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Plugin Request: Export as .amf

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  • B Offline
    BallBearing
    last edited by 15 Dec 2014, 13:14

    3D printing is going ahead. It would be nice to export things as: Additive Manufacturing File Format (.amf) to store colors etc. Smaller file size?

    SketchUp, 3D printing stuff and more:
    http://www.youtube.com/user/CinemaTablet

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    • J Offline
      Jim
      last edited by 15 Dec 2014, 22:19

      Been meaning to start one. A basic exporter should not be too difficult.

      Last time I looked there was not a viewer for .amf files. I would need to view exported files to test exports. Any ideas?

      Hi

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      • J Offline
        Jim
        last edited by 15 Dec 2014, 23:26

        Actually, this discussion[1] indicates the format is not widely used. What printers support it?

        [1] http://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/stl2/PvhY0X9EHOc

        Hi

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        • B Offline
          BallBearing
          last edited by 16 Dec 2014, 06:19

          The format is supported at least Slic3r 3D slice / printing program so widely sold Ultimaker printers, " hundreds" of Reprap clones etc. can use it I suppose. It is new format I think, but coming...

          SketchUp, 3D printing stuff and more:
          http://www.youtube.com/user/CinemaTablet

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          • J Offline
            Jim
            last edited by 19 Dec 2014, 00:30

            Do you have an example model? How do you think the .skp to .amf translation should work wrt Groups, Components, Colors, Materials?

            2014-12_174.png

            Hi

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            • B Offline
              BallBearing
              last edited by 19 Dec 2014, 10:04

              I think that for 3D printing translating colors from .skp to .amf would be the most important. But http://3daddfab.com/blog/index.php?/archives/5-AMF-The-3D-Printing-Format-to-Replace-STL.html says: AMF Can Describe Materials, Compositions, Colors, Textures and More

              I don't have yet a multiple head extruder on my printer so I cannot test these files in practice, I can just load them to Cura or Slic3r to make G-code for printing. There are files at http://amf.wikispaces.com/AMF+test+files .

              Colors:
              http://amf.wikispaces.com/file/view/FaceColors.amf/268219586/FaceColors.amf

              SketchUp, 3D printing stuff and more:
              http://www.youtube.com/user/CinemaTablet

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              • J Offline
                Jim
                last edited by 19 Dec 2014, 14:12

                My plan is a to focus on geometry with colors. There is currently little demand for more. I hope to have some time over the next 2 weeks.

                Hi

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                • J Offline
                  Jim
                  last edited by 21 Dec 2014, 01:09

                  Here are some preliminary files if anyone would like to verify correctness between skp and amf.

                  2014-12_176.png


                  amf.skp


                  ASCII .amf. Forum does not allow .amf extension. Had to rename to .txt file.

                  Hi

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                  • B Offline
                    BallBearing
                    last edited by 21 Dec 2014, 19:54

                    It seems to load, but I can't see colors in Cura (scaled one), not even on the "official" colored cube. One made in Cura "merged" amf seems to have two colors : three-amf-files-on-the-plate.png

                    In this video the file is made of two pieces (merged) and saved as amf, and loaded again, but it is a Cura thing then...or...: http://youtu.be/FKgHEO1g-S0?t=1m4s

                    I think that there is some color at the end of this:Cake dual.amf.txt It looks like that the colors are under material id. Looks like that the Cura wants materials then? I haven't tested this on other software yet.

                    <material id="1">
                    <metadata type="Name">Material 1</metadata>
                    <color><r>1.00</r><g>0.88</g><b>0.15</b></color>
                    </material>
                    <material id="2">
                    <metadata type="Name">Material 2</metadata>
                    <color><r>0.20</r><g>1.00</g><b>0.10</b></color>

                    SketchUp, 3D printing stuff and more:
                    http://www.youtube.com/user/CinemaTablet

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                    • J Offline
                      Jim
                      last edited by 21 Dec 2014, 22:09

                      Thanks - the video is very helpful. It helped clarify some of the element of the .amf files and I will be able to improve the export.

                      Unfortunately, Cura appears to ignore the unit information in the .amf file. That is disappointing because units was a problem with the .stl format that .amf was designed to fix.

                      Hi

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                      • B Offline
                        BallBearing
                        last edited by 21 Dec 2014, 22:26

                        Slic3r or Cura do not have support for inches. 0.1mm is 0.00393701". So many digits.. I don't know about other software.

                        SketchUp, 3D printing stuff and more:
                        http://www.youtube.com/user/CinemaTablet

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                        • TIGT Offline
                          TIG Moderator
                          last edited by 21 Dec 2014, 23:18

                          Surely the whole idea of .amf is that you can pass lots of variables - like the unit size...
                          e.g.
                          <amf unit="inch" version="1.1">
                          or "m", "mm", "millimeters" etc - although there has been a lot of pressure to default to "mm" !

