Order cancelled: file contains "grouped models"

#1

Hi all,

I’m hoping to get some help here with a hinge design I submitted yesterday evening, but was rejected this morning because “Your file contains ‘grouped models’ which unfortunately cannot be processed”.

Here’s an image of the hinge design (the forum software doesn’t allow me to post more), which I ordered to be ‘printed’ in steel:
hinge1

I read the documentation on “grouped models”, but I don’t think it applies to my design. It’s a single solid piece, not two separate ones. I ordered a slight variation of this design a couple of weeks ago; that was printed and delivered fine!

Many thanks for your help!

#2

Hello,

Thanks for contacting us with the question here.

Unfortunately the parts of your model were not connected firmly (flat base was not attached to the curved detail), thus it was regarded as a grouped one.

Regards,
Ivan
Customer Support Officer

#3

Hi,

For anyone else interested in this question, separate shells of a single model can also be regarded as grouped models.
In case your 3D model consists of a number of shells, it’s best to make them all intersect. You can see an example in this thread: Need help with Magics Software

This way when you upload your file to i.materialise, it’ll go through our automatic repair process, which will identify intersecting shells and unite them into one. Hope this helps :wink:

#4

Thanks @Dmitriy.Lobko and @ivan.mangushev. Once it was clear to me which parts of my design were considered ‘separate’ I updated it by forcefully overlapping them. I’m still fairly sure that the software I used showed them as ‘touching’, but it was a small effort to add 0.5mm of thickness.

1 Like
#5

Wait your not allowed to group parts? Isnt that exactly how your meant to save money for the end user and the printing house?

#6

Hello,

Indeed, grouped models (not integral) can’t be printed due to multiple risks both technological and handling. However for SLA and SLS/MJF plastics production we advise to connect the parts with 3mm thick joins. Please get more insight on the “printing of grouped models” topic here.

Regards,
Ivan
Customer Support Team