3D Printing Forum

I'm designing in freeCAD and exporting as step files to Anycubic photon Workshop slicer. On small cylindrical parts (about 10 mm diameter) there are visible facets. I tried altering the resolution for export in the CAD software and so far am only viewing the 3D images in the slicer software, but whatever the CAD setting, the number of facets stays the same in the slicer 3D view. Is this likely to be a limitation of Anycubic photon workshop (and should use different slice software)? Or is it a limit of the printer (Mono photon 4K)? Or is there a setting I'm missing in the slicer software?

Could you post the step file so I can look at it.
I use Solidworks and export files in stl format for printing, I can set the resolution from basically rough to smooth, smooth files are a lot larger.
I also have freecad, I just use it to transfer stl files into step format.
stl files can't handle curves just flats, hence the facets.
I have printed circular parts 5mm diameter with no visible facets.
Les

Attachment of .step or .stp files seems to be not permitted.

Google drive it and ink

When I exported from FreeCAD into an .stl (as opposed to .stp) file, the imaging in the slicing software showed smooth, unlike the faceted image from the step file. Also the .stl file is 35 MB compared 0.15 MB, which is a giveaway that it is carrying finer resolution.

LePaul wrote: ↑October 12th, 2022, 7:37 pm Google drive it and ink

OK here is the freeCAD file and the exported .stl and stp files

https://1drv.ms/u/s!ArugkEfpRQyCg_kdhI4 ... g?e=W8UjOr

Hi
Well I have imported your stl file into Cura.
I also imported the step file into Solidworks then exported an stl file.
I then exported an stl file from FreeCad.
When I imported all of these files into Cura they looked good with very very small facets.
One thing I did notice when I imported the step file into Solidworks the Top didn't import correctly.
File in Cura File in Solidwork: How does it look in your slicer software.

Lez

That blemish does not appear in my slicer software.

Anyway, although I think I saw a recommendation that step format was the best export format for 3D printers, and there is probably a way to control the level of detail, it seems that .stl export for me gives a fine result. So far I have not actually printed from that version but since the first time the facets on the 3D print matched the screen image in the slicer program, and now that image is smooth, I expect it will be good.

Thanks Lez for your attention to this.

You're welcome.
I've never used step format for slicer software.
Good luck with the printing.

I know at work, where we use SolidWorks extensively, they can export from there to STL

Solidworks can export just about any format you can think of. For 3D printing you have amf 3mf & stl, I've tried all 3 with the slicer software, they all seem to give the same results as far as facets go.
Les