Exporting to .stl then opening in Cura

[jazzking2001]

I know how to design something in inventor, export it to .stl and open the new file in cura.

However, when i open the new .stl file in cura, the dimensions are all wrong. The last few times I opened up the file, the part is extremely small. Thus, I need to play around and determine what dimensions i need the part to be in once again in cura.

Ironically, when I download stuff from thingverse, the files open up in cura at the correct scale.

 Why?

[Ping.Zhang · Accepted solution]

Hi jazzking2001,

The STL format itself does not have a unit. Say you have a cube with size 1 inch * 1 inch * 1 inch. The STL file will only contain the value 1*1*1 without unit. The file user should know its unit and select the correct unit opening the STL file in one application.

FYI. This is the specification of STL format. Hope it helps.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_%28file_format%29 

Thank you,

Kevin

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Like Kevin mentioned here, STL and OBJ files do not have unit attached to its data. It is up to the exporting and importing CAD system to determine what unit scale the geometry needs to be exported to mesh. I suspect you were probably working on an inch-unit part in Inventor and export it to STL in document unit. As a result, the mesh will be very small (values) in a mm-based mesh CAD system. Or, the export unit was set to cm, which would lead to 1 cm becoming 1 mm.

Click on Options button when you export to STL. You can set the export unit. Make sure it is in sync with the mesh receiving CAD system. It should work.

Many thanks!

[Sergio.D.Suárez]

Hello! They are right what they say above, look at options that match the unit with the one you have in the file. regards

[mcgyvr · Accepted solution]

During the process of exporting to STL... Before you press the save button..

Press the Options button next to it..

Then when that screen opens set the units to what your 3dprinter/software expects (likely millimeters)

Then all will open at the correct scale in Cura.. 

That units setting is then remembered at you shouldn't have to do that again unless you are exporting to something else that requires a different units..

[JDMather]

If, after reading these responses, you still have trouble exporting your Inventor file with correct scale/units, please Attach the *.ipt file here.

[jazzking2001]

Ah,

I have read about the various points that have been mentioned but I just did not recall them until you mentioned it.

I just edited the export settings to MM and it worked perfectly.

Thanks!

You also removed the need to guess what size i need to make the object + need to do several test prints to confirm in the size i used was correct or not.

Some weeks ago i made a headphone holder and i had to do 2 or 3 test prints to see if you guess size in cura was correct or not. Now I dont.

PS - I hope you have a good xmas and new years.