1

I am experimenting with makerbot right now and am having some issues. I am trying to make an object in autocad 2015 and then transferring it to the makerbot software but it never comes out the way I made it in autocad. Is there anyone out there that can explain how to transfer between the two?

2

Hi Kyle,

start this way:

Contruct you model in Autocad, and export the STL. Then load it to Makerware and run the preview, does the model look like in Autocad or can you see here already a broken model?

Best regards,

Daniel

3

I drew up the letter r and loaded it to the makerbot software and it comes out as a square instead of an r?

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Ok, then it has something to do with the STL export. As I don’t use Autocad I can’t give you the answer directly but I strongly suggest to download the software Netfabb (Basic), it’s free. You can check the STL with this software and it shows you errors.

As I faced the same problem, I had to invert the model in the 3d software ( I use Sketchup for constructing machine parts). After that the problem was gone and exactly this can be checked in Netfabb.

Give it a try.

Daniel

5

Hi Kyle,

I’m not an Autocad user, so please take this with a grain of salt :slight_smile:

I had the same issue while using Blender a while back. I had an object and had applied several boolean modifiers to it and after exporting to an STL, I found that the modifiers had not been applied to the resulting STL. Come to find out, there was a checkbox in the export dialog in Blender that said “Apply modifiers”. Once I checked that, the object came out the way I expected.

Perhaps there is a similar option in Autocad?

-Joe

6

Ok so I downloaded netfab and it did pull up the file but incorrectly. It cut out one part. Can anyone give me the correct way to export the file from a dwg. I can post the file to so you can check the structure of the file itself

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here is the dwg and makerbot files
robot rr text.stl (684 Bytes)
r text.dwg (105 KB)

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You need to check your STL export/save function, something goes wrong there.

No Autocad guy around here?

Check your STL and the STL how it should look like.

your R:

http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=d88cdd-1444239004.jpg

R OK:

http://www.bilder-upload.eu/show.php?file=bb3ee3-1444238976.jpg

R OK STL is attached.
R.stl (34.1 KB)

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Hi Kyle,

I tried to import the robot_rr_text.stl into Blender, but it appears to be an empty structure (file is only 684 bytes). I have seen this when the model is not selected or marked active before exporting.

I also tried to import the “dwg” into FreeCad, but I think there is a problem with my Autocad conversion program because it appears as a simple 2D outline.

Is there an option to export as an OBJ? Makerware supports that also.

-Joe

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which version of Autocad do you have, is there a trial available?

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I am using autocad 2015 but the file is saved as 2007. If you use the vide in the upper right hand corner you should see it in 3D view