Processing Your Stl File For Printing - Stratasys Dimension Elite User Manual

Processing your STL file for printing

Opening your STL file with CatalystEX:
1. Create an STL file using your CAD software. Refer to your CAD software help section for more
information about converting your CAD drawings into STL files.
2. Open the CatalystEX.
3. From the File menu select Open STL...
4. Navigate to and select the STL file that you have created.
Selecting layer resolution:
Layer resolution can be changed on the printer. Changing layer resolution will affect surface finish
and build times. Selecting a smaller layer resolution creates a smoother surface finish, but takes
longer to build. Layer resolution also affects the minimum wall thickness. Minimum wall thickness
applies to the horizontal (XY) plane of your part. If a feature in an STL is smaller than the limit, the
modeler will increase the size of the feature to the minimum wall thickness.
Selecting model interior fill style:
This establishes the type of fill used for the interior areas of the part. There are three types of model
interior that you can choose from.
•
Solid - Used when a stronger, more durable part is desired. Build times will be longer and
more material will be used.
•
Sparse High Density - This is the default model interior style and is highly recommended.
Build times will be shorter, less material will be used and the possibility of part curl for
geometries with large mass will be greatly reduced.
•
Sparse Low Density - The interior will be "honeycombed" or "hatched". This style allows
for the shortest build times and lowest material usage but will decrease the strength of the part.
Selecting support style:
Support material is used to support the model during the build process. It is removed when the part
is complete. Support styles will affect the support strength and build time of the print. SMART
support is the default support setting.
•
Basic - May be used for most parts. Basic support uses a consistent spacing between support
toolpaths.
•
SMART - minimizes the amount of support material used, reduces the build time, and
improves support removal for many parts. SMART supports use a wide spacing between
toolpath rasters and change the shape of the support region. As the supports descend from the
underside of the part feature to the base of the supports, the support region shrinks and
transforms to a simpler shape to reduce the amount of material used and the build time.
SMART supports are suitable for all parts, especially those with large support regions, and are
the default style for builds using soluble supports
•
Surround - The entire model is surrounded by support material. Typically used for tall, thin
models.
Available layer resolutions
.007 inch (.178 mm)
.010 inch (.254 mm)
Minimum Wall thickness
.025 inch (.635 mm)
.036 inch (.914 mm)
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