AutoCAD 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack 3 – 3D Printing!!

The newly released AutoCAD 2009 Subscription Bonus Pack #3 provides new and improved 3D printing tools.

STL Output
STL output had been improved with updates to the existing STLOUT and EXPORT commands. Both of these methods for producing STL (stereolithography) files now enable you to select more than one solid and the model is no longer required to lie in the positive XYZ octant of the WCS.

3D Printing
The new 3DPRINT command, available on the Subscription tab of the ribbon, takes advantage of the improvements to STL output as well as providing you with easy access to 3D Printing support and services.

If you select the option to learn more about preparing a 3D model for printing, the Help window is displayed with valuable guidelines to help you avoid printing errors or broken parts when sending your model to a 3D printing service.

When you’re ready to send the 3D model to a printing service, choose the Continue option. The Send to 3D Print Service dialog box is displayed with a preview image and output dimensions, which you can modify. You can then specify the STL file name and location. After creating the STL file, AutoCAD automatically launches a browser window where you can request a quote from one of the featured 3D Printing Service Providers.

The result is a 3D prototype of your AutoCAD model!