Converting to STL
Posted by Dylan
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Converting to STL January 13, 2008 08:53PM |
Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 146 |
I like doing my design work in something I am more familiar with. Such as Maya, Max, or even milkshape 3d (I really don't like the interface in the aoi). I haven't found a decent converter to STL for any of these, but here is one:
[www.unwrap3d.com]
the plugin is free and the software is fairly cheap. You can't actually build in it, but you can open an obj, mdl, md2, 3ds, etc and using the plugin downloaded from their site export stl.
I tried it and imported a fairly complicated model into the host software. I still have to test a few things to see how to calibrate the sizing so you know what size you get, but it's a start for those with a library of stuff they want to build, but can't convert.
This one obviously won't work with FDM because of the overhangs and it also gave me some errors about positive verticis, but it works.
Dylan
[www.unwrap3d.com]
the plugin is free and the software is fairly cheap. You can't actually build in it, but you can open an obj, mdl, md2, 3ds, etc and using the plugin downloaded from their site export stl.
I tried it and imported a fairly complicated model into the host software. I still have to test a few things to see how to calibrate the sizing so you know what size you get, but it's a start for those with a library of stuff they want to build, but can't convert.
This one obviously won't work with FDM because of the overhangs and it also gave me some errors about positive verticis, but it works.
Dylan
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Anonymous User
Re: Converting to STL November 13, 2008 11:49PM |
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Re: Converting to STL February 03, 2009 04:13AM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 216 |
[meshlab.sourceforge.net] is free too and Linux, Windows and OSX. It is geared towards optimizing 3d scan data.
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Re: Converting to STL March 14, 2009 06:14AM |
Apologies in advance for the spam!
I'm one of the developers working on the Irrlicht Engine (a liberally licensed open source 3D graphics library), it's cross platform, written in C++, imports about 20 different mesh formats and can write them to STL and PLY in a couple of lines of code (PLY is currently in the development branch only)
We have a huge and active community almost exclusively consisting of people making games and other real-time graphics applications.
Once RepRaps have multiplied enough to come down in price I'll get one myself, but for the time being does anyone fancy testing our library with your fancy 3D printers? We'd be really interested in the results.
I'm one of the developers working on the Irrlicht Engine (a liberally licensed open source 3D graphics library), it's cross platform, written in C++, imports about 20 different mesh formats and can write them to STL and PLY in a couple of lines of code (PLY is currently in the development branch only)
We have a huge and active community almost exclusively consisting of people making games and other real-time graphics applications.
Once RepRaps have multiplied enough to come down in price I'll get one myself, but for the time being does anyone fancy testing our library with your fancy 3D printers? We'd be really interested in the results.
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Re: Converting to STL March 15, 2009 01:02PM |
Admin Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 13,886 |
Hi Gaz,
... i have several CAD-programs exporting to STL, so it's not urgent, but i'm very interested in automated optimizing of the STL-output in direction of supporting geometries and such.
Here the standardized CAD-packages aren't functional.
Maybe it's a good idea to write an own postprocessor or exporting interface including this sort of optimisation?
Viktor
... i have several CAD-programs exporting to STL, so it's not urgent, but i'm very interested in automated optimizing of the STL-output in direction of supporting geometries and such.
Here the standardized CAD-packages aren't functional.
Maybe it's a good idea to write an own postprocessor or exporting interface including this sort of optimisation?
Viktor
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Re: Converting to STL March 16, 2009 04:26AM |
I take it you mean things like making sure that the surface is a complete geometric solid consisting of no intersecting faces, removing any points which don't belong to faces, ordering it along the Y axis starting at the bottom? Or other optimizations?
Currently we don't do all this, but I guess we could.
Currently we don't do all this, but I guess we could.
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Re: Converting to STL March 16, 2009 05:53AM |
Admin Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 13,886 |
Hi Gaz,
i was thinking more in direction of automated generating of supporting structures for overhangs and such.
This mean you can construct and export your objects as usual and a PP generates some supporting columns or 3D-structures in respect of physical and geometric properties - material weight, supporting grid, ...
Viktor
i was thinking more in direction of automated generating of supporting structures for overhangs and such.
