Quick Parametric Filament Swatches

prusaprinters

<p>Using 'FreeCAD' and its inbuilt spreadsheet you can create your own Filament Swatches in seconds.</p><p>Details include Material, Brand and Colour.</p><p>I believe that with my instructions below that even a complete novice of CAD systems should be able to produce these Filament Swatches.</p><p>For a number of years I have used a business CAD program. It was labour intensive to produce my Swatches. It meant I would have to build the text for every swatch and overlay it on top of the basic model. I wanted a better solution and was aware of ‘OpenSCAD’, which you can alter certain parameters. But, I was not familiar with programming that CAD system therefore I put the idea on hold.</p><p>Looking on changing my ways and this competition I looked at a potential program to resolve this issue therefore I chose ‘FreeCAD’. I liked the fact this CAD program can draw the model in the standard way without using programming text. And then you can alter some of the model data using a spreadsheet which is part of the CAD system.</p><p>Having never used FreeCAD before, I learnt what to do in a day! A VERY LONG DAY, with lots of looking at ‘Youtubers’ who had the skills I needed, sometimes repeatedly watching the same video!</p><p>Hope you Enjoy the final product.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I have previously used a 3D printed hexagonal rod, which you can vary the length of.&nbsp;</p><p>The rod is used to hold the swatches. &nbsp;I created a couple of simple ‘end stop’, these are also 3D printed.</p><p>Using a common technique with a nut and bolt. You can hand tighten the end stops in place, therefore no tools are required and the swatches are held firmly in place whether you have just a few swatches or a large quantity. For this model I used 2x M3 nuts and 2x 12mm M3 bolts.</p><p>Its up to you/user on how you store the swatches together, whether by Material, Brand or Colour.</p><p>The Rod and ‘end stops’ are just simple STL files and are in the download.</p><p>To use the Quick Parametric Filament Swatch you will have to use FreeCAD first and then use the file I created.</p><p>I used the latest version of FreeCAD as at 31/08/2022, Version Release 0.20</p><p>If you do not already use FreeCAD the link is;</p><blockquote><p>Link: <a href="https://www.freecadweb.org/">https://www.freecadweb.org/</a></p></blockquote><p>The file you need to download when using FreeCAD is;</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ‘Parametric Filament Swatch.FCStd’, &nbsp;a copy of which is attached in the download.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h4><strong>A few important facts you need to be aware of.</strong></h4><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Using Windows fonts for the text in model</strong></p><p>For the program FreeCAD to build the text in the model I needed to &nbsp;create a link to Windows font, Arial Bold. This link is in the program and used three times, one for each text created.&nbsp;</p><p>Because my file holds that data as long as you have a standard version of window then my settings will work for you, without you altering anything yourself. (see added text below for Mac users and if you want to change font).</p><p>For your information your windows fonts are ALL stored at c: /windows/fonts.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>To alter the Parametric settings</strong></p><p>Once you have downloaded my file into FreeCAD you need to alter the text which is in the spreadsheet. Look at the layout of the file below.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/269147/rich_content/00cba185-4531-43ad-8e12-8c8891974ea6/spreadsheet-parameters.jpg#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22ef6509b4-a6a1-4a5a-a9df-215f18b72102%22%2C%22w%22%3A2562%2C%22h%22%3A1735%7D"></figure><p>To see the breakdown of the model look to ensure you are on the Model window. Click on the spreadsheet which is positioned in the below window and it will open the spreadsheet page.</p><p>The Spreadsheet page is now shown on the bottom bar and the data is in the window above.</p><p>The data in the yellow boxes is the data you enter and it will affect the model. it uses an alias command which is hidden behind a menu and part of the program. &nbsp;</p><p>The font for the model relates to the text size, I have incorporated this in case the text you add is too large. I suggest the standard size used is 8mm.</p><p>The text to the right of the input data is just there to copy and paste into the yellow boxes accordingly, increasing speed and reducing errors.</p><p>To see a copy of the updated model just click on the bottom bar with the text in it ‘Parametric Filament Swatch’, &nbsp;see below the window which will appear.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/269147/rich_content/112a5fac-30f5-45f7-a804-e6eaea61b329/model-window.jpg#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%228a34050c-90fc-40b4-8fe3-c9479b1f83a7%22%2C%22w%22%3A3245%2C%22h%22%3A1728%7D"></figure><p>Check to see if the data is correct.</p><p>You can switch between the Spreadsheet and Model window by clicking on the appropriate bottom bar menu.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Create an STL file</strong></p><p>From the Model Window we need to select the parts we want to use for the STL file.&nbsp;</p><p>Using the Ctrl key and the left mouse button select each of the parts on the left side, each will turn blue when selected and will also change the colours on the picture of the model.&nbsp;</p><p><i>If not selected now it will not appear in the STL file,</i></p><figure class="image"><img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/269147/rich_content/8ca19464-380b-481b-9a17-50a596dbc46e/selected-parts.jpg#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%2203515548-47c2-4e56-a61c-f79af520ec66%22%2C%22w%22%3A3253%2C%22h%22%3A1736%7D"></figure><p>&nbsp;Once selected all 4 parts go to File, Export and select STL mesh. Save your file in your own directory. And use the STL file in PrusaSlicer.</p><p>I tried the 3mf format but I could not get that to work in PrusaSlicer.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Apple Mac and changing Font</strong></p><p>A comment was made in the Comments above by a Mac user re his initial problem of identifying a font on his Mac machine.</p><p>Therefore, to assist if you are using a Mac or want to change the font on any machine then this can be easily achieved in properties. Remember, because their are three text areas this property will need to be changed three times. see pictures below.</p><p>In the ‘Model’ Window select the string you wish to Modify using ‘Ctrl and Mouse’, this will send the background to Blue.&nbsp;</p><p>Look in the ‘Properties’ Window below for ‘Draft’, then ‘Font File’.</p><p>Select the file location' using the mouse and a small box will appear to the right with three dots in it.</p><p>Click on the small box and a file directory will appear where you can select and change the font.</p><p>The three strings you have to amend are;</p><ol><li><i>ShapeString001</i></li><li><i>Type001</i></li><li><i>ShapeString002</i></li></ol><p>&nbsp;</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/269147/rich_content/75a09c9e-c776-42fa-a7f5-9205b406db53/font-attribute.jpg#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%2294a54d76-e730-4425-b7a9-050a2a89d2b7%22%2C%22w%22%3A1838%2C%22h%22%3A1788%7D"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://media.printables.com/media/prints/269147/rich_content/12f66c7d-5455-4be3-9e92-2d90d8228432/font-changer.jpg#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%22f8d32000-e1b7-4611-b2e4-5c7dbf027130%22%2C%22w%22%3A2006%2C%22h%22%3A1740%7D"></figure><p>&nbsp;</p><p>If you have any problems then please contact me.</p><p>Steve</p>