Bambu Labs Lithophane Maker Workflow
Bambu has a number of nice generator tools in their "Labs" section. The problem I have found is that the output is geared to their own printers and trying to use these .3mf files directly in Prusa Slicer results in weird results and usually a print fail. I tried a lot of different combinations (including Bambu Studio) but the only process I can get to work is using Orca to translate between Bambu generator .3mf and .stl file(s) that I read into Prusa for slicing. Some of the generators, like the sign-maker, seem to be a little less proprietary but they still produce weird results in my experience. So here is what works for me:
- For lithophanes I generate 3 .stl files - one for the lens, one for the outer frame, and one for the diffuser.
- F0r the outer frame and the diffuser I read the .3mf (which contains all components), delete everything I don't want in the .stl and the File>Export all objets as one .stl. Two different files. One diffuser.stl One frame.stl
- The lens is very weird because it comes with a scaffolding to print it vertically. I delete everything except the actual lens and the little frame/edge that surrounds it. I select all and lay the two remaining pieces face-up flat on the bed and then export them as a single .stl file
- During this process I have my Prusa Printer Profile selected. Not sure if it matters in the export process, but since I am trying to get rid of the Bambu proprietary crapola I figure it can't hurt
- I then read each of the 3 .stl files in to Prusa and print them separately (although you could probably print the lens and diffuser together.
I see in another thread here that there is a program to translate Bambu .3mf files to Prusa. Not sure if it works for the Lithophanes because I haven't tried it.