3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS FAQ

3DXPert for SOLIDWORKS is a standalone product complementing SOLIDWORKS with design for additive manufacturing tools.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) frees the designer from many traditional manufacturing limitations and enables to manufacture very complex shapes, consolidate assembly parts, reduce part weight, manufacture tailor made products and add textures on the surface of the part.

3DXpert for SOLIDWOKS includes a set of analysis and modeling tools to prepare and optimize the parts designed in SOLIDWORKS for additive manufacturing using various 3D printers.

 

The Standard package of 3DXPert for SOLIDWORKS is available to all SOLIDWORKS users.

You can download a one time, 30 days, trial license of the Standard 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS Standard, Professional and the Add-Ons * are available for sale through the authorized resellers are also SOLIDWORKS resellers.

* The Add-On tools include additional tools for the creation and analysis of lattice structures, for optimizing lattice structures, a lattice development kit and  Build Simulation.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS is machine agnostic and can work with any printer and technology.

The product’s main focus is currently on powder bed metal (DMLS), and yet, the part positioning on the tray, lattice design and send to print tools are suitable for any printer and technology.

Dedicated supports' functionality is optimized for powder bed metal (DMLS) and Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF, FDM, MJP).

Support free technologies such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Plaster-Based Printing (PP, CJP) are of course fully supported as well.

Other technologies can use existing support functionality (dedicated supports for other technologies are coming soon).

In terms of exporting data to the 3D printer, 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS can export slicing as CLI C0 contours to any machine that can read it.

You can also send your geometry to the 3D printer as mesh data in various formats (STL, 3MF, OBJ, VRML).

There are a few key elements that separate 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS from other 3D printing software.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS can receive CAD data (B-rep) and keep its integrity and analytic properties rather than convert it internally to mesh (STL-like format) like almost any other 3D printing software.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS does support all mesh formats as well, but if your data comes in a solid/surface format – either directly from SOLIDWORKS or through a generic format such as STEP.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS will NOT downgrade it by converting it internally to mesh and hence, will keep the model’s  integrity.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS is a one stop shop for all your 3D printing need. You do not have to go back and forth between different software for geometry modification, lattice creation, support creation, etc.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS is a history based parametric system. This means that every action you do creates a feature and you can edit its parameters (note: in the Standard package,

not all support parameters can be edited. In the Professional package, all parameters can be edited).

You are already familiar with this in SOLIDWORKS and it seems trivial for any CAD user, but this behavior does not exist in any other 3D Printing dedicated software.

Needless to say – the direct link between SOLIDWORKS and 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS is another great feature that puts it apart from most 3D printing software.

Hardware Requirements:

The hardware requirements for installing 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS are as follows:
 
Memory (RAM) / Processor:  Minimum: 16 GB RAM, 4 cores  Recommended: 32 GB RAM, 6 cores i7 (i7-6850K)

Note: To gain better I/O performance, it is recommended using a solid state hard Drive (SSD). Windows and 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS should be installed on the SSD.

The file management should be configured on a different hard drive, local or network based.
 
Graphics Card:  Quadro cards from NVidia and FireGL/FirePro cards from ATI are the most recommended cards for CAD/CAM software.

The performance of graphics cards is tightly related to driver version and memory size. The newer the driver and the greater the memory, the better the graphics card performance.

For recommended graphics cards see the following website: https://cimgraphics.cimatron.com and select the product 3DXpert.
 
The graphics card must support OpenGL 3.3.

Minimum: 1 GB of memory

Recommended: 2 GB of memory
 
3 Button Mouse

The software requirements for installing 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS are as follows:

The following Windows operating systems are supported: Recommended:

Windows Server 2008 or 2012.

Windows 7, Professional/Ultimate Edition.

Windows 8 or 8.1, Professional/Ultimate Edition.

Windows 10, Professional/Ultimate Edition.
 
 Note: .NET Framework 4.5 is an installation prerequisite. If this is not installed, it is automatically installed during the 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS installation process.
 

The maximum DPI supported is 150%.

Supported Graphics Card: 

Quadro cards from NVidia and FireGL/FirePro cards from ATI are the most recommended cards for CAD/CAM software.

