Exporting an STL file from Solidworks in the correct orientation


  1. After modeling your part, click on Reference Geometry under the Features Tab and select the Coordinate System.


 


  1. Select a face or line that you want to be the ‘X-axis’ and a face or line that you want to be the ‘Y-axis’.


 


  1. Next, click the arrows next to either the ‘X-axis’ or ‘Y-axis’ until the ‘Z-axis’ is pointing towards the top of the part and click the check mark.


 


  1. Under file click the ‘Save-As’ and next to save as type select ‘STL’. Before you click save select the options button at the bottom of the window.




  1. Once the options box has opened select the coordinate system you just created down near the bottom of the box next to ‘Output Coordinate System’.


 


  1. You can now save the part and upload it to Octoprint in the correct orientation for printing.