Export STL Body from Multibody Part

SOLIDWORKS How To Questions
1

I want to save the parts separately as STL from a Multibody file, but I can’t find the Save As in the Design Tree. If I go “File: Save As” with one body selected, SW try to save everything as usual…
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http://help.solidworks.com/2021/english/SolidWorks/sldworks/HIDD_EXPORT_SEL_DLG.htm?id=5f5b2a156d4a4b1ab1f4f63eeaadfb8e#Pg0


First I saved the files individually using Delete Bodies + Save As, but this resets the STL origins and when importing to Blender they don’t keep the initial position. (it’s for an animation)

So I ended up creating an Assembly, inserted the multibody 4 times, set it virtual and independent, then used Delete Bodies in each part, and finally saved it… -_-

Is there an easier way to do it?

2

There are few ways to do it:

  1. Macro to export each body as STL.
  2. Select the desired body to save as STL and you should get a pop up window to select the option (refer picture below).
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  3. Convert bodies into assembly using save bodies options (https://gupta9665.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/assembly-from-part-no-mates-required/) and then convert the assembly into STL for each part.
3

I managed to do the third option. Thanks for the instructions, gupta9665 !

About the second one, how can I get this Export option?
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4

The Export option window should automatically come if you have a body selected from the bodies folder.

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5

For some reason I was expecting the Export window to pop up before the Save one ;;
Thank you!!! UU

6

I thought I read a thread last year where this wasn’t possible. The API doesn’t give you the option to save a single body. If I am wrong about this I would love to find a macro with that functionality.

7

https://r1132100503382-eu1-3dswym.3dexperience.3ds.com/#community:yUw32GbYTEqKdgY7-jbZPg/iquestion:GsslK7TSQgm1IxCVYERrEA


“Deepak Gupta - 2018-10-22
​/ ​, I do not think that exporting selected body as STL is yet supported via API as I can not get the macro to work on older versions as well.”

8

The macro in the post on SW forums works OK on 2020 for me. So working with selected bodies can be made.