                          If you're looking to use a new standard that supports many laudable things - like different units - then it's a crime to ignore it in the 'so-far-few' apps that do read it !!
                          😒

                          TIG

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                          • B Offline
                            BallBearing
                            last edited by 22 Dec 2014, 09:39

                            Well, if the units are ignored, then you just have to know, that you have to convert your work to mm for 3D printing software, for now. This problem does not stop using possible amf exporter? This is a s frontline thing now. Slic3r & Cura at least ahead now, perhaps others come soon to support amf. I'm trying to find information...

                            SketchUp, 3D printing stuff and more:
                            http://www.youtube.com/user/CinemaTablet

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                            • TIGT Offline
                              TIG Moderator
                              last edited by 22 Dec 2014, 10:14

                              If Jim's exporter always converts the dimensions to 'mm' and puts that in the header 'unit=', then it should work just fine anyway - importers of the data will either assume it's 'mm' anyway, or use the header data and use 'mm' from that ?

                              TIG

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                              • J Offline
                                Jim
                                last edited by 22 Dec 2014, 21:58

                                It is astonishing that the units are being ignored in Cura. STL's lack of units was a primary motivation behind inventing the AMF format.

                                An AMF exporter is still possible, but Cura's ignorance of AMF units makes it difficult to take Cura seriously.

                                Moving on..

                                Let's talk about expectations for the SketchUp model as they relate to AMF. AMF primarily expects solid volumes. These volumes map nicely to SketchUp solid Groups and solid ComponentInstances.

                                Does it make sense to have the exporter only work on solid objects in SketchUp?

                                Can you share a SketchUp model that you would expect to be exportable to AMF?

                                Hi

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                                • B Offline
                                  BallBearing
                                  last edited by 23 Dec 2014, 17:38

                                  A solid two colors SketchUp file: SmallAndBigHeart-Solid.skp

                                  I check my stl files on Netfabb Or before that SU Solid Inspector. Sometimes NF says that my file is printable even when SketchUp Solid Inspector shows problems. NetFabb can export amf,but not import. And it's only a repairing models software.

                                  For 3D printing the model has to be solid. Usually I prefer to do:SU -> Netfabb -> SU or print.

                                  Slic3r also do not recognize inches. A bunch of other slicers do not accept amf, yet.

                                  SketchUp, 3D printing stuff and more:
                                  http://www.youtube.com/user/CinemaTablet

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                                  • J Offline
                                    Jim
                                    last edited by 24 Dec 2014, 02:59

                                    I think it makes more sense to organize the model using Groups or Components. So in the image the Heart is the amf <object> and the 2 sub-components are <volume> elements. AMF Volumes are solids, have a material, and can not over-lap.

                                    Material would be applied to each sub-component (volumes), but not the top-level Heart (object.)

                                    Using Groups/Components also has the advantage of instantly knowing if they are solid or not.


                                    2014-12_185.png

                                    Hi

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                                    • J Offline
                                      Jim
                                      last edited by 24 Dec 2014, 03:19

                                      As a side note, Microsoft has included some support for printing to 3d printers[1]. There is a 3D Builder app[2] in the Microsoft store which loads .stl, .obj, and .3mf - Microsoft's version of .amf.

                                      I think I read Microsoft has licensed NetFabb technology for checking files.

                                      Maybe soon we will be 3d printing directly from SketchUp.

                                      [1] http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2013/08/22/3d-printing-support-in-windows-8-1-explained/

                                      [2] http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/3d-builder/75f3f766-13b3-45e9-a62f-29590d5781f2

                                      3D Printing in Windows:
                                      http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/bg183398

                                      Hi

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                                      • J Offline
                                        Jim
                                        last edited by 24 Dec 2014, 16:57

                                        Test files round 2.

                                        The amf appears to load in the AMF Utilities, Cura, and Slic3r.


                                        SmallAndBigHeart-Solid.skp


                                        su-exporter-test.amf.txt

                                        Hi

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                                        • B Offline
                                          BallBearing
                                          last edited by 28 Dec 2014, 14:17

                                          Hi! Everyone do not like Microsoft's closed format:

                                          http://fabribles.com/forum/vox-pop/70-microsofts-3mf-file-format-no-thanks

                                          Slic3r & Cura can run on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. They seems to have continuing updates & fast development which I cannot always say from MS products.

                                          Slic3r & Cura also have model fixing. I just think that a good model do not need holes filled with small triangles. Probably slowing the printing process? Or at least I try to do so clean model as possible usually.

                                          One part of the 1:3 skull: GrabCAD -> Meshlab -> SketchUp -> NetFabb -> Cura -> 3D Printer.

                                          SketchUp, 3D printing stuff and more:
                                          http://www.youtube.com/user/CinemaTablet

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