Learn the correct way to export your SolidWorks parts and assemblies as STL files, a standard format for 3D printing. This guide will walk you through the process and provide tips for optimizing your export settings for the best print quality.
Start by opening the SolidWorks part (.sldprt) or assembly (.sldasm) file that you want to export.
Go to the File menu in the top-left corner and select Save As. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S.
In the 'Save As' dialog box, click the 'Save as type' dropdown menu and select STL (*.stl) from the list of available file formats.
Before saving, click the Options... button. This opens the 'Export Options' window where you can control the quality and format of your STL file. Adjust the resolution by selecting 'Fine' or 'Coarse', or use 'Custom' to set specific deviation and angle tolerances.
After configuring your options, click OK to close the options window. Then, enter a file name and click the Save button to create your STL file.
Tips for a Better STL Export
For most 3D printing, the 'Fine' resolution setting is a good balance. For highly detailed or curved models, use the 'Custom' setting to decrease the deviation and angle values for a smoother surface, but be aware this increases file size.
When saving an assembly as an STL, you have an option to 'Save all components of an assembly to a single file'. If you uncheck this, SolidWorks will save each part as a separate STL file.
In the 'Export Options' window, check the 'Show STL info before file saving' box. This will show you a preview of the tessellated mesh and the resulting triangle count before you save.
In the 'Export Options', ensure the 'Unit' is set correctly (e.g., Millimeters or Inches) to match the settings in your 3D printing slicer software and avoid scaling issues.
Always choose the Binary format. It results in a significantly smaller file size compared to ASCII and is supported by all modern 3D printing software.
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