The performance of graphics cards is tightly related to driver version and memory size.

The newer the driver and the greater the memory, the better the graphics card performance.

For recommended graphics cards see the following website: https://cimgraphics.cimatron.com and select the product 3DXpert.
 
The graphics card must support OpenGL 3.1: Minimum: 1 Gb of memory Recommended: 2 Gb of memory

Yes, you can activate 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS om multiple PCs..

During the activation process of your 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS, you enter a machine key which is specific to the PC you are using.

At the end of the activation process, you will receive a license that enables 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS to run on this PC.

This license is issued for the specific PC and will not enable it to run on any other PC.

If you wish to run 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS on other PCs, you should activate them in the same way.

Yes, floating license is available.

Upon Activation, 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS only enables working with a local license. 

The trial license that you receive for the Standard edition  is local for the specific PC which you activate.

However, you can purchase 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS Standard or Professional editions  with a floating license option.

For more information on the offering, contact your SOLIDWORKS resellers or an authorized reseller. 

No.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS is a stand-alone installation.

It does not look for a valid SOLIDWORKS license. It works as long as its own license exists and has not expired.

Download the latest, full installer, for 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS from this site.

Press the Download link to enter the downloads page.

Software updates are released from time to time and will be available through a dedicated update tool.

If a software update is made available, your 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS will prompt and ask you to update your installation.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS works best with SOLIDWORKS 2018 and up.

If you are using SOLIDWORKS 2016 or 2017, clicking the 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS button within SOLIDWORKS might generate an error.

In these cases:

- Launch 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS by pressing the 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS desktop shortcut.

- Click the New 3D Printing Project button to start a new project.

- Drag the SOLIDWORKS file(s) from the windows browser directly on to the tray.

Earlier versions of SOLIDWORKS are currently not supported.

Depending on your operating system status, a reboot is required after installation.

In such a case, after the installation  a message will prompt, asking you to reboot your computer.

The installation requires administrative privileges.

Log in to the PC as an Administrator and install 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS.

However, once installed and activated, any user logged in on the PC can run the software, also a non-Administrator.

This tab is added by the 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS installation.

The tab includes a Setting utility,  as well as the functions to launch 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS with the current part and Import back the prepared model into the current part.

Launching 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS for the first time will start the activation process.

You can use 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS free of charge for 30 days. This requires a short activation process.

After the installation finishes, launch 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS either through its Desktop shortcut or through your SOLIDWORKS (run 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS from the Additive Manufacturing tab).

This will start the activation process. It is important to enter a valid email address as you will receive your license via this address.

In return you will receive an email with a 30 days license (just run the link in the email to install this license).

The full process is explained, step by step,  in the Activation document, that you can find in the Resource page.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS 13.0 enabled a one year Standard Edition license activation for SOLIDWORKS users on subscription.

Starting 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS 14.0, this is no longer available.

All SOLIDWORKS users (not only those on subscription) are entitled to a one time, 30 days, trial license of the Standard Edition.

Yes, the activation process requires administrative privileges.

Yes, you can activate your 3Dxpert for SOLIDWORKS also if you are working offline.

You will need the services of another PC, which is connected to the internet.

For further details, refer to the Activation document.

After the installation, launch your 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS either through the Desktop shortcut or through the SOLIDWORKS Plug-In.

This will start the activation process. Go through the activation dialogs.

An email has been sent by the system (from [email protected]) to the email address which you have entered during the activation process.

If you do not see the activation email in your inbox, please check your email spam or junk folders.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS is a stand-alone application, it does not check if your SOLIDWORKS license is valid or not.

You do need a valid license for 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS.

Once your trial license for 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS expires, you cannot renew it.

If you wish to continue using 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS, you can purchase the product through the authorized resellers.

See also https://www.3dsystems.com/software/3dxpert-solidworks/how-to-buy/renewal

You can only have one trial license for 30 days. Once this license expires, 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS will no longer launch.

If you try to reactivate your license, the system will inform you that you cannot receive an additional license for this PC.

Contact an authorized reseller to purchase the product.

When you click Get Activation File, an executable file downloads on your PC and is launched.

