Stereolithography files (*.STL) can be exported from most 3D applications on the market today. As a general rule, changing options such Chord Tolerance, Surface Deviation, or Angular Control will change the resolution on your STL file. The larger the STL file, the more triangles placed on the surface of the model. To produce good parts, typically complex models exported in the STL format should be in the range of 1-5MB in file size.
Fig. 1 shows the original 10mm CAD sphere
Fig. 2 displays a triangulated STL sphere with 0.5mm surface deviation
Fig. 4 shows the same sphere with a 0.1mm surface deviation
See the list below for more infomation on how to create an STL file from your aplication.
- Alibre
File
Export
Save As > STL
Enter File Name
Save
- AutoCAD
Your design must be a three-dimensional solid object to output an STL file.
Make sure the model is in positive space
Set “Facetres” to 10
At the command prompt type “STLOUT”
Select Objects
Choose “Y” for Binary
Choose Filename
- CADKey
Choose Stereolithography from Export options
Enter the filename
Click OK
- I-DEAS
File > Export > Rapid Prototype File > OK
Select the Part to be Prototyped
Select Prototype Device > SLA500.dat > OK
Set absolute facet deviation to 0.000395
Select Binary > OK
- Inventor
Save Copy As
Select STL
Choose Options > Set to High
Enter File Name
Save
- IronCAD
Right Click on the part
Part Properties > Rendering
Set Facet Surface Smoothing to 150
File > Export
Choose .STL
- Mechanical Desktop
Make sure you SAVE your work before attempting this procedure.
Set the FACETRES = 6 (As above in AutoCAD instructions)
You will have to "Explode" your parametric solid to export an .stl output (NOTE: DO NOT SAVE your work after "Exploding")
Use the STLOUT command to export your STL file.
- Pro-E
File > Save a Copy
Set type to STL
Set chord height to 0. The field will be replaced by minimum acceptable value.
Set Angle Control to 1
Choose File Name
OK
- Rhino
File > Save As
Select File Type > STL
Enter a name for the STL file.
Save
Select Binary STL Files
- SolidDesigner
File > External > Save STL
Select Binary mode
Select Part
Enter 0.001mm for Max Deviation Distance
Click OK
- SolidEdge
File > Save As
Set Save As Type to STL
Options
Set Conversion Tolerance to 0.001in or 0.0254mm.
Set Surface Plane Angle to 45.00
6. Save
- SolidWorks
File > Save As
Set Save As Type to STL
Options > Resolution >Fine > OK
Save
- Think3
File > Save As
Set Save As Type to STL
Save
- Unigraphics
File > Export > Rapid Prototyping
Set Output type to Binary
Set Triangle Tolerance to 0.0025
Set Adjacency Tolerance to 0.12
Set Auto Normal Gen to On
Set Normal Display to Off
Set Triangle Display to On
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