This post will look at a few problems you might have exporting STL’s from Blender for 3d printing.
First Problem…
The first problem is pretty simple. Why don’t I see my STL file when I load it into a slicer? This problem can occur when you export an STL file from Blender and then load it into any slicer (Lychee, Anycubic Photon Workshop, etc.)
Understanding Blender’s Dimensions
The problem is that the STL exported from Blender imports at a tiny, microscopic scale — often due to Blender’s default metric units (1 unit = 1 meter) vs. slicers expecting millimeters. At that size, the model is so small you can’t zoom in far enough to see it in the slicer. The slicer knows it’s there, you can move it, rotate it, but you just can’t see it.
The simple solution is to scale the object up in the slicer. Using Lychee I have to scale up by 100,000 to see the object in its proper size. This however leads to the second problem…
Second Problem…
Now it gets weird. I exported the STL file from Blender and loaded it into Lychee. I then scaled it up by 100,000 in Lychee so I can see the object I want to print. Now I go through the normal preparing and slicing routine. Everything looks good until I print. When the print finishes I only have the raft and the supports but no object even though it looked great in Lychee. If you run the slicer again and actually watch as Lychee displays each slice you will see that it only generates the raft and supports. Ugh!
Fix The Problem In Blender
So, to fix this problem, you have to do the scaling in Blender, not in your slicer.
When exporting STL from Blender:
- In the export panel (right side):
- Set Scale = 1000 (this exports 1 Blender unit = 1 mm directly), or
- First go to Scene Properties → Units → set Unit System = Metric, Length = Millimeters, Unit Scale = 1.0, then export with Scale = 1.0.
- Forward Axis: Forward = Y Forward, Up Axis = Z Up (standard for most slicers).
- Apply all transforms on your object first (Ctrl+A → All Transforms).
After doing that, new STLs will import into Lychee (and most other slicers) at the correct size with no manual scaling needed.
Note that in the screenshot above I have a funny Scale factor. That’s because my Blender design is modeled in life size and I want to scale it down to HO scale (a model train scale). If your Blender model is designed in the size you want to print, then use 1000 as it says above.
Finally…
I hope this helps you this problem. We looked at several problems you might have exporting STL’s from Blender for 3d printing.