenanlage wrote:

...

Another solution could be, that I could add a checkbox labeled Reset export directory on export, that will show the dialog if you start the export. ...

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That's exactly what I was thinking! I wasn't sure whether a button could be implemented but I was pretty sure a checkbox could. 😉

[lichtzeichenanlage]

Okay - here is my solution to the discussed topics:

• Button (checkbox) to reset the export directory.
• Handling of the export directory can now be better adapted to different workflows.

Feedback is of course still very welcome. 

[MRWakefield]

That's great, thanks for adding our suggestions to an already brilliant add-in. I've given it a quick test and it's exactly what I hoped for. I'll let you know if I come up against any issues.

Once again, thank you for a very useful add-in 👏😀

[lichtzeichenanlage]

Great to hear that the quick test was to your liking. If there are any problems, I will of course be happy to help. Of course we can also talk about new ideas.

I'm glad hear that you like the add-in. 

[lichtzeichenanlage]

I've update the add-in to the version 0.6.0. Main new feature is  community inspired and adds the option to create a STL file per top level occurrence. Background: Some designers are creating designs especially with multi material / multi color 3D prints in mind by using components to group bodies or sub-components in top level components named like red, yellow, green. This option minimizes the number of created export files and effort to prepare the print in a slicer.  You can download the new version here.

BTW: The add-in should notify you automatically, but this can take a day or more depending on your default settings.

[lichtzeichenanlage]

I've updated my ExportIt add-in to the version 0.7.0. Main changes are that you can now you can define you're own refinements for stl exports. and exclude components. Excluding components for example useful to exclude mockups or if you're importing manufactured parts and if you're breaking those links. 

[lichtzeichenanlage]

Bug fix release: I just noticed that I didn't increase the version number correctly in my ExportIt add-in which breaks the add-in (for some new features)

https://github.com/WilkoV/Fusion360_ExportIt/releases/tag/0.7.1