Solved Creating Robo print files from Solidworks file,

Finally got around to dabbling with Solidworks and have created a file I wish to print on a Robo R1.

I saved it as an STL file and it load into Matter Control and displays in the print preview, but, "on edge" rather than flat as I thought I had designed it. I use the term designed rather loosely in my case.

Clearly it cannot print this way and even turned the right way I may have to add a support of some kind.

Advisors, please advise. Or, chastise, but gently please.

I did get the attached warning from solidworks when saving the file.

 

I'll poke around a bit more, but did not see a way, right off the bat. Just to save me some brainwork, does Simplify support the R1 "out of the box"? Free?

 

OK, so I stumbled upon it, but rotated it the wrong way. Trying to fix that crashed MC. I will keep at it, should figure it out eventually.

Thanks.

 

OK, so, this has changed from a Robo/MC question to a Solidworks question. I've sampled their forums and frankly find it a bit overwhelming.

Basically I created a part from several "extruded boss/base". Roughly in the shape of a sewing thread spool or sewing machine bobbin as a replacement part.

Turns out I have the "diameter" way off, about twice the size I intended and cannot figure out how to select the diameter.(s) to edit. The "smart dimension" thing in either a lot smarter than me, or a lot dumber. I can find the "height" and the "chamfer" but not the diameter.

Would be great to ask it to do it as a calculated percentage of the current value.

 

Still waiting for Solidworks support, but I did manage to find the somewhat non-intuitive and well hidden (to me anyway) selection menus that, eventually allowed me to change the diameters of the object I had created.

Frustrating, maddening, but ultimately satisfying. Now, if I am able to remember these steps . . .

 

And the adventure continues . . . I should probably start another thread for this, but . . .

The part needs some supports. or may need to be made in two pieces, unprintable as currently designed. Simply stated, it is roughly shaped like a sewing thread spool or bobbin. Prints fine till it gets to the top "spool" and tries to print in mid air.

I thought MC would magically add the supports when I selected that in the settings. I guess not.

Where are such supports to be added, at the design stage or the "printing" stage?

 

Tried again after playing around a bit more, and it did create a support grid. Problem is, the grid is so supportive (dense) it looks impossible to remove.

Best bet is to redesign the part in two pieces. But Solidworks won't spit it in the Student version, so I will have to do it the hard way.

 

I may give it a try. I did download it and imported the part. When I realized it would not allow me to rotate the part to the orientation to which I had forced it to print, I went back to MC and set it up as it was originally presented. "On its side".

With supports it printed fine. Was fairly easy remove the supports.