Note, there are some early 3D printers that print directly from .stl files. If you have your own 3D printer or access to one that prints .stl files, then you do not need to do this step. However, it would still be good to practice this process as nearly all newer 3D printers print .gcode. The reason we print with .gcode files is they are more precise and we can make more small adjustments in printing than we can with .stl files. I have both a .stl and .gcode printer and there really is a difference in quality. If you would rather follow a video instructions rather than listed out, please click here - https://drive.google.com/open?id=1atQv3tMs9cTnWNVT_1aeRQ9fDJBMWFQy

1) Download and install Cura (https://ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura) - It's free!

2) Open your object in OnShape.

3) Right click on the Part Studio Tab at the bottom of the page. Choose Export.

4) This window will appear. Name your file and change the fields to mirror this and click ok (note - you need to make sure you know where your downloaded files go :) )

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5) In Cura, click on the file icon on the left side of the window. Locate your .stl file you just downloaded.

6) On the left hand side, orient your object and make sure it's flat. (Rotation and choose lay flat. Then click on the back side of the surface.)

7) On the top right, click on "Normal" and a bunch of options will pop down. We'll dive deeper into some of these options, but for now, choose Material - Print temp at 205 and Plate temp at 65. Choose Build Plate adhesion - choose skirt. Later we'll work from raft, but for our beginning projects we'll choose skirt. "X" out of the window. Your settings are saved forever until you change them again.

8) Choose "Save to File" in the bottom left corner. If you are printing on your own, you'll save your file to the USB drive or other external drive you use to hook to your 3D printer. If I'm printing your file, save it and that's what you'll upload or email to me. Note, it's a .gcode file.