{"id":1249,"date":"2015-07-28T00:18:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-28T00:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fictiv.com\/?page_id=1249"},"modified":"2020-10-12T13:58:55","modified_gmt":"2020-10-12T13:58:55","slug":"3d-printing-getting-started-guide","status":"publish","type":"cpt_blog","link":"https:\/\/www.fictiv.com\/articles\/3d-printing-getting-started-guide","title":{"rendered":"3D Printing Getting Started Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

This quick start guide is designed to you help you become familiar with Fictiv’s\u00a0online tools for 3D printing.<\/p>\n

Read on for a step-by-step guide to help you:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Properly prepare your CAD files<\/li>\n
  2. Export your files with the correct settings<\/li>\n
  3. Upload your files to Fictiv<\/li>\n
  4. Choose the right 3D printing material<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Step 1: Prepare Your CAD Files<\/h2>\n

    Before uploading your CAD files to Fictiv, it\u2019s important to double check your files are properly prepared.<\/p>\n

    Here are 3 things to look out for when checking your files:<\/p>\n

    1. Only one part per file<\/h2>\n

    Be sure to separate parts into individual files and delete any unnecessary shells.<\/p>\n

    2. Be aware of maximum print sizes<\/h2>\n

    Here are the maximum print sizes for each material:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    PLA<\/td>\n285 x 153 x 155mm<\/td>\n11.2 x 6.0 x 6.1in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    ABS<\/td>\n406 x 355 x 406mm<\/td>\n16.0 x 14.0 x 16.0in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    VeroWhite<\/td>\n290 x 190 x 140mm<\/td>\n11.4 x 7.4 x 5.5in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Transparent<\/td>\n290 x 190 x 140mm<\/td>\n11.4 x 7.4 x 5.5in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Rubber-Like<\/td>\n342 x 342 x 200mm<\/td>\n13.4 x 13.4 x 7.8in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    ABS-Like<\/td>\n342 x 342 x 200mm<\/td>\n13.4 x 13.4 x 7.8in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nylon<\/td>\n340 x 340 x 600mm<\/td>\n13.3 x 13.3 x 23.6in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    VisiClear<\/td>\n295 x 180 x 200mm<\/td>\n11.6 x 7.0 x 7.8in<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    \n

    If your part exceeds the following dimensions, use this\u00a0quick tutorial<\/a>\u00a0to slice your part.<\/p>\n

    3. Check your units<\/h2>\n

    It\u2019s\u00a0very easy<\/i>\u00a0to accidentally export your model in the wrong units; double check your units before submitting your files so you receive the right size part!<\/p>\n

    Step 2. Export Your CAD Files<\/h2>\n

    Best Choice: STEP File<\/h2>\n

    STEP files carry all of the parametric data required so we can easily read the part size and geometry.<\/p>\n

    Second Choice: STL File<\/h2>\n

    STL files work well, however there are no associated units and holes\/gaps (watertightness) can cause issues when producing parts.<\/p>\n

    Here are the specific settings to choose when exporting STL files from Solidworks, Inventor, and Rhino:<\/p>\n

    Solidworks<\/b><\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Click Options in \u2018Save As\u2019 menu<\/li>\n
    2. Set Deviation to 0.0005in and the Angle to 5 degrees<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Inventor<\/b><\/h3>\n
        \n
      1. Click Options in \u2018Save As\u2019 menu<\/li>\n
      2. Set Detail Level to High<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Rhino<\/b><\/h3>\n
          \n
        1. After saving filename, select Binary<\/li>\n
        2. Mesh Options > Detail Controls<\/li>\n
        3. Set Max Angle to 20 degrees<\/li>\n
        4. Max Aspect Ratio to 6<\/li>\n
        5. Minimum Edge Length to 0.0001<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Step 3: Upload Your Files<\/h2>\n

          Here\u2019s a few things to look out for when uploading files to Fictiv.<\/p>\n

          Keep Files Under 10MB<\/h2>\n

          We prefer files to be under 10MB; if your files are larger than this, refer back to step 2 to adjust your settings and lower your part resolution.<\/p>\n

          Select the Proper Units<\/h2>\n

          When you submit files for a quote, you\u2019ll select the part units; make sure they match the units you designed the model in.<\/p>\n

          Step 4: Choose the Right Material<\/h2>\n

          Use this decision tree to help you choose the best material for your part:<\/p>\n

          \"3D<\/p>\n

          If you choose Rubber-Like, make sure to select a durometer.<\/p>\n

          Here are some rubber comparisons for each shore choice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          Shore 27A<\/b><\/td>\nRubber Band<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Shore 40A<\/b><\/td>\nPencil Eraser<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Shore 50A<\/b><\/td>\nBike Inner-tube<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Shore 60A<\/b><\/td>\nTire Thread<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Shore 70A<\/b><\/td>\nShoe Heel<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Shore 85A<\/b><\/td>\nRollerblade Wheels<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Shore 95A<\/b><\/td>\nShopping Cart Wheels<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

          Note that each part can only be printed in one color.<\/p>\n

          All materials, with the exception of ABS and PLA, print in their natural color:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          ABS<\/b><\/td>\nContact us for color availability (Matte Finish)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          PLA<\/b><\/td>\nContact us for color availability (Glossy Finish)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          VeroWhite\/VeroBlack<\/b><\/td>\nOff-white\/Black<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Transparent<\/b><\/td>\nClear (ask us about clarity options)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Nylon<\/b><\/td>\nWhite<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          Rubber-Like<\/b><\/td>\nBlack<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          ABS-Like<\/b><\/td>\nOff-white<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          VisiClear<\/b><\/td>\nTranslucent<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

          Still have questions that weren\u2019t covered in this guide? You can always\u00a0reach out to an expert engineer on the\u00a0Fictiv prototyping team\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          This quick start guide is designed to you help you become familiar with Fictiv’s\u00a0online tools for 3D printing. Read on for a step-by-step guide to help you: Properly prepare your CAD files Export your files with the correct settings Upload your files to Fictiv Choose the right 3D printing material Step 1: Prepare Your CAD […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":1248,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","fictiv_role":[29],"fictiv_topic":[28],"fictiv_industry":[],"fictiv_manufacturing_process":[33],"coauthors":[75],"class_list":["post-1249","cpt_blog","type-cpt_blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","fictiv_topic-mechanical-design"],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n3D Printing Getting Started Guide - Fictiv<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This quick start guide is designed to you help you become familiar with Fictiv's\u00a0online tools for 3D printing.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fictiv.com\/articles\/3d-printing-getting-started-guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3D Printing Getting Started Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This quick start guide is designed to you help you become familiar with Fictiv's\u00a0online tools for 3D printing.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.fictiv.com\/articles\/3d-printing-getting-started-guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Fictiv\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-10-12T13:58:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.fictiv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/verowhite_v2-3b58fe445b46424db92b4584e09dad58.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"750\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Sunny Sahota\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fictiv.com\/articles\/3d-printing-getting-started-guide\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.fictiv.com\/articles\/3d-printing-getting-started-guide\",\"name\":\"3D Printing Getting Started Guide - 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