Using GrabCAD Print with the Fortus

These icons switch between Model View, Analysis Mode, and Slice Preview

These are all the functions and settings needed to prepare a file. Clicking an icon will expand its menu

This area contains a preview of the build tray

This menu shows what printer or printer template you are using

This area will show a list of all the models in the project

Insert a file, either by dragging and dropping it into the window or clicking Add Models

Unlike Insight, GrabCAD will accept native CAD files as well as STL files

If needed, select Model Info to change the unit system applied to the part

Each part in a GrabCAD project can have a different unit system, if desired

Sometimes there may be errors in the mesh of an file. If GrabCAD detects an error, a red warning symbol will be displayed

Select the Analysis Mode icon to view and repair the error

If you wish to see the type and location of the error, click Get Error Details to highlight the issue

Click Repair all Models to run GrabCAD's repair script, which will attempt to resolve any mesh errors

Ensure the tray settings, such as materials and tips, match your intended setup

If you are connected to the machine over the local network, these fields will auto-populate with the current printer configuration

Change the model settings for each part in the project

In general, you can just select a part fill style, but you may customize the other parameters if necessary

Select the desired support settings for each part in the project

As in Insight, the recommended support style will be set automatically for the model material you have chosen

If you need to choose a different support style, the information tooltips provide good descriptions of each option

If needed, scale the part by the appropriate factor or to the desired bounding dimensions

For simpler parts, you can orient a specific face to one of the datum planes, or rotate the part about a specific axis by an arbitrary amount

More complex part can be automatically oriented

Unlike Insight, GrabCAD does not provide different orientation methods, but instead always orients to minimize support and build time

To create copies of a part, right click on it and select Duplicate. Choose the number of copies to create in the dialog box

Use the Arrange menu to automatically position parts. If your copied parts were placed on a new tray, you may want to use Arrange Project for greater efficiency

Turning on the Optimize option will slice the parts before calculating a layout, which can result in a more efficient arrangement

In general, it is not advisable to reduce the model spacing below its default value, although it can be increased if desired

Click Show Slice Preview to view the sliced and supported model

To view toolpaths, change the Layer Range to any option other than All Layers and switch to a top view

Click the Estimates button to view estimated print time and material usage

If you have already viewed the slice preview or performed some other function that slices the model(s), this will say View Estimates instead

Click Print to send the current tray to the printer queue