Manufacturing > Additive Manufacturing > Printing a Model in 3D > To Print by Connecting to a 3D Printer through a Windows Application
To Print by Connecting to a 3D Printer through a Windows Application
You can print directly from Creo to a Windows 10-supported 3D printer, connecting through Windows 10 version 1709 and newer. You register to the 3D printer through an application that you download from the Microsoft Store.
Downloading and installing the PTC Creo 3D printing application
1. Navigate to the application by performing one of the following actions:
Search the Microsoft Store for PTC Creo 3D printing.
A page opens that contains the PTC Creo 3D printing application.
2. Click Install on my devices. The application downloads and installs.
Printing directly from Creo to a Windows 10-supported 3D printer
1. When you have a model open, click File > Print > Prepare for 3D Printing. The Tray tab opens and a new tray assembly is created, with your model as a part of the Model Tree. Alternatively, you can create or open a tray assembly file.
Models that are visible on the tray will be printed. Hidden items are not printed.
2. Click Printer, and select Windows 10 3D printer under the installed printers.
3. To orient your model on the tray, click Arrange on Tray.
4. To set up the printing options, and start the additive manufacturing process, click Preview 3D Printing. The 3D Print tab opens.
5. To change the STL resolution:
a. Click Tessellation Options. The STL Parameter Definitions pane opens.
b. For each model you want to modify, change the required STL parameters, click Apply, and review the changes.
c. Click OK. The STL Parameter Definitions pane closes.
6. To slice the model, support structures, and lattice:
a. Click Slice.
If more than one CLI file is generated, the Export Zip dialog box opens. All the CLI files produced by the model are saved in a single ZIP file.
If one CLI file is generated, the Export CLI dialog box opens.
b. Type a name for the CLI files next to File name, and click Save.
c. When the slicing succeeds:
The Display Slices viewer opens.
A CLI file or a ZIP file that contains the CLI files is created in your working folder:
<CLI_name>_B.cli contains the data for the model geometry
<CLI_name>_<feature_name>_L.cli contains the data for the lattice
<CLI_name>_S.cli contains the data for the support structure
See To Slice a Model. You can display slices by clicking Display Slices. You can load slices by clicking Load Slices.
7. To export the STL files, follow these steps:
a. To set the export options:
a. Click File > Options. The Creo Parametric Options dialog box opens.
b. Click Additive Manufacturing. The additive manufacturing settings page opens.
c. To export the model bodies, lattice, and support structures as separate STL files, select the Export body, lattice, and support separately check box. When selected, you can also choose the following option:
d. For models that contain more than one body, to export each body as a separate STL file, select the Export each body in a separate STL file check box.
b. Click Export.
If more than one STL file is generated, the Export Zip dialog box opens. All the STL files produced by the model are saved in a single ZIP file.
If one STL file is generated, the Export STL dialog box opens.
c. Type a name for the STL files next to File name, and click Save. An STL file or a ZIP file that contains the STL files is created in your working folder:
<prefix>_<body name>_index_B.stl contains the data for the model geometry
<prefix>_<lattice name>_index_L.stl contains the data for the lattice
<prefix>_S.stl contains the data for the support structures
8. To view the interior of the model and the support material at various points during the printing process, click Clipping and use the 3D dragger to display the interior of the model.
9. To display the required support material, click Display Support Material.
10. To set the minimal angle where the support material is added, click the arrow next to View, and type the angle in the Draft angle box.
11. To initiate the 3D printing process, click Print. Two windows open:
Windows 3D printing. Use this window to print with a locally installed machine, to continue with your online order, or to cancel the printing job.
Small application window. You can ignore this window.