Using Blender for making print-sheets

Blender is frequently used for arranging multiple objects to print in one batch. While it can be useful, for beginners Blender can be pretty intimidating because it does not have an intuitive interface for beginners. Arguably, it does have an powerful user interface once you go along the learning curve.

There are many good tutorials on blender basics though. User:ErikDeBruijn I didn't learn it overnight either, but the investment does pay of if you continue to work with 3D printers and stuff.

Importing objects

• You can import objects with: "File" -> "Import" -> "STL...".
• Browse to the file. It will be added to your scene.
• Repeat this process for every kind of objects you want to print. If you want multiple copies of the same object, see below.

Multiple copies

If you want multiple copies of the same object:

• make sure you are in the top view (numpad 7). This way you will ensure that you move objects only in the horizontal plane.
• press the D key to duplicate.

Moving selected objects

• If you move objects, you can also constrain it to one dimension/axis by specifying: G-key (move), X or Y-key (constrain movement to X axis).

Rotating

In order to get more objects in a single build, you probably need to rotate them.

Note: You can rotate in any of 3 dimensions, but usually the objects are already in the STL file in the orientation in which the can best be printed. If this is not the case yet, you can constrain rotation to any spatial axis (X, Y or Z).

• Select the object you want to rotate, e.g. by right clicking on it.
• Press the "R" key.
• Press the X, Y or Z key to constrain rotation to this axis. You usually just want to rotate them along the Z axis.
• Either drag your mouse across the object for free rotation or
• enter an amount of degrees of rotation (e.g. 90 for 90 degree rotation)

Exporting a sheet of objects as one STL file

For exporting to STL, you can choose whether you want your unit in inches, mm, meter or anything. But skeinforge assumes it's in mm. Blender is also 'unitless', there is not absolute reference, it is what you decide yourself. For a single 'blender unit', you should use 1 mm to be compatible with the other processes (namely, skeinforge which will make your toolpaths). Optional, making a reference platform that is as big as the area that you can print on. You can create a cube, make it thinner than half of a single layer (otherwise it gets printed). You can use that for reference. You can select multiple objects and then the export to STL will include them.

• With the B key you can select a boundary, everything within it is selected. This is useful for selecting a whole bunch of objects for exporting to STL.

This will make sure the objects all start on the first layer that is printed. "Floating" objects will not attach to the platform well, and you will risk getting a messed up print.