Blog
Practical CAD handoff, 3D printing costs and dimensioned design briefs, with free tools to apply them.
01
3MF vs STL: keep units and print-project data in the handoff
Separate a model-only 3MF from a slicer project, check material and settings portability, and compare downloadable files with the same 2,044-triangle mesh.
02STEP vs STL: choose a CAD exchange file or a printing mesh
Compare STEP geometry and STL triangle meshes, understand feature-history limits, and use a practical export checklist for units, tolerances and handoff.
033D printing cost breakdown: material, electricity, machine and labor
Work through a transparent $10.54 example using filament grams, print hours, electricity, machine allowance and active labor, then adapt the calculator.
04Text-to-CAD design brief: a dimensioned plate you can inspect
Write a bounded CAD brief with millimeters, an origin, explicit add/cut operations, four hole centers and export checks using a concrete plate example.