What is 3D printing
3D printing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes. In an additive process an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. If the resolution is low enough each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced horizontal cross-section of the eventual object.
Here's a short demo how one of our configurators was used to manufacture two 3D printed vases
How to use configurator output for 3D printing
It is important to understand that 3D models that are produced by our configurators need post-processing in software packages such as Cura, Prusa Slicer or others. These slicers will slice the models with advanced algorithms and produce GCODE that can be imported to your 3D printer. These packages are free and you can download them from the following links:
If you are going to 3D print the models from our configurators export them to STL file format. This will produce the mesh, which can be imported to these slicing packages. If you want to edit model in other third party CAD software packages before meshing it, use STEP or IGES exports.
STL files produce meshed models, some configurators allow you to control the density of the mesh. The more dense the mesh is the larger the file gets and the more precise the model will be.