When working within a project, use the 3D Printing Platform item to manage 3D printing jobs in one place and to automatically align and nest parts within the printer's build space when you import them. All the parts you want to print must be imported into a 3D Printing Platform item.
To create a 3D Printing Platform item:
- In the Project Tree, right-click the Assembly item you want to print, and select Create New 3D Printing Platform from the menu. A 3D Printing Platform item is listed below the Assembly item in the Project Tree.
- Select the 3D Printing Platform item in the Project Tree. The 3D Printing Platform panel is displayed.
- If you want to specify the details of a new printer, click
and enter the details in the
Printers Library panel.
- Click Select Printer and choose the printer to manufacture the assembly.
- Click
to automate the positioning of parts when you add them to the 3D Printing Platform item using the
Platform Settings panel.
- Using the following methods, add the parts you want to print:
- drag items from the Project Tree and drop them on the 3D Printing Platform item.
- right-click the 3D Printing Platform item and select Import to import assemblies from file.
- click the
Components Library
button and add parts from the library. The
Component Library panel is displayed.
- Use the buttons in the
Positioning,
Children, and
3D print sections to complete the item. Click:
to display the Platform Alignment panel. Click an arrow to move all the parts to a corner or the centre of the platform.
to adjust the position of the selected platform when multiple platforms are displayed in the3D view. Click and drag the arrows in the 3D view to change the position of the platform.
to create multiple copies of the assembly for batch printing.
to change the settings for the selected printer. The Print Settings Library panel is displayed.
to create copies of the platform when not all the parts will fit into a single build space.
- Click the
Create New 3D Printing Structures
button to specify supports for the part.
- When you have specified all the settings for the 3D printing platform item, click the
Print
button:
- If you selected a Spark or PNG printer in step 4, the Spark/PNG Printing panel is displayed. Select the print settings; enter an export location; then click Export to Printer. ArtCAM exports the assembly as a tar.gz file.
- If you selected an STL printer in step 4, the STL Printing panel is displayed. Enter an export location, then click Export. ArtCAM exports the assembly as an .stl file.
- Load the file onto the target printer and run it.