Frequently Asked Questions about Modelworks
- What are configurations and what is the configuration notebook?
- When I open the configuration notebook, there is nothing in the selection box. What do I do next?
- How do I know which configuration to pick?
- How do I use the print3d command from Rhino?
- Q: What are configurations and what is the configuration notebook?
A: Configurations are a set of instructions that the Solidscape printer uses to draw individual layers. These layers stacked upon each other in the Z axis create the Model. Variations in a configuration are similar to variations of a line type in a graphic arts application. These configurations are fine tuned for each machine type in order to produce the best quality model. The primary distinction between configurations is the slice thickness or resolution. Other varieties may include light or heavy, solid or non solid. The configuration notebook is a database or storage place to keep these configurations. The reason there is a database is to allow for updates created at the factory to be easily incorporated into the users Modelworks program. It is advised to always have the latest configurations loaded into modelworks. Q: When I open the configuration notebook, there is nothing in the selection box. What do I do next?
A: The configuration database in normally identified as the file mworks.cfg. When installed from the CD, it is normally installed in the location:C:\Program Files\Solidscape\Modelworks\Database
When you open the configuration notebook, Modelworks expects to find the file in this database folder. If it cannot locate the file, the window will be empty. To fix this problem, you must reload the database. First, click the `Config` button. Next navigate to the folder containing the database. Finally select the config file and click “Open.” Remember the file must end with .cfg. The notebook will remember where the file is only AFTER you slice a model. Note: Configurations file may be store in other directories. The above rules will apply to the directory specified.
- Q: How do I know which configuration to pick?
A: The configuration you choose should be determined by:- Slice thickness. The slice thickness or resolution will control the number of steps in the Z axis. The finer the resolution, the more steps it will create to define the total Z height. You should examine you model in Modelworks and take note of the number and location of slopes. The slighter the slope, the more a step will be noticed. Steeper slopes will not show the stair stepping as pronounced. Feature like a slight taper on the shank of a ring or a long curve on the surface of a cell phone cover may require a higher resolution to eliminate stair stepping.
- Time. The coarser the resolution, the more time it will take to complete the model. You should base your decision on the potential stair stepping that will occur versus the time constraints. As a baseline test, you can run a typical model at multiple resolutions and then determine what resolution is the coarsest you can use.
- Slice thickness. The slice thickness or resolution will control the number of steps in the Z axis. The finer the resolution, the more steps it will create to define the total Z height. You should examine you model in Modelworks and take note of the number and location of slopes. The slighter the slope, the more a step will be noticed. Steeper slopes will not show the stair stepping as pronounced. Feature like a slight taper on the shank of a ring or a long curve on the surface of a cell phone cover may require a higher resolution to eliminate stair stepping.
Q: How do I use the print3d command from Rhino?
A: PDF version, Gif/jpg version