Best practices for import/export of designs to Thingiverse (and the like)?

preston_bannister

To be clear, I am a software guy, with a 3D printer (a Chinese clone of the Prusa i3), just starting to play with CAD.

Put one of my designs:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/f04b0e50cf88a0679185a4bc/w/e3a87b04fd8a629f03e569b1/e/ab07d0bed0c60519603e32d6

... on Thingiverse: 
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2281755

Not at all convinced as to the proper way to do this.

How can/should we import and export designs to these shared sites?

michael3424

In my experience Thingiverse usually caters to files for 3D printers and STL is the proper choice for those folks.  People who do laser cutting would probably prefer DXF files.

billyzelsnack

@preston_bannister Posting both the STL and the onshape link how you have it is the way to go. Congrats on publishing your first 3d model.

owen_sparks

I'm always grateful to posters who include STEP files as well as the STL so they can be edited to suit.

Owen S.

Jake_Rosenfeld

@owen_sparks if Preston's model is public, posting the Onshape link will allow someone to copy and edit the part (with full feature history) without ever dealing with files.  STEP is nice (and probably should be included) but I think the Onshape link may be more valuable.

michael3424

owen_sparks said:

I'm always grateful to posters who include STEP files as well as the STL so they can be edited to suit.

Owen S.

marcus_8  did for his Curta calculator.  I'm close to finishing that one once I get the really small parts finished with a DLP printer.

owen_sparks

@michael3424, that a fine project sir. 

@jakeramsley I agree the OS link would be great publicity for Onshape and of the most benefit to Onshapers.

I think to be of benefit to the most number of users, OS or otherwise, the ultimate would be a Thingverse API that exports your creation in every format that OS supports and adds an OS hyperlink for to the enlightened.  (People who use OS, drink Dr Pepper and drive on the correct side of the road.)

Cheers,

Owen S.

michael3424

owen_sparks said:

@michael3424, that a fine project sir. 

I hope - just a pile of loose parts right now.