Most probably, your anti virus software blocks this file from download or launch.

To manually set it up, do as follows:

1. Send an email [email protected] asking for the license file.

2. In return, you will receive an email with the license file itself (*.cml).

3. Save this license file on your PC to the folder C:\ProgramData\3D Systems\3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS

4. Launch the 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS Control Panel 

5. Select Licensing and launch the License Manager 

6. Click the browse button alongside Local License Folder and browse to the folder as in #2.

     The content of the license file should be visible now.

7. Press the Save button and then close the License Manager

Now launch your 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS either through the SOLIDWORKS Plug-In or directly through the desktop shortcut.

As aB-rep based system, 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS can read the original CAD data (B-rep), keeping the integrity and analytic properties of the model.

Almost any other 3D printing software convert the model internally to mesh (STL-like) format.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS does support all mesh formats as well, but if your data comes in a solid/surface format – either directly from SOLIDWORKS or through a generic format such as STEP, 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS will not downgrade it by converting it internally to mesh and will keep its integrity.

When sending geometry from SOLIDWORKS to 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS you have several options. If you are transferring solid/surface (B-rep) data – you may transfer it through direct read or Parasolid and keep it as solid/surface data. You may also choose to transfer it as mesh data – either as STL or 3MF.

If your data includes any mesh data, all of it will be transferred as mesh. You may choose to transfer it as STL or 3MF.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS also supports generic data transfer formats – both B-rep formats such as STEP and additional mesh formats such as OBJ and PLY

This depends on the export settings, which are defined through the Settings command (in the Additive Manufacturing tab)

If you opted to prefer reading geometry directly from SOLIDWORKS, PMI data should be read in directly.

However, if the system for any reason has an issue with the direct read, it will read the data through the Parasolid file format.

Unlike direct file reading, reading through Parasolid may result in missing attributes such as colors, PMIs, etc..., but your geometry will stay intact

Note:

SOLIDWORKS 2018 is already supported.

After the launch of each new SOLIDWORKS version, some period of time will be required until this new version is supported by 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS.

During that time, the direct read functionality is not available for that version and files saved in the new version will be read in through Parasolid automatically.

If you opted (through Settings) to prefer reading geometry directly from SOLIDWORKS, and the system for any reason has an issue with the direct read, it will read the data through the Parasolid file format.

Note: Unlike direct file reading, reading through Parasolid may result in missing attributes such as colors, PMIs, etc..., but your geometry will stay intact.
 

If you are using a SOLIDOWORKS 2017 or an earlier version, mesh data may not be transferred.

To overcome this, change the settings so that the files are transferred to 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS only as mesh.

On the Additive Manufacturing click the Settings button and check the option to 'Export all parts as mesh'.

It is recommended to use this option only when needed.

Yes, 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS supports both Inch & Millimeter units.

Yes, this is possible.

To customize your printer, open up a new 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS project.

Run the Edit Printer tool, select the printer you want to customize from the dropdown menu and click the Edit Printer Parameters button.

This dialog includes various parameters, which you can modify. For example, set the printer technology, its tray size, material, layer thickness and more.

For more details click the F1 key while the Edit Printer Parameters dialog is open, to launch the Help tool.

Click the OK button to save your changes, or click 'Copy as New Printer' in the dialog to save it as a new printer.

To add a new printer, open up a new 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS project.

Run the Edit Printer tool, select a printer that is most similar to the printer you wish to add from the dropdown menu and click the Edit Printer Parameters button.

This dialog includes various parameters, which you can modify. For example, set the printer technology, its tray size, material, layer thickness and more.

For more details click the F1 key while the Edit Printer Parameters dialog is open, to launch the Help tool.

Click 'Copy as New Printer' in the dialog and enter the name of the new printer.

This operation also copies the materials available in the original printer to the new printer.

To add a new material, open up a new 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS project. Run the Edit Printer tool.

Select the printer from the dropdown menu and click the Edit Printer Parameters button.

Through the Material Management section, select one material from the drop down menu (if you already have several materials) preferably one that most resembles the new material that you wish to add .

