3D modelling

Prepare a model for 3D printing

Export a solid model and understand what the slicer does next.

About 4 minCadivari 0.3.0Watch and try

Useful first: Turn a sketch into a solid

Cadivari exports visible solid bodies as a 3MF model in millimetres. The slicer decides layer height, supports, infill, material and printer settings. The animated pawn illustrates printing; the practice model is your block.
Cadivari exports visible solid bodies as a 3MF model in millimetres. The slicer decides layer height, supports, infill, material and printer settings. The animated pawn illustrates printing; the practice model is your block.

Cadivari exports visible solid bodies as a 3MF model in millimetres. The slicer decides layer height, supports, infill, material and printer settings. The animated pawn illustrates printing; the practice model is your block.

Try it in Cadivari

  1. Choose the visible bodies

    Open your block in CAD 3D. Show the body you want to export and hide other bodies in the object tree.

  2. Export the solid model

    Open Export in the header and choose 3MF solid model…. This command has no keyboard shortcut. Save the .model.3mf file.

  3. Check the model in a slicer

    Open the file in your slicer. Confirm millimetre units, the body name and a known dimension. A 160 mm side should still measure 160 mm.

  4. Inspect the layer preview

    Choose settings for your actual printer and material in the slicer. Slice the model and inspect the layers, including rounded edges and any cavities.

Over to you

A small exercise

Export the visible block and open it in a slicer. Compare its width and height with the dimensions in Cadivari.

What you should see

The slicer receives one named solid body at the correct scale. Sketches and construction planes are absent.

Things to look out for

  • 3MF export does not send a job to a printer or choose print settings.
  • A failed body rebuild or an invalid mesh blocks export. Resolve the model issue before trying again.
Check your understandingWhere do you choose supports and infill

In the slicer. Cadivari exports model geometry, not a printer profile or sliced machine instructions.

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Go deeper in the knowledge base

Instructions checked against the Cadivari 0.3.0 source and knowledge base on 2026-09-16. Lesson revision 1.