I have been designing colored 3D models with OpenSCAD and have developed a process that makes it easier to load the model and color information into Bambu Studio. I’m willing to share my information, one - to help others and two - for the experts to find issues / improvements with my process.
The process and explanation is more detailed that I want to post in a forum message. Is there a way to post a document? Is there a more appropriate way to share my information?
Have you tried just copying and pasting a pdf? Since it works for 3mf files, I’d be surprised if it would not work.
You can upload files when you post or reply if that’s what you are looking for.
You can upload a document here but the forum software will limit you to these formats:
So one alternative to uploading another format is to rename the extension to one of the supported formats and during your upload, you simply advise the group to change the extension back to let’s say a PDF.
Alternatively, you could petition the forum admins to support additional file formats. PDF seems benign enough, but I’m unsure how flexible the forum software (Discourse) is. However, as a wise man once said, “If you don’t ask the question, the answer is always no.”
I don’t like changing the file extension to one that doesn’t represent the file contents.
If the admins are monitoring, I am requesting that .PDF files be allowed as an upload.
I am unsure what this would be an issue but so be it. One can only lead a horse to water…
The admins don’t have time to read every post. In fact, there’s strong evidence that they don’t read most posts outside of the feedback and troubleshooting sections if at all.
If you want specific action, you have to ask. There is the suggestions sub-section which I’ve never seen a reply to from Admin or you can simply send a message to them which can be found in the main menu. Either way, being passive about it will ensure that your request will never register. As I quoted above: “If you don’t ask the question, the answer is always no.” Nobody is going to magically grant any wishes here, one has to make and effort and ask.
I would suggest putting all of the docs and code into a github repo, then posting a link and introduction to https://new.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/
Just FYI, there are some new bambu-compatible color support patches for openscad now that are available, I don’t know if they have been integrated into the mainline but people have rolled them up into builds with other extensions.
Another alternative is upload to Google Drive or other cloud storage and sharing a read only link.
OrcaSlicer allows placing PDF files in an otherwise empty .3mf file as Bill of Materials or Assembly Guide, no actual model needed. Opened in Studio, there will be warnings about lack of geometry, wrong version, etc., but the PDF can be launched from the Project tab.
I don’t know if it is possible to do the same in Studio since Bambu forced editing of the Project tab into their cloud.
I think I’ve also seen some information-only “models” on Printables.
Do I understand this correctly? One cannot create a project in Bambu Studio that is independent of the cloud? I was unaware of this since I only use Orca.
You can create a .3mf in Studio locally, but you cannot add or edit anything on the Project tab without going through Makerworld.
Bambu kind of broke the Project tab completely back around May-June (?) of 2023. Then it came back in a different format a few months later (August?). The model has to be uploaded to Makerworld before the project can be edited to add pictures, text descriptions, etc. You can make a MW project private, but it still has to be uploaded to Bambu.
Orca’s Project tab was also broken for a time, but Softfever finally brought it back this summer. I’m not sure exactly when, it just magically began to allow editing, without a mention in the release notes. AFAIK, it is not compatible with MW, but I have not tested it.
While the tab was out of service I lost the habit of checking it, and began using Orca’s Notes in the Process settings to record printing recommendations and such. It actually works better for my personal use, since Others is highlighted when the field has content, reminding me to look at the notes. I use WinRAR, 7Zip, or similar utilities to add CAD files, text, links, pictures, etc. directly to the 3mf archive. Orca “Notes” are not accessible in Studio.
This is the kind of drip-drip-drip boil-the-frog invasive marketing that I keep railing against Bambu. Mark my words, it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing ads in Bambu Studio and I wouldn’t put it past them that within the next year, they will somehow block Orca from working without forcing them to remove the option to avoid the landing page.
This is the feature I am talking about.
This feature allows one to bypass the Makerworld force-feed ads that promote Makerworld and it allows one to start up the slicer in the design screen. It’s doubtful we will ever see this option in Bambu Studio because it would weaken their strategy of monetizing the slicer. Free is free until you the user becomes the product.
Sorry about deleting that post. I had posted about pi-hole and how I don’t see any adds on MW, in Studio, or here and discussed pi-hole.
I was going to add the URL and pi-hole.net (the proper address) was apparently down or under attack. So I tried pi-hole.o r g (the wrong address but used to be up for sale) and that had turned into a huge phishing page with virus alerts.
No idea if the two things are related but possibly. Pi-hole is used by lots of network folks and is well-supported. Having it locked up (denial of service) with the .org version serving up phishing attacks is a bit of a coincidence.
Anyway, that’s why I deleted the other post. Didn’t want anyone seeing a non-responsive site and trying .org only to get hit with a phishing attempt.
Pi-hole is good software and the site is accessible again. Pi-hole.net.