Click 'Copy as New Material' and enter the name for the new material.

When you browse to select a templates of supports, lattices and infills, you can see the templates that are common to all printers of a certain technology.

The overhang angle is a property of the material and the printer.

Currently, the default overhang angle cannot be modified and therefore, when you create a new project use the Edit Printer tool to modify the overhang angle for the project.

Probably the elt file you opened is a part file.

it contains the model (either b-rep or mesh) that you wish to prepare for printing.

The Object Tree and Process Guide show up when you enter or create a 3DP Project.

Open up a new 3DP Project and load the the part (Add 3DP Component).

Of course. Right click any toolbar and select Customize Toolbars & Menus

You may now drag any command from the toolbar, the menu or the customization dialog into any toolbar or menu or into the floating toolbar. The customization dialog has a search box that can help you find the command you are looking for.

To add or remove menus – go to the Menus tab of the customization dialog. Select a menu or section (sub menu) and click Delete to remove it. Type a new menu name in the New Menu text box to create a new menu. Expand a menu and click a new section name in the New Section text box to create a new section. Menus and sections can be dragged after they are created to position them in a different place.

Adding and removing a toolbar is done in the same way on the Toolbar tab of the customization dialog.

To reset the toolbar close 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS. Now go to the Windows Start button.

Go to 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS >> 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS Control Panel.

In the control panel click the Settings button.

Click the Reset All buttons to restore the original layout of all toolbars and menus.

Removing (or rather hiding) the Additive Manufacturing tab from SOLIDWORKS is the same as hiding any other toolbar.

Right click the toolbar and select the Customize command.

Right click the Additive Manufacturing tab and select Hide Tab. To show the tab again – repeat the process and select Show Tab.

Normally, UCSs (User Coordinate Systems) and other datum objects such as planes and axes are not visible on 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS.

To show or hide them, click both the middle and left mouse buttons and select the Display Datums command. You may also go to the View >> Settings menu and use the same command.
Once datums are displayed, hiding and showing datum objects is done using the regular hide and show commands. Note that you will need to turn the Datum Filter on to select them.

B-rep stands for Boundary Representation. This term is used to describe the type of 3D model that you usually create in a SOLIDWORKS file, a model which is made of solid and surface objects.

B-rep data can be transferred between CAD software through generic (or standard) CAD formats such as STEP, IGES, VDA and more.

Mesh data stands for a triangulated representation of the geometry. In this representation, each face of the model is built out of triangles.

Working with Mesh data is quite different than working with B-rep, it is much easier to design with B-rep and operations between B-rep and mesh objects are usually supported by various CAD software.

Mesh data can be transferred between software through generic formats such as STL, 3MF, OBJ, PLY or other formats.

Most CAD software do not enable real parametric history-based features on mesh data. 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS does allow for such features to be created to a certain extent.

However it is used very often in design software and is used almost exclusively for scanning.

Traditionally, mesh representation was used in all software for Additive Manufacturing and even if the data was read in as B-rep, it was converted internally into mesh.

This operation degrades the data and reduces its integrity, and often requires substantial fixing and healing work. This is still the predominant representation used by most 3D printing software today.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS is one of the first software for Additive Manufacturing to work directly with B-rep data. Users work directly on the original CAD model, keeping data integrity and

without downgrading it to mesh representation. Take any curved face and triangulate it, and the result is less accurate (up to the tolerance).

B-rep representation allows for easy modification and, more importantly, editing of operations by history-based parametric features.

It keeps the analytic properties of the data, which means that a circle remains a circle and splines keep their smoothness rather than be broken down to polygons.

This allows, for example, for smooth support regions, not possible with mesh representation.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS fully supports mesh formats as well and those are often used for scanned data.

Both mesh and B-rep data can be read directly from SOLIDWORKS to 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS.

There may be a problem exporting your data from SOLIDWORKS.

If your SOLIDWORKS file contains any mesh data, save it as STL.

If your SOLIDWORKS data contains only solids and surfaces, save it as STEP.

Launch 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS, create a new project and drag the file, which you have saved, into it.

Your data should now load on 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS.

Part preparation refers to the operations on the geometry of the model, which are required to prepare it for printing.

