.ipt to .stl conversion

[rhendricksonUKXAH]

Good Morning,

We recently purchased a 3D printer and I am curious if there is a cheaper software option available to simply convert an .ipt to an .stl other than a full seat of inventor? We currently have one seat but in order to remain efficient (not have to interrupt our CAD technician's projects every time we need to convert an .ipt) I would like to get a copy of something on a laptop that would be designated for the 3D printer (preferably not the thousands of dollars we pay for the full seat).

Thanks,

Ryan

[Sergio.D.Suárez]

Hi, if you need to convert from ipt to stl you should do it with inventor.
However, in order to not have to configure each file to export it later, I think I could create an ilogic rule or a macro vba, and export from a multiple selection, so I would select many parts and turn them into a single step. regards

[rhendricksonUKXAH]

Is there a cheaper version of inventor? Like I said, I don't want to have to make our CAD technician stop doing what he's doing every time we need to print a part on the 3D printer. Doing it this way also puts us at the mercy of his schedule (if he isn't here we can't convert .ipt files). We will not be spending an additional $2,000 a year simply to convert files.
Thanks,
Ryan

[swalton]

Why not make .stl files of every released component?  You could use Autodesk Task Scheduler (included with your existing Inventor seat) to automatically export .ipt files to .stl files overnight. See https://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2019/ENU/?guid=GUID-371F4BB7-5E46-429C-9EB9-251396D064A1.

Or Autodesk Fusion 360 can open and export .ipt files.  

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

That software can be much cheaper than a full seat of Inventor.

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/subscribe?plc=F360&term=1-YEAR&support=ADVANCED&quantit...

[mcgyvr]

What printer?

What slicing software are you using?

Ultimakers Cura software has an addin that reads ipt files and you don't need to create an STL.

https://ultimaker.com/en/products/ultimaker-cura-software

It supports a lot of other printers besides ultimakers

[rhendricksonUKXAH]

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@mcgyvr wrote:

What printer?

What slicing software are you using?

Ultimakers Cura software has an addin that reads ipt files and you don't need to create an STL.

https://ultimaker.com/en/products/ultimaker-cura-software

It supports a lot of other printers besides ultimakers

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It is a Markforged Mark II using their proprietary cloud based slicing software Eiger. I'm not sure if other slicers will work with this printer, but it might be worth a try.

I downloaded Cura, but I am struggling to find the addon that will allow me to open .ipt files. is this in the marketplace of the software?

[rhendricksonUKXAH]

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@swalton wrote:

Why not make .stl files of every released component?  You could use Autodesk Task Scheduler (included with your existing Inventor seat) to automatically export .ipt files to .stl files overnight. See https://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2019/ENU/?guid=GUID-371F4BB7-5E46-429C-9EB9-251396D064A1.

Or Autodesk Fusion 360 can open and export .ipt files.  

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

That software can be much cheaper than a full seat of Inventor.

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/subscribe?plc=F360&term=1-YEAR&support=ADVANCED&quantit...

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This could work if there is another way to automatically create the .stl files during the day. We have not yet transitioned to the cloud and our computers get powered down every night.

[mcgyvr]

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@rhendricksonUKXAH wrote:

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I downloaded Cura, but I am struggling to find the addon that will allow me to open .ipt files. is this in the marketplace of the software?

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@rhendricksonUKXAH  Yes its in the marketplace accessible through the software..

https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/52760-marketplace

Even if your printer isn't supported you can still open the ipt and export to stl

You can also do a "custom FFF" printer and input the settings for your printer to use Cura instead of the cloud software.

[rhendricksonUKXAH]

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@mcgyvr wrote:

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@rhendricksonUKXAH wrote:

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I downloaded Cura, but I am struggling to find the addon that will allow me to open .ipt files. is this in the marketplace of the software?

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@rhendricksonUKXAH  Yes its in the marketplace accessible through the software..

https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/52760-marketplace

Even if your printer isn't supported you can still open the ipt and export to stl

You can also do a "custom FFF" printer and input the settings for your printer to use Cura instead of the cloud software.

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Would you happen to know the name of the addon?

[swalton]

Based on the screenshot here:https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/52760-marketplace

I'd say the plug in is named "Autodesk Inventor Integration".

[rhendricksonUKXAH]

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@swalton wrote:

Based on the screenshot here:https://ultimaker.com/en/resources/52760-marketplace

I'd say the plug in is named "Autodesk Inventor Integration".

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That's what I was afraid of. I installed the addon but it doesn't work without a verified copy of inventor installed on my computer which puts be back at square one.

[mcgyvr]

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@rhendricksonUKXAH wrote:

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That's what I was afraid of. I installed the addon but it doesn't work without a verified copy of inventor installed on my computer which puts be back at square one.

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Interesting.. I was not aware of that.. Thanks..

Is it really a problem to make your CAD drafter take 10 seconds of time to save a file out?  Thats what they get paid to do..

What about an ilogic rule that automatically creates stl files on save?  That won't help for already created files but anything new would have an stl file just waiting for you..

[rhendricksonUKXAH]

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@mcgyvr wrote:

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@rhendricksonUKXAH wrote:

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That's what I was afraid of. I installed the addon but it doesn't work without a verified copy of inventor installed on my computer which puts be back at square one.

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Interesting.. I was not aware of that.. Thanks..

Is it really a problem to make your CAD drafter take 10 seconds of time to save a file out?  Thats what they get paid to do..

What about an ilogic rule that automatically creates stl files on save?  That won't help for already created files but anything new would have an stl file just waiting for you..

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He will take the time, the only problem is if he is not here (like today) we can't use the 3D printer unless the file has already been converted. I found a handful of conversion programs last week that I have been researching. Not sure if it helps anybody else but if I get one of them figured out I will definitely update this thread.

Thanks,

Ryan