Utah Engineers Journal 2021 Issue

64 Figure 4. Example of a “blocky” or low resolution STL file created from Civil 3D. Figure 4. Completed 3D print, printed on an FDM 3D printer. to combine the separate entities into a single object. When complete, use the STLOUT command and select your single 3D solid object. You will be asked if you want to create a binary STL file. You can enter yes or no; both will result in a 3D printable STL file. I have one note of caution with the STLOUT command. There is a software bug that sometimes affects models that are exported from their true world coordinates. If the resulting STL file appears to have lost a significant amount of resolution and appears “blocky” as in Figure 4 below, try moving the solid object in Civil 3D to the drawing file’s global origin (i.e., coordinates 0,0,0) and executing the STLOUT command again. Print the STL file You can now take the STL file you created and print it! There are dozens of good 3D printers on the market now, ranging in price from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Below are a few examples. These are all plastic extrusion (FDM) printers: • Creality Ender 3 (about $200) 6 • Prusa i3 MK3S (about $1,000) 7 • Ultimachine Ultimaker S5 (about $6,000) 8 If you don’t have a 3D printer, try your local library, university or “makerspace.” These organizations often have 3D printers available to the public for reasonable fees. Alternatively, you can upload your STL file to an online 3D print service provider. They will print your model and ship it directly to you. A couple of providers include: • 3D Hubs 9 • Shapeways 10 • Sculpteo 11 References 1. From https://www.3dhubs.com/guides/3d-printing. 2. 3D printed Eiffel tower time lapse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqQAjkZOBeY 3. Baby Groot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_QhY1aABsE 4. UDOT Digital Delivery Website: https://digitaldelivery.udot.utah.gov/ 5. UDOT March 2017: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wvmo_0lAY6yeWyLcYsFmKCFEpYPah3Ar/view 6. Creality Ender 3: https://www.creality3dofficial.com/products/official-creality-ender-3-3d-printer 7. Prusa i3 MK3S: https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/3d-printers/181-original-prusa-i3-mk3s-3d-printer.html 8. Ultimachine Ultimaker S5: https://www.matterhackers.com/store/l/ultimaker-s5/sk/MH6DVDNK 9. 3D Hubs: https://www.3dhubs.com/ 10. Shapeways: https://www.shapeways.com/ 11. Sculpteo: https://www.sculpteo.com/en/ 12. Visit www.3dhubs.com/guides/3d-printing/.