Wrong Section: How to export an STL having a single mesh volume

neobobkrause

This question has been moved to the Using OnShape section.

I've developed a simple design consisting of 7 parts. When I export an STL,without selecting the 'Export parts as individual files' option, the resulting STL file contains multiple separate volumes. This confuses my slicing software (Simplify3D) because several of these closed volumes occupy the same space. This results in the CAM software generating an incorrect gcode file. I've spoken to S3D support, they say that the STL is being generated incorrectly.

I've gone so far as to add a Union Boolean operation to my parts studio just for the purpose of joining the parts together to create a single part, which I then export. But, wait for it... The resulting STL file still contains the same multiple volumes.

I've also tried inserting all the parts into an assembly, then grouping the inserted parts, which I then export. Same results.

Can anybody suggest the correct incantation?

Thanks,

- Bob

robert_morris

@neobobkrause
I think it might be something with S3D.
I opened it up in both Cura and Solidworks and it comes in as a single solid.

Narayan_K

@ neobobkrause,Is these parts are intersecting each other? After Boolean how many parts are showing in the part list?

neobobkrause

The design works out to 7 parts. These of course reduce down to a single part as a result of the union boolean.

And I think that answers the real question you're asking, which is whether the union of parts result in more than one body. No. All 7 non-unioned parts either overlap or are at least adjacent to each other.

I've enclosed the STL if anybody wants to run it through S3D themselves.

- Bob

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx4LBYmiyKAvRXBBYmlGdE9RTEE/view?usp=sharing

NeilCooke

Hi @neobobkrause - if the parts are indeed one body then the STL output will be correct - can you post the link to the Document or share with support? If you have any surfaces in your design you have to use the delete part command to get rid of them before export otherwise they will be included in the output.

robert_morris

@neobobkrause
I think it might be something with S3D.
I opened it up in both Cura and Solidworks and it comes in as a single solid.