Downloading objects
5.5 Downloading objects
To download an object, from a Polar Cloud object detail screensuch as shown in Figure 5.4, you may click the “DOWNLOAD”button to save the object (.stl file(s) and/or OBJ file(s),as well as subsidiary descriptive files) to your device. (Notethat you may download to your device any type of objectin the Polar Cloud: private object, shared object, or publicobject.)
Figure 5.38: Polar Cloud object DOWNLOAD FILES pop-up screen
If an object consists of only a single .stl file or OBJ file, clickingthe “DOWNLOAD” button on the object detail screen will download theobject. But if an object comprises multiple .stl or OBJ files, orhas subsidiary descriptive files, then clicking the “DOWNLOAD”button on the object detail screen will bring up a “DOWNLOADFILES” screen at which you have the opportunity to specifyexactly which of the .stl file(s), OBJ file(s), or subsidiaryfiles to download; see Figure 5.38. For such multiple .stlor OBJ file objects, you will have the option of clicking the“DOWNLOAD ALL” button to select all the .stl and OBJ filesin the object, or of clicking the checkboxes for only thoseparticular .stl or OBJ files you wish, and then clicking the“DOWNLOAD” button (lower right of the “DOWNLOAD FILES”screen).
In addition to whichever .stl files, OBJ files, and subsidiary filesyou have selected, the object download will also include a text filedescribing the object license, license.txt. However, photos orother images of the object (see the “PHOTOS” pane of the objectmanage screen) will not be included in the download. The set of fileswill be downloaded as a ZIP archive file, download.zip.
Note: Object “DOWNLOAD” and browser pop-up blocking
In versions of the Polar Cloud prior to late Fall 2017, browserpop-up blocking could interfere with object “DOWNLOAD”. Object“DOWNLOAD” now operates by opening a separate browser tab for thedownload (which avoids browser pop-up blocking interference).
Figure 5.39: Polar Cloud printer dashboard print job Download STL Filetab
Downloading can also be performed on objects accessible to youfrom within a print queue using the print queue job modificationmenu, or from printer history, or from your account history, thoughthe effect is different than saving an object from the object detailscreen. When downloading from a print job, you are downloadingyour particular instantiation of the object: any modifications youmade at the build plate screen (moving, re-sizing, or rotating) areincorporated, all .stl files and OBJ files comprising the print jobare combined into one download .stl file (instead of remainingdistinct, as in download from the object detail screen), and nosubsidiary files (no text files, PDF files, etc.) are downloaded –in particular, no license description is included (since anymodifications for your print job may have licensing implications).Figure 5.39 shows an example of selecting “Download STLFile” from the printer dashboard’s job modification menu.
Because submitting a print job from the build plate creates asingle .stl file, regardless of whether the original object filesincluded in the print job were .stl files or OBJ files, submitting aprint job and then using the print job “Download STL File” optionprovides a way to convert an OBJ file into an STL file. (A numberof CAD packages and online tools can also perform such conversion– but this happens to be a way to perform OBJ to .stl formatconversion via the Polar Cloud.) Such format conversion can beuseful when you want to use the object with something thatsupports .stl files but not OBJ files: e.g., direct printing (notthrough the Polar Cloud) on a Polar3D printer via the printer localweb interface screen (see Section 3.1.1: The Print File tab andthe Project Details screen of the Polar3D Printer Guide),or importing an object into BlocksCAD or Makers Empire.
In addition to downloading an object itself, via the print jobmenu it is also possible to download the print job’s particular slicingconfiguration by clicking the “Download Config File” tab. See thediscussion of slicing profiles and “PRINT SETTINGS” in Section10.2.2.
Print jobs created by uploading G-code, or print jobs where theobject was sliced in the Polar Cloud, also permit downloading theG-code from the print job menu via the “Download G-Code File”option.
