3D Printing Color Models from SOLIDWORKS Assemblies

This guide will demonstrate how to properly save SOLIDWORKS assemblies for color 3D printing.

Saving STL files for color 3D printing

When the SOLIDWORKS assembly is ready for 3D printing, change the file Save as type to STL then click on the Options box.

Select the Custom bubble, set the Angle Tolerance to 5°, and match the Deviation slider bar to the Angle bar for a good resolution file. Make sure the Save all components of an assembly in a single file box is unchecked. This will output multiple STL files for each body.

Loading the files in Objet Studio

Select: Insert model

Browse your STL files and select all the STLs that pertain to the desired assembly. Make sure the Assembly box is checked so that Objet Studio recognizes that all the selected files belong to an assembly. Objet Studio then uses the SOLIDWORKS assembly coordinates to stitch each file together as one while maintaining separate bodies/shells.

This will allow us to screen-select individual shells or use the Model Tree to assign different colors as opposed to selecting the entire model.

Click on the desired body, and a pop-up triangle of choices will allow color selection. You can select multiple bodies by holding the shift key.

You can also select a body from the Model Tree and change the color under the Multiple Materials menu shown in the image below.

Once you are satisfied with all the color selections, we can now move on to the next steps. Click on the Placement button. Keep in mind that this will auto orient your part, so if you want to keep a certain orientation, make sure you lock the orientation. Then click on the Validate button, to make sure there are no problems with the file. Finally, click on the Build button to save the tray and send it to the Job Manager tab.

When you hit the build button, you will get the window shown below. Go ahead and click on the Build button to save the tray.

Rename the tray if you wish and save it in the desired location.

The tray will Automatically go to the Job Manager tab and will be ready to build.

The job will now start printing if the Connex is online. If not, switch your screen to the Connex console and select the online button.

More 3D Printing News

Meet the Stratasys H350 3D Printer

Stratasys J35 Pro Material Configurations

Painting Clear PolyJet Parts: 3D Printing Hacks

Stratasys VeroUltra White and Black Materials for Color 3D Printing

Meet the Stratasys J35 Pro 3D Printer

VIEW ALL 3D PRINTING ARTICLES