Slice export reference

Supported formats

Netfabb exports slices to SLI, CLI, CLS, SLC, SSL, USF, CLF, ABF, SLM, LSR, SVG, DXF, PNG, BMP, PS, or BINVOX.

General export settings

Using Start height and End height can be used to export only a section of slices.

Changing the layer size does not re-slice the model. When exporting with a modified value, Netfabb exports any slice that lines up with the increments of the modified value. Depending on using a smaller or larger value for the export layer size, this can lead to exporting layers multiple times, or skipping layers.

Format-specific settings

Depending on the selected format, the relevant format-specific settings are shown.

SLI and CLI

For SLI (Slice Layer Interface) and CLI (Common Layer Interface), the specific settings are the same. The units are length units for the calculation of slice contours, proportional to mm. They determine the resolution with which the slice layers are saved. With a lower value, the layers are more precise, but the calculation may take longer. You can choose the calculation unit in a dropdown menu or enter a unit manually. The resolution determines the maximum size of the exported slice. With a bigger unit (and thereby lower resolution), you can export SLI files with a larger bounding box.

If the bounding box of any slice is not completely within the allowed maximum, the resolution is too high, or the unit too low, and the export is not possible. In that case, you get a warning. With the button Fix problem button, the unit is set to the lowest permissible value. Alternatively, you should check whether the slice stack can be moved fully into the allowed area.

If Move parts to origin is ticked, the positions of the exported parts area utomatically adjusted so that they start at the coordinates X=0 and Y=0. If it is not ticked and the slices have negative X or Y coordinates, you get a warning. The SLI and CLI file formats do not support slices with negative coordinates. You can solve that problem by ticking Move parts to origin or clicking on Fix problem (in which case Move parts to origin is ticked automatically). If you do not want the slice at the coordinates X=0, Y=0, cancel the export dialog, move the slice to positive coordinates, and start the export again.

You can choose the first and empty layer at zero height to be ignored during export.

For CLI, the part names may be exported as labels, identifying the associated contours and hatches with them for those importers that can make the distinction.

For SLI, if you encounter error messages mentioning "negative surface area" during import in 3rd-party print software, export with Convert all slices to hatches checked and try again.

SLC

Slice data can be exported in inches or millimeters, and the type can be switched between Part, Support, or Web as SLC type, per the official SLC format definition.

You can choose the first and empty layer at zero height to be ignored during export.

SSL

For SSL (Stratasys Layer File) files, you have to choose which version of SSL files you want to export: SSL V0 or SSL V20. If you have chosen SSL V20, you can tick and untick Force open contours. If this option is activated, all contours are interpreted as open contours and no filling is inserted during the print.

ABF

During export to ABF (Arcam Build File), you have the option to calculate the slices in memory and to use compression to create smaller files. However, this consumes a lot of memory which is not recommended for very large files.

CLS, CLF, USF

CLS (Concept Laser Slice Files), CLF (Common Layer File) and USF (Universal Slice Files) do not have any special settings beyond the file name and path.

SLM

The SLM format (Selective Laser Melting) requires specifications for the build style, laser focus, laser power and laser speed. To change these for a slice, double-click it and adjust the values in the appearing dialog. Additionally, you can determine the point distance and point exposure time. The output is a single SLM file.

LSR

This exports slice and toolpath data in LSR format (Netfabb Simulation Toolpath) for use in Autodesk® Netfabb® Local Simulation. For each stack, the properties Deposition speed, Jump speed, Power, Radius, Deposition delay, Jump delay, and Polygon delay may be adjusted individually.

Convert to model

This converts slice information into a triangle mesh by evaluating the slice information within a 3D rasterizing grid of adjustable granularity.

Export image files

This exports slices as sets of images with an accompanying XML file as an index. The files may be saved individually or as an archive. Available formats are SVG, DXF, PNG, BMP, or PS (PS produces only one file per stack, storing the slices as pages). Available archive formats are TAR and ZIP.

For each image format, a set of properties specific to the selected format can be adjusted.

*1) At least one of these elements must be active to run the export for a format offering them, otherwise the OK button is grayed out as the export would contain only empty slices.

BINVOX

Export to BINVOX provides a selection of several preset voxel grid resolutions as well as a function to determine the grid size automatically. The preset resolutions are 128³, 256³, 512³, and 1024³.