The basic operations are the optimized positioning the part on the tray, geometry healing, shrinkage compensation scaling, and direct modeling operations

(offsetting geometry, removing features and removing geometry).

These operations are all available with the 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS Standard package.

Additional operations are available in the Advanced Part Preparation add-on and in the 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS Professional package.

The Advanced Part Preparation add-on includes a set of mesh manipulation tools, allowing you to modify mesh objects, create volume text on your objects and create manual support regions.

The Professional package includes a complete set of hybrid CAD tools, allowing you to manipulate the model in any way you like.

This package combines solid, surfacing, wireframe and mesh modeling tools. It also offers a complete set of support region creation and manipulation tools, as well as support creation tools,

including the ability to manually edit any parameter.

Printability Check runs a series of checks on the parts which are located on the tray.

The various checks are organized in a table, each row on the dialog representing a single check, which can be activated by clicking the checkbox For some checks, you need to enter a distance value.

The result of each check will be either a green check mark, which means that  the check passed successfully, or a red exclamation mark, which means that some issues where found.

a special icon representing Highlight shows up on any row where issues were found, allowing you to highlight the problematic area. A color box enables you to set the color of the highlight.

In the case of Closed (for mesh objects only) and Geometric Integrity checks, a Fix icon is added, to fix the problem. Yet, sometimes you may need to manipulate the geometry in order to fix issues.

For example, if open objects were found on the model, you may need to fix the model in SOLIDWORKS, before sending it again to 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS.

If you have the Professional package, you may use its surfacing or mesh tools to close the hole. The mesh tools are also available with the Advanced Part Preparation add-on.

In case a void was found, you may use the Extrude command, in order to make a hole in the void area. If you work with the Advanced Part Preparation add-on or the Professional package,

you may also use the Drain Holes tool for that purpose.

In case interlocks where found, you may use the Position Body tool to move parts away from each other.

In case a volume issue is indicated, it means that some parts are out of the tray area. Use the Position Body tool, in order to move all the parts into the tray.

If all parts can fit in the tray, you may also use the 2D Nesting for that purpose.

The vertical, horizontal and other holes indication helps you to  orient the part in a way that will make sure that holes that are important to you,

will maintain their shape (by making them as vertical as possible).

Thin walls and small gaps are indications of areas, which you may want to pay attention to. If they are too thin or small, there may be a printing issue. Walls may not print well and gaps may disappear, so  you

should consider making them thicker or larger.

For more information on each specific check, click the F1 button while the Printability Check dialog is open.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS comes with a rich set of support templates.

These templates produce various support types with different parameters. The templates are preset and cannot be edited.

If you wish to edit support templates or create your own, upgrade to the 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS Professional package.

In this package, you can create any support type with its own parameters for immediate use in your project, and\or save it into a template for re-use.

Volume lattice is a geometrical cell, which is replicated within the part in all directions, thus forming a grid, which is bounded by the part.

An infill is a 2D pattern that is extruded upwards, to form walls, which are bounded by the part.

Both volume lattices and infills are used to light-weight parts, by removing some of their material, yet maintaining most of their internal strength (depending on the properties of the material and the lattice/infill).

Volume lattices are also used in medical applications to allow for tissue in grow into implants.

The following types of infills are available in 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS. These types can be used separately or together on the same objects.

Solid Infill creates an object by extruding a predefined pattern which you select.

Conformal infill uses the outer boundary of the object's silhouette (or a selected wire body) and creates offset contours, which are then extruded.

Wall infill works similarly to the Solid infill, but instead of creating a volume extrude out of the selected pattern, it makes thin wall structures like the ones created on wall supports.

When creating an infill, a shell can be added around it,  with drain holes or with (user defined) open faces.

Out of all these, the Solid infill and the basic shell are fully available in the Standard package. All other types require either the Advanced Lattice Design add-on or the Professional package.

You may however evaluate all infill types with the Standard package, but you will not be able to print or export these Infills.

You are working with the Standard package without the Professional Lattice Design add-on. You have access to all the lattice & Infill  features, however, some are supplied as Evaluation Features.

