Printing a Model in 3D

You can print directly to a 3D Printer from the SOLIDWORKS software.

If your 3D printer manufacturer uses the SOLIDWORKS 3D Print API, the 3D Printing dialog box opens to assist you in printing.

After you set the print options in the Print3D PropertyManager, Windows handles the communication with the 3D printer. A preview of the print bed and the model's location within the print bed lets you modify settings before committing to a 3D print job.

To print to a 3D printer:

  1. Click File > Print3D.
  2. Under Printer, select a printer from the list of available 3D printers.
    The Width, Depth, and Height of the printer display .
  3. Under Print Bed Location, in Bottom plane of modelselect a reference plane.

    A preview shows the model within the print volume. If the model falls outside the print volume, click to reverse the orientation.

    Top plane selected Print volume orientation reversed
    If you select a model face or plane before opening the Print3D PropertyManager, it appears as the reference plane.

    If your plane selection results in part of the model extending beyond the print volume, you cannot print. The area outside the print volume is highlighted. If you click , a warning appears in the Message area.

    Recessed face selected in model Reference print preview

    In the example above, an extrusion extends beyond the print volume. You can solve the problem by selecting the face of the extrusion.

    Extrusion face selected in model Reference plane preview

    Or you can suppress the feature that extends beyond the print volume.

    Extrusion suppressed Reference plane preview
  4. Under Model orientation, use the controls to position the model within the print volume.
    Use Print Bed Angle to rotate the print volume around the model:

    Use the Translation controls and to move the print volume in the direction of the axis.

  5. Under Scale:
    1. Hover over the scale value.
      The default scale value is 1, which is the size of the model in the software.

      The software calculates the maximum scale factor and informs you of this limit.

      When you change the orientation of the face that aligns with the print bed, the software recalculates the maximum scale factor.
    2. Change the scale value:
    • Enter a value.

      The new value is saved as a document property. When you print the model again, the saved value is used unless you change it.

    • Click Scale to Fit to apply the maximum scale factor.
    • Click Orient to Fit and Scale to Fit.

      The software orients the model and scales it so that you get the largest possible printed model.

  6. Under Options, specify the options:
    • Job Quality
    • Infill percentage
    • Include supports

      Supports are added for parts of the model that overhang the print bed.

    • Include raft

      Builds the print output on top of a raft of disposable material that you can remove after printing.

    The printer that you selected determines how these options are applied.
  7. Click Printer Properties to view properties specific to the selected printer.
    The printer manufacturer provides these properties.
  8. Click the Preview tab to run preview analyses to evaluate your current print job settings.
  9. To print the model, click .