Inventor 2016 - Adding a 3D printer type

[JamesLovell]

Good Morning everyone (UK time)

I was wondering if anyone had found a way of adding a 3D printer to the list in the '3D Print' environment.

I found the '3DPrinterDescriptions.xml' that lists the printers variables, each printer is in this format:-

<Printer thicknessThreshold="1.0" height="13.4" width="6.4" depth="4.0" units="cm" origin="0,0,0" technology="DLP" Spark="1" defaultprinter="1" favorite="1" modelName="Autodesk Ember" manufacturer="Autodesk Inc." internalName="7FAF097F-DB2E-45DC-9395-A30210E789AA"/>

Do you think its just a case of adding a printer to the list or modifying an existing one? What do you think the 'internalName' variable is for? I can’t see it in the registry so wasn’t sure.

Any help is appreciated! J

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

You could try this:

As you saw, currently, there is no UI to add or modify 3D printers in Inventor.
When you make changes to Favorite or Default printer check boxes from the Other Printers dialog, this file is created or modified:
%appdata%\Autodesk\Inventor 2016\3DPrinterDescriptions.xml

Here are some instructions on how to add a new printer by editing this file.
Please, note that if the file format changes in the future, your edits may not persist. Also, if editing this XML file introduces any syntax or other errors, it may cause Inventor's 3D Print software to not function properly.
To revert to the version of the XML file installed with Inventor, do the following:
a. delete %appdata%\Autodesk\Inventor 2016\3DPrinterDescriptions.xml
b. restart Inventor.

Instructions for adding a printer to 3DPrinterDescriptions.xml:
1. copy one of the existing printer definitions, for example:
<Printer internalName="99CEC70A-F5A0-443F-9D9F-FC4F80B3FAEA" modelName="Dimension BST 1200es" manufacturer="Stratasys" technology="Extrusion" origin="BottomCenter" units="mm" depth="254.0" width="254.0" height="304.80" thicknessThreshold="1.0" defaultprinter="0" favorite="0" Spark="0" />

2. Replace the "internalName" value with a new unique GUID. You can download GUIDGEN.exe from Microsoft.com as a tool to generate the unique GUID.
3. Replace the other values with your desired values.
4. Keep Spark="0"
5. Restart Inventor

[JamesLovell]

Excellent, i will try this out next week!

[ThomasSwanson]

Thanks for the suggestion.   Worked Perfect!  I was able to add my Lulzbot TAZ4 Printer to the 2016 Release.  

Just make you edit the 3DPrinterDescriptions.xml file at this location %appdata%\Autodesk\Inventor 2016\3DPrinterDescriptions.xml  as john.retzlaff suggested.

and not here C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Inventor 2016\Configuration 

Oh and I used a web version on the GUIDGEN tool http://www.guidgen.com/

[Anonymous]

Would anyone be able to explain to me how to add a CubeX Trio to Autodesk Inventor 2016? I am usually pretty good with computers, but this is a little over my head, especially since 3D Printing is fairly new to me. 

[mcgyvr]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Would anyone be able to explain to me how to add a CubeX Trio to Autodesk Inventor 2016? I am usually pretty good with computers, but this is a little over my head, especially since 3D Printing is fairly new to me. 

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What don't you understand from John's instructions?

Open the xml file and add the information as needed..

Personally I'm not even sure what the point of the 3d print environment is in Inventor.. nor why someone would use it..

Every 3dprinter I've ever used had its own slicing/preview program that came with it..

I do see a "partition" function which I guess could be useful if you totally space out on the size of your printer in the first place...

I simply model my part in Inventor.. save copy as and pick STL (and hit the options to make sure the correct units my printer is expecting is showing.. Then open in my 3d printer software and orientate it how I want...change any settings I need and print..

[jel111]

I would like to add a Lulzbot AO 101 to the list. Where is this file located that you need to change I searched and cannot find it I am on a mac. I usee the spotlight function to search for it.

[jel111]

Dude take a chill pill maybe like me he wants to have everything in the same program. It would be nice not to have to do all the extra steps. Have everything in the same spot and just be able to go right to the program from 360 and then hit print.

[mcgyvr]

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@jel111 wrote:

I would like to add a Lulzbot AO 101 to the list. Where is this file located that you need to change I searched and cannot find it I am on a mac. I usee the spotlight function to search for it.

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@jel111 

You mentioned mac and 360.. Are you working with Fusion 360 or Inventor? Or asking about the "Print Studio" standalone program?

I don't use Fusion 360 and I think they have their own forums but I found this..

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How...

and this..

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/design-validate-document/fusion-360-3d-printing-with-a-xyz-printing-d...

In Inventor (3d print environment) the XML file (3DPrinterDescriptions.xml) as discussed by John above (in 2017 anyways) is located in

C:\Users\$yourusernamehere$\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Inventor 2017 folder.

Note you may have to turn on "hidden folders" in explorer to see those.

In print studio I believe you need to connect your printer via USB (or network) and then click where it says "ember (type) and that should allow you to connect to it.

[Anonymous]

I'm on Windows 10, don't know squat about Mac.

The file is under my user profile C:\Users\JRetzlaff\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Inventor 2016\3DPrinterDescriptions.xml

[annette.jennings42]

Note: If this file does not show up when you first go to the appdata folder, you need to set your favorite/default 3D Printer in Inventor to anything other than the default printer. The xml file will then be generated and you will able to edit it.

(Learned from TFI cad tips youtube video published Apr 21, 2016)

[suna07]

The solution to this question works great for a single user, but what about rolling this out to a department? Do I need each user to add the customized xml file to their appData? Or can I put it into a vault environment and change the reference location to look there? I'm not even sure where to find that reference location entry for editing.