How to export objects for 3D printing and keep them aligned

[JohnSays]

I have an object into which I have cut text. I kept the tool (text) and am leaving that in the object. See picture below. The reason is that I want to 3D print that text in a different color than the object. This is my first foray into this area of multi-color printing. I plan on embedding my logo into my object along with other text and so this is my first test.

The letters are all in a group. I exported that group using the "Make/3D Print" menu. Then I exported the object. However, I cannot align them in the Simplfy3D slicer. So next I added the object to the text group and exported the whole thing. So now the text is in S3D and aligned, but S3D does not know the text is seperate from the object.

The question I have is this: How do I export for 3D printing such that I can have all the objects I need to print fully aligned, but at the same time, being able to be separately addressed in the slicer?

[davebYYPCU · Accepted solution]

Do not make changes in the Fusion model, is it correct as stated.

Save as Stl, each of the bodies to your hard drive.

In Simplify3d, you import both models, 

then with both selected, Edit > Align selected model Origins,

Depending on your printer, one or dual extruder (I have both) each is a different setup, 

However a process set to each model with settings to suit is where I would start.  

Might help...

[JohnSays]

Thanks davebYYPCU. Because of what you wrote, I looked into why I was unable to get my models to align and found that I have to create them from a common 0,0,0 origin and I wasn't. 

[davebYYPCU]

And not for just 3d printing, should be a sensible datum for each design.

pleased you found it....

[JohnSays]

(Sorry, I got interrupted while responding and saved the post without completing it thinking i could come back and edit it.)

Thanks davebYYPCU. Because of what you wrote, I looked into why I was unable to get my models to align and found that I have to create them from a common 0,0,0 origin. I thought I wasn't, but it turns out I am. Or at least I think I am. I created my text on the face of my object using a sketch and then extruded the letters into the face of the object. I used the text to cut and then kept the tool. This, of course, placed the text right where I wanted it. I cannot see how to modify the coordinates to get alignment on export. It is my understanding now that stl files should have a world coordinate system in them that should align separate parts together.

[davebYYPCU]

I think you are confusing the two software packages.

Fusion will keep the bodies aligned to the file origin.

Symplify3d will import them to the centre of the build plate, initially

but then aligning the body origins will restore the Fusion alignment. 

Then place surface to build plate and move commands in S3D are totally independent of Fusion.

Might help....

[JohnSays]

I understand what should happen. I'm saying that stl files have in them coordinates that should allow another program like S3D to align the separate parts back together. When I save the two stls out of Fusion360 and then import them into S3D, I cannot get them to align using the commands in S3D. In another post on the S3D boards, a user was having the same problem and found out that Fusion360 (at that time and in that version) was saving coordinates in the stl files that would not be world coordinates but internal relative coordinates. His solution or workaround was to build everything from 0,0,0. So maybe that is what I have to do. Recreate the drawings and start each of the pieces from 0,0,0. I wouldn't normally do that. I would place a sketch where I want a part to be and start drawing it.

I think the thing to do is to make a test objects and see if I can keep their alignment when exported to stls.

[davebYYPCU]

I'm saying that stl files have in them coordinates that should allow another program like S3D to align the separate parts back together. 

It has that functionality in my experience, but Fusion and S3d have had upgrades, works now.

I saved the 4 files as stl, One file per body, in Dec/18,

text has to be exploded and is one file per letter, import them, they are laid out on the build table

Select all, 

Use Edit > Align selected Model Origins

All done.

I agree with you the Fusion datum doesn't matter, in S3D the coordinates only have to be relative.

Not working for you, can you attach a fusion test file?

[JohnSays]

Thanks. I have attached my file. Kt sure what the upload limit is. The file is about 16mb.

[JohnSays]

Out of curiosity, do your files always end up on the build plate when you import them? Mine are always off to the side and not aligned to any particular plane that I can see.

[davebYYPCU]

Got the file through OK.

Works as expected, the way I am used to.

The Saucer body and the letters for TRUE have arrived on the build plate separated and aligned vertical to the build plate, that can be fixed with Fusions preferences as Z up or Y up.

I got a size conversion message and accepted the option, your file is probably inches, and I use metric.

Either way, select all bodies and Align their Origins, and works as expected.

Next step is to group all together, then Place Surface on Bed and select the front face, 

to print text in another colour, group the text.  Set the processes as required.

It's tedious for each letter of the logo, but it works, others may know a better way to manage the text as one group / body or Component.

Might help...

[JohnSays]

Thank you so much for all your time and attention to my problem.

Something is wrong at my end I guess. I'm doing the same actions that you are and my letters end up way off in space. I have tried to bring them in as individual letters and they become way too big. I also have tried to bring them in as a group body. They import at the right size but will not align. I have watched videos on how to do this and I cannot see anything that I am doing that is different. I recreated them under the same component such that the sketch and body share the same component as the main body. That made no difference either.

Tomorrow I will try something else. For example, re-import the file I sent you and see if that behaves differently. Also, I still have not made a new test file. That will be next. Also, I may uninstall Fusion. When I try to save a single letter as an stl, Fusion never gives me the option of saving it. From then on I cannot access the "3D  Print" option. 

[JohnSays]

I typed this in earlier today but I don't see it appearing here. I write this in case it shows up for some reason.

Anyway, I solved my problem and want to again say thanks. Because my file works at your end I got to thinking that maybe I have some preference set that you do not. So I went into the S3D preferences and tried a few things. What fixed it for me was deleting the 90 degree rotation I had set for importing. Once that was turned off, everything imported and aligned.

As a note, with all the characters in a group, I have found a way to save that group as one stl file and so that makes it even easier. I posted in the support group about how to do that. 

[davebYYPCU]

Ok, pleased you found answer.  S3D preferences, don’t think I have ever been there.