Preparing files for printing

[GT40 Racer (DM)]

Hello all
I have collected some slot car related stl files. I have noticed people referring to the need to prepare these files for 3D printing

What exactly is required to prepare an STL file downloaded from thingiverse or some other online site?

thanks
David

[chappyman66]

The STL file is opened using another program called a slicer. Cura is a common and free slicer although there are others.
The slicer has settings for layer height, temperature, speed, and other printer settings. Adjusting these settings creates a "profile" which can be used over and over if saved.
The slicer converts the STL (model) file into a gcode (printer) file that tells the printer how to lay down each layer.
So..... download Cura, watch a couple videos about slicer settings, and start printing.

[PetesLightKits]

Ditto on CURA. On YouTube, a guy named Chuck Helleybuyck has a boatload of great videos on just about any 3D printing topic, including using CURA. He does tend to feature the Creality products (which is what I have) but I am sure a lot of what he says and shows is applicable to just about any 3D printer.

Peter

[-nimrod-]

Hi All,

This link may help

https://amfg.ai/2018/04/19/top-5-stl-file-errors-you-should-know/

Cheers
NimROD

[Kevan]

Ditto on CURA. On YouTube, a guy named Chuck Helleybuyck has a boatload of great videos on just about any 3D printing topic, including using CURA. He does tend to feature the Creality products (which is what I have) but I am sure a lot of what he says and shows is applicable to just about any 3D printer.

Peter

Definitely watch various videos by CHEP


Tomb of 3D Printed Horrors is one I recently started following focuses on miniature war gaming figures and explains in one video why fine detail is easy to achieve and goes through almost every Cura setting in great detail and even explains what a stepper motor is capable of doing and 'magic numbers'. These two videos I learned and realised a TON of knowledge:

[ccobra]

When using cura, be sure to select the 'Layer View' to see that everything will print. Haven't needed to use this view with the items from thingiverse but the other websites do require this from time to time with my printer. Then I use Netfabb to clean up the file with about a 50% success rating.

[chappyman66]

MakePrintable is another interesting site for repairing models that don't print well.

[Kevan]

MakePrintable is another interesting site for repairing models that don't print well.

I'd not heard of this site before but not readily willing to pay for files.

[chappyman66]

I'd not heard of this site before but not readily willing to pay for files.

Yup....but free files sometimes have problems, and I bought the subscription for fixing files that I really wanted. It's helped a few times.