Going from AC3D to .stl

edi · 29th November 2014, 03:57 PM

Sorry for jumping on this thread, but ...

I also have a 3d printer and issues with stl conversion. Generally the scaling options of replicatorG is completely ignored for ac3d´s stl files, I always get the same size (ac3d´s original size). If I want to change the size I have to scale the bit in ac3d and reexport. But this might be a replicatorG issue and there is a workaround.

What affects me more is the fact that smoothing with +subdivision is completely ignored in the stl file. So if I draw a cylinder with 20 segments and press Subdiv+ several times, after my export to stl the printed object will still be a cylinder with 20 segments :-( What do I miss there?

jentron · 29th November 2014, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edi

What affects me more is the fact that smoothing with +subdivision is completely ignored in the stl file. So if I draw a cylinder with 20 segments and press Subdiv+ several times, after my export to stl the printed object will still be a cylinder with 20 segments :-( What do I miss there?

There is a "Commit Subdivisions" button under "Object" in AC3d you can use to make the subdivisions permanent. Most formats don't have a concept of 'Subdivision' so you have to commit them before the export then undo that step.

edi · 29th November 2014, 07:31 PM

Thanks a lot, this has definitely changed things. But why do I have to undo the subdividing after the export? Why would I not want to make them permanent?

jentron · 29th November 2014, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edi

Thanks a lot, this has definitely changed things. But why do I have to undo the subdividing after the export? Why would I not want to make them permanent?

I don't make them permanent because its much harder to work on a model that's been subdivision committed. Its more load on the gfx card, files sizes are huge, many more polygons... So I keep my masters uncommitted, and just commit for the print export copies.

bfeaver · 30th November 2014, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jentron

I don't make them permanent because its much harder to work on a model that's been subdivision committed. Its more load on the gfx card, files sizes are huge, many more polygons... So I keep my masters uncommitted, and just commit for the print export copies.

Thanks for this tip and follow up explanation.

Blue side up,
Bob

29th November 2014, 03:57 PM	#1
edi Junior Member Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 10	Re: Going from AC3D to .stl Sorry for jumping on this thread, but ... I also have a 3d printer and issues with stl conversion. Generally the scaling options of replicatorG is completely ignored for ac3d´s stl files, I always get the same size (ac3d´s original size). If I want to change the size I have to scale the bit in ac3d and reexport. But this might be a replicatorG issue and there is a workaround. What affects me more is the fact that smoothing with +subdivision is completely ignored in the stl file. So if I draw a cylinder with 20 segments and press Subdiv+ several times, after my export to stl the printed object will still be a cylinder with 20 segments :-( What do I miss there?

29th November 2014, 07:31 PM	#3
edi Junior Member Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 10	Re: Going from AC3D to .stl Thanks a lot, this has definitely changed things. But why do I have to undo the subdividing after the export? Why would I not want to make them permanent?