Robertto Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 Has the Print Model function been removed from X11? I can't find it under the normal menu, File>Print>Print Model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertto Posted March 16, 2019 Author Share Posted March 16, 2019 Wow, that is very disappointing. I was considering a 3d laser printer such as GlowForge to create 3D models. Thanks for the feedback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopsaw Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 47 minutes ago, solver said: That's not what the Print Model function was for. Eric, I think you might be wrong. This would likely work better than anyone could imagine. Have not researched the required file formats but this could open up a lot of creative new ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopsaw Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Just now, solver said: I thought Print Model printed paper that you could cut out and use to create a 3D model. Yes but just think if you did not need scissors and could cut it out of 1/4" mahogany plywood with laser precision in half the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertto Posted March 17, 2019 Author Share Posted March 17, 2019 Yes, I know. Years ago I used the function to print on poster board. With the advent of new technology, I was hoping to rekindle my use of the function. While researching the latest in 3d laser printers, I was thinking the function could be used on the wood media to create models. Seeing how the printers work, it should be possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertto Posted March 17, 2019 Author Share Posted March 17, 2019 This would make great models. A lot better than paper. The laser cuts out the sections and burns in all of the features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 try MENU - FILE - EXPORT - EXPORT 3D MODEL (STL) STL is the format 3D laser printers use in the reference manual do a search on STL another choice might be EXPORT COLLADA - which is a .dae file I have been on this forum since 2004 and the paper "Print Model" was discussed - maybe - a dozen times not a very widely used feature Lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 I'm curious now which version of Chief was the last to have the "Print Model" feature ? Lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glennw Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 X10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertto Posted March 17, 2019 Author Share Posted March 17, 2019 Yes, X10 has it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 that may be a reason to keep X10 installed if anyone needs that feature X8 is needed to open the old plan format of .plo,.pl1 etc from ver 9 and earlier or the X8 client viewer if STL doesn't work for this - then I may need to keep X10 installed as I did have some plans to print foam models of the historic Buttery Elevators at the Niagara Whirlpool and the Buttery Sawmill in Niagara Falls and in Silvermine CT and Terrapin Tower at the brink of Niagara Falls Lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 ok, no mention of "print model" in X11 "new features" document so I guess CA doesn't announce when they remove features Lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 interesting word "deprecated" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deprecate Lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertto Posted March 17, 2019 Author Share Posted March 17, 2019 Eric, I agree. There should be a list of "deprecated" features with each upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridge_Runner Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Very interesting video. Thanks for posting, Chopsaw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facer_03 Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Reference file: https://cloud.chiefarchitect.com/1/pdf/documentation/chief-architect-x11-migration-guide.pdf page 18 "Printing and Plotting • The deprecated Print Model tool has been removed from the software". A cool laser cutter is shown in above link repeated below suggests the Print Model could be a useful feature: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermot Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 We deprecated the Print Model feature because it was very fragile and rather expensive to maintain. And, to be perfectly honest, it really didn't work very well. We had a long discussion about whether or not we should rewrite it or get rid of it and you can see that we decided to deprecate it. The general feeling was that it was not cost effective to rewrite it based on the very few people that actually used it. More people seem to be interested in using the modern 3D printers that work with an actual 3D model instead of the old 2D printer which required you to manually cut out and assemble a model. If you feel strongly that this was a feature that you will miss, please feel free to contact our tech support team and voice your concerns. Or, you can post something on the suggestions forum asking us to bring it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopsaw Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 13 minutes ago, Dermot said: More people seem to be interested in using the modern 3D printers that work with an actual 3D model instead of the old 2D printer which required you to manually cut out and assemble a model. Thanks for responding Dermot. I have not seen much in the way of positive presentable results from 3D printers at a reasonable price point yet. This new technology may tip the tables by providing the choice of materials and precision required to modernize a very old technique. It would require some research to know the level of compatibility but if Chief was to buy a laser cutter and offer a few choices of materials people who are designing their own homes or Architects that are getting started could use the service before investing in their own machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 Dermot: thanks for the clarification I'm still using X9 so I can use it from there Lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkMc Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 While it has been a while and I wasn't specifically an architectural modlelmaker all the time, I still have enough experience in it to have some idea. I think fussing about this being missing is scratching things that don't (or shouldn't) itch. We still can export for 3D printing which appears to be where the model making industry has headed at least for better presentation models. Based on tests I tried out of curiosity the software doesn't generate I would want to build a model by hand if it were more than a simple box with multiple stories. If building from scratch using boards I'd be working with detail from view and making some adjustments. With acrylic or bass wood I only want dimensions since that is table saw work. Same goes for massing models made with closed cell foam. Lasers-there are plenty of options to outsource laser (or water jet) cutting in most localities. I'd been doing that since the mid 80's. We never used it for facades, more like scrolled railings, complicated surface details, and it could be useful for terrain contours. Thicker materials start to have a slight bevel on the edge creating issues in assembly. At first we just sent line art, later we sent dwg. Again you can get that from detail from view. For smaller outfits that have a need look around for an old school architectural modelmaker, many are in need of any work, might get a deal. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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