We’ve been listening! Over the years, we’ve read through your posts, feedback, and comments right here in the forums and across social media, and we’ve been able to identify some of the biggest opportunities to improve our PreForm software and make your printing experience smoother and more customizable.
Today, we’re excited to share the latest PreForm updates, packed with your most requested features. We’re introducing Part Hollowing, Drain Holes, Model Texturing, Adding Embossed/Engraved Part Labels, Part Cages, Print Settings Editor, and more.
We can’t wait to hear what you think about these new features and how they’ll impact your workflows. These features wouldn’t exist without your feedback, so we’d love to hear how you plan to use these new tools and any further questions/comments/feedback you have for us!
Thank you for helping us make PreForm better with each update. Keep the feedback coming—this is just the beginning!
Applying and modifying labels to the stl files is clunky in this release (3.4.1.0.427).
I would like to see an easier way to manipulate the label before I plop it into the part.
The label also appears to be unmodifiable when you create arrays of parts.
When creating an array of parts, I would like to use this label system to increment for each part in the array, like a custom serial number. Currently I would need to create the array then go to each part and individually add a label.
It could also be helpful if I could export a csv or similar file of the parts prepared for printing.
The printer is FUSE1.
I also plan to use this feature for identifying which quadrant a part was sliced in for traceability when troubleshooting is required. Maybe add a coordinate system that we can use to aid this type of labeling.
They are supplying the texture feature for free so there’s no need for it to be exported. It’s there for the preform software which isn’t a cad software. If you want to export texture, then purchase the texture add on for SolidWorks and you can export it all you want. All Preform currently is a slicer which they are constantly working on improving and adding features. Its way better now then it was a year ago.
What I would love about the texture engine is if we could select presets that are correlated to injection molding surface finishes. For example VDI or SPI. This would be especially useful for high roughness parts like light diffusers.
That and also some presets for typical things like knurled parts etc.
I find the settings kind of unintuitive and requires a lot of trial and error when printing. Have a few known presets would make using the tool way easier imo
@alexhawker Calm down buddy, I just want to add that for some people the tool is really useful, not “mostly useless” as you pointed.
Also @MattRForerunner response was very precise, probably PreForm will never “export” files, this is not even close of the purpose of the software.
Sorry if this wasn’t what you would like to read, but that’s the truth.
Anyway, you are free to ask for new tools, but there’s no need to be mad at us
I think this is the root issue, repeatability. If I wanted to print another batch of textured models, I would need to either import the job containing my textured model or try to reapply the texture to the model.
In a production environment, reapplying a texture to a model every time I pack a new job is not feasible. Especially considering I would have to document every single parameter needed to recreate the exact texture. Saving a job containing only the textured model is a solution, but the organization and workflow would be tedious if you have multiple models.
I would assume this lacking repeatability is why some users find the absence of an export feature unacceptable. If PreForm allowed one of the following options, I think the texture tool would be far more useful.
Just what @leonhart88 stated. Allow users to save texture parameters or apply presets. It would still be tedious to reapply the texture every time, but at least it would be consistent.
Allow users to open multiple jobs. This would allow quick and easy importing of textured models without importing an entire job. (This is also a general request I’ve seen that would improve overall PreForm usability).
Allow users to save textured parts within PreForm. Probably the least likely but maybe this could be a middle ground for the export feature.
All the marketing materials focus on how this can be used for real world product design and prototyping for parts that will eventually be mass produced.
You’re describing a tool and use case for hobbyists. Like I said, good for you. But not what I need in my professional capacity, so unhelpful.
My prototypes usually have contact with fuel like ethanol (all these parts are injected after tests, since the volume is above millions), but most of my parts are replacement and developing with the production line, for end use, not only prototypes.
I agree with the sentiment that preform is primary a slicer and expecting it to do CAD type functions is likely unreasonable. I also agree that focus should be on improving issues related to serial production, and specifically things that reduce preparation time for a run. I’ve provided my input elsewhere so I will not clutter the discussion with repeats of my previous requests. My hope is they are working to implement these suggestions!
@alexhawker While we’re always happy to receive feature requests and suggestions for improvement, I’d like to remind you to keep discussions productive.
As per our Community Guidelines, we ask everyone not to repeat topics across different threads, as this unnecessarily fragments the discussion and causes redundancy.
Most importantly, we ask everyone to be respectful and civil in their discussion. If we see our guidelines being violated repeatedly, we reserve the right to take further action.
Thanks for your understanding!
Not a bad idea but it will have a few limitations. Currently I scale down some of the grainier textures to get a “bead blast” look on clear parts, maybe an SPI D1, but that is about the only option. Anything further scaling just becomes “generic matte” and only softens sharp features. Also, well before you get to the level of SPI-D1, you get a real difference between the appearance of the texture depending on surface orientation to the bed. It has worked well for me, but in limited circumstances and applications.
, it is easy to use and works pretty good (makes the PreForm slower but works)
