STL Export File No Longer Smooth

[pangelotti]

I have been exporting .stl files for printing for months without any problems - using the export command.  I am working on an iMac Pro with Mac OS Catalina 10.15.6.  I went to export the file to .stl to print as I normally do, and the resultant file is no longer smooth (I've attached photos of the original smooth, and the new file).  It's supposed to be like a normal cylinder, but there are geometric shapes now for some reason.  The file looks correct when I am working on it - but not when I export to .stl.  It seems like it's a resolution issue, but I did not change any of the settings.  I even performed a clean install and still have the same issue.  I'm hoping it's simply a setting somewhere that will output the higher resolution, but I can't find any.  I thought the clean install would've solved the problem.  I've searched the forums and internet but nothing.  Please help.  Thanks.

[YoavFriedlander]

You are exporting with a lower face count / meaning lower resolution - make sure something hasn't changed in the surface deviation! - It is absolutely less face count. And you should have manual control over that input:

 

Two main methods to consider: 

1. Right click on a body you want as an STL file from the browser panel on the left hand side of the screen and "Save as STL" you will have the same advance options as above.
2. On the top tool bar go to the "TOOLS" tab past Solid, Surface and Sheet Metal environments. There under Make (Top Left) you can send to 3D print utility and set the same settings regarding "resolution" aka Face Count 🙂

Both enable you to either select a quality preset or use the advance options to get the resolution you want ! 🙂 

[pangelotti]

What is the solution?   When I go to export, there are no resolution options - no options at all.  Is there a setting somewhere I can change?  It's just weird because I did a clean install, so if I accidentally changed a setting it should have gone back to when it was working.  Thanks.

[YoavFriedlander]

I am sorry it accidentally posted before I added the demo Look above again 🙂 @pangelotti 

[HughesTooling]

You need to use Save as STL within Fusion. The cloud translators (Export) have no settings and have always just used the course setting.

Mark

[pangelotti]

First off, thank you for your help!  That does work if I have one body, but I am working with several bodies and don't know how to export multiple bodies with the 3D print command.  The export stl command under the file tab (which I've used dozens of times, has no option for changing settings - unless it's somewhere in the preferences that I can't find.  My 3D print menu looks different from yours too.  Please see attached.

[pangelotti]

Thanks Mark.  I have always performed the export command as you suggested - and the translation was done with a much smoother setting (please see the 2 same exports side by side).  It's changed out of the blue.  Is there a way to select the 50 bodies and control the output through the 3D Print option?

[YoavFriedlander · Accepted solution]

You can right click on the file name from the browser and export all 50 bodies at the same time as one STL file 🙂 with all the controls you need for resolution. Here is an example with two separate bodies 

[pangelotti]

That worked!  Thank you so much!

[YoavFriedlander]

@pangelotti that is great my friend! 🙂