Serialization

tyler_pope

We have a request to 3D print up to 4000 parts that require serialization. Is it possible to write a script that will change the text on a extrude cut and export a stl file so they don't have to be edited and saved individually? 

kevin_o_toole_1

Yep. Since your request involves exporting, FeatureScript can't do it. Custom features are have no side effects outside the Part Studio they are in.

For a task the best and most correct approach is to use the API to make the appropriate modifications.

However, here's a hackish workaround using Onshape's (very powerful) feature pattern. This solution creates many parts in the same Part Studio (which can be downloaded as one zip file with a bunch of STLs). This will likely run into the performance limits of a single Part Studio, meaning if it works at all, you'll need to break it up into several batches. However, if you're willing to deal with that, that process may be much less work than writing an app to do this work.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/0ca7d59b7b8e1a3b9b43c377/w/313802fcead77ad82c7ddc7a/e/3c9dd7a22828473b91624b24

kevin_o_toole_1

My mistake! The document is now public.
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/0ca7d59b7b8e1a3b9b43c377/v/19e07558a08ec5ac58aa7a5c/e/3c9dd7a22828473b91624b24

3dcad

Not knowing that much about printing I would expect such feature from printing software?

philip_thomas

Hmm - technically doable!

We cannot currenetly drive text directly from a variable (we will at some point @ilya_baran) so we will need a different method.
No doubt someone what has thought about this more than me will come up with a better solution, but until then . . . .
You will need to model or derive into your part studio solid representations of the numerals 0-9 in each of 4 positions (allowing for serialization of up to 10,000 parts).

Through the API, you would drive the suppression state of the 40 parts representing the numerals (36 suppressed at any one time).
The program/web-service would then perform the boolean subtract between the parts and the unsuppressed numerals and then output the STL. Repeat.

is this the best way - I don't know! Lots of smart people here

ilya_baran

We can certainly drive text from FS (e.g. Dave Cowden's curved text feature).  What the script won't be able to do is export the files individually, but if you export a combined stl (maybe do it in batches since 4000 is a lot of parts in a single part studio) there may be 3rd party software that can break it up into components.

kevin_o_toole_1

Yep. Since your request involves exporting, FeatureScript can't do it. Custom features are have no side effects outside the Part Studio they are in.

For a task the best and most correct approach is to use the API to make the appropriate modifications.

However, here's a hackish workaround using Onshape's (very powerful) feature pattern. This solution creates many parts in the same Part Studio (which can be downloaded as one zip file with a bunch of STLs). This will likely run into the performance limits of a single Part Studio, meaning if it works at all, you'll need to break it up into several batches. However, if you're willing to deal with that, that process may be much less work than writing an app to do this work.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/0ca7d59b7b8e1a3b9b43c377/w/313802fcead77ad82c7ddc7a/e/3c9dd7a22828473b91624b24

philip_thomas

I just saw Kevin working on his solution - it's awesome!!!
Stand by
P

tyler_pope

kevin_o_toole_1 said:

Yep. Since your request involves exporting, FeatureScript can't do it. Custom features are have no side effects outside the Part Studio they are in.

For a task the best and most correct approach is to use the API to make the appropriate modifications.

However, here's a hackish workaround using Onshape's (very powerful) feature pattern. This solution creates many parts in the same Part Studio (which can be downloaded as one zip file with a bunch of STLs). This will likely run into the performance limits of a single Part Studio, meaning if it works at all, you'll need to break it up into several batches. However, if you're willing to deal with that, that process may be much less work than writing an app to do this work.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/0ca7d59b7b8e1a3b9b43c377/w/313802fcead77ad82c7ddc7a/e/3c9dd7a22828473b91624b24

This sounds like a great option but I wasn't able to access the file. Can you share it with tpope@3dprintingally.com?

Thanks

kevin_o_toole_1

My mistake! The document is now public.
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/0ca7d59b7b8e1a3b9b43c377/v/19e07558a08ec5ac58aa7a5c/e/3c9dd7a22828473b91624b24

tyler_pope

That's awesome Kevin. Thanks for the help. 

laird_broadfield

@kevin_o_toole_1 This doesn't seem to be working in the current update of OnShape.  Depending on the new Linear Pattern setting Reapply Features, either the base part doesn't replicate, or the math doesn't get incrementally executed.  TIA for help?

Edit: Okay, it does, as long as I set the Linear Pattern offset to zero.  This feels like a misfeature, but I get the results, so okay and thanks.