Included in the Standard package are: the Uniformal volume lattice, the Sprouts and Rough Sprouts surface lattices, Solid infills and the basic shell.

All other types lattice and infills will be marked as Evaluation Features, and this means that they cannot be exported. If you wish to export them, buy the Professional Lattice Design add-on or the Professional package,

To export from 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS to STL, use either of the following methods:

A. By Send to Print:

1. Within the 3DP Project, press the Send to Print command through the guide bar

2. Check the option 'Save mesh file'

3. Set the format (STL or other mesh) and press the OK button

B.By File-Export

1. From the menu select File-Export

2. Through the browser, select the file to export. This invokes the Export dialog.

3. In the Export dialog, set File of Type - STL and press the OK button

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Exporting data from 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS can be done in several ways.

Geometrical data can be exported as B-rep or Mesh formats through the Export or Export by Pick tools.

It can also be exported, as mesh only, through the Send to Print tool.

Data can also be exported for review using the Publish to 3D PDF tool.

Slicing data, CLI C0 contours, can be exported using the Send to Print tool (after slicing is completed).
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CLI stands for Common Layer Interface.

It is an ASCII universal format that describes layer by layer the outer contour of the sliced geometry and is often used to transfer slicing data to 3D printers.

CLI contours may represent the exact boundary of the model, or they can be at an offset from the boundary.

In each layer (or slice), the contours which lie exactly on the boundary of the model are referred to as C0 contours. The first offset inwards from that contour is referred to as C1. The next one is referred to as C2, and so on.

3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS creates C0 contours when slicing the parts and exports them to CLI using the Send to Print tool.

In the 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS Professional package, you can assign an offset to the C0 contours.

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The lattice representation in 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS is very light, even when working with very

complex lattice structures.

Be aware that exporting a lattice with many nodes and connectors will result in a very large mesh file.

Lattice geometry can be exported from 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS as mesh (STL, 3MF, etc.).

This can be done in several ways. You can use the Export command to export the entire part, or the

Export by Pick commands to select the objects (including lattices), which  you want to export.

The recommended Mesh formats are STL, 3MF, PLY and OBJ.

Expand the Export dialog and click the 3DP Parameters tab, see that you can determine how to export

 the lattice. You can export it as lattice geometry or only export its bounding object.

When exporting lattice geometry, check the option for Merge Lattice Elements. This merges all the

lattice nodes and connectors into a single, valid, mesh object.

This operation may take a while, but the created mesh object has a higher integrity and the lattice will

be cut by its bounding object.

Check the option for Combine Lattice with Shell to merge the lattice object and its shell object (if exists)

into a single object.

You may also use the Send to Print tool. This offers the same options for the STL and 3MF.

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Geometry can be exported back from 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS into SOLIDWORKS in several ways.

In SOLIDWORKS, activate a part and press the Import from 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS button and select the project (assembly) file saved in 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS.

This will start an Import process. At the end the prepared model will be added to your part as a new configuration.

You may also use the Export command to export the entire part, or the Export by Pick commands to select

the objects (including lattices and supports) that you wish to export.

Note that not all objects are equal. While B-rep (solids\surfaces) objects can be exported to any

format,mesh objects can only be exported to mesh formats such as STL, 3MF, PLY or OBJ.

Lattices, wall infills and wall supports are considered mesh objects and can only be exported to mesh.

If your model includes both B-rep and mesh objects, you may export all objects to a single mesh file.

Alternatively, you may export the B-rep data to a B-rep format (such as Parasolid or STEP) and the mesh

objects to a mesh format.

Export the entire part to a B-rep (mesh objects will be ignored) and then, use Export by Pick tool and

select the specific objects to be exported to mesh.

Import the data into SOLIDWORKS.

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Wall supports are exported as Mesh data.

Pick the Wall supports, select the mesh format and expand the Export dialog to see the additional Export parameters. Click the 3DP Parameters tab.

Wall supports can be exported with no thickness to mesh surfaces with zero thickness or as solids.

In this case, they will still be mesh objects, however with the thickness assigned to them on creation or, if no thickness was defined, with a thickness of 0.1 mm. 

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