Having read a few articles concerning file formats it would appear .STEP files are recommended.
However I use Fusion 360 on a non-commercial license and have set up the 3D print option to send straight to Bambu Studio.
Using this method you only get to choose from:-
3MF
STL (ASCII)
STL (BINARY)
OBJ
There is no STEP option and although I may be able to export to STEP I like the workflow of the 3D print approach.
I have tried all the options and .3MF positions off the build plate whereas all the others centre it.
Given .OBJ is supposed to includ colour information and is handled in Bambu Studion 1.9 I am thinking this may be the best option but would like to know what the consensus is on this matter.
Yes, I use that option too and it is great convenience. However, as you noted STEP is recommended because of greater precision. When I am printing parts that have to fit together, I always use STEP. However, if there is nothing in the model that let’s say 0.02mm variance can’t handle, then the STL export is adequate.
It may help to understand the distinction between the two processes. In the case of the print from app, the app is doing the mesh conversion. In the case of STEP import, the slicer is doing the mesh conversion. Truth be told, I have yet to find a model where I can prove a difference between the two. The only comparison I can give is the number of vertices and size of GCode.
The best example is to test a sphere STEP file that you’ve imported in to the slicer, vs an STL file vs a Sphere primitive and then look at the number of vertices. Higher is better for precision of curves but not always better when dealing with right angles. Most of the time it is better but NOT always.
There was a thread that went on for weeks on this topic and truth be told, there was a lot of BS opinions without any proof. I did my part and tried to post examples of the difference in this link. In that example, I used a simple cylinder. Nevertheless there were some folks who continue to wage the argument that their piece of string was more accurate than everyone else’s piece of string, if I may use that analogy. The bottom line is that math doesn’t give a F*ck what people think.
Thanks I’ll give that thread a read when I get a moment.
Do you happend to know if there is any discernable difference between STL and OBJ as although I am holding off 1.9 Bambu Studio it does have the ability to infer colour from OBJ which could potentially improve my workflow when designing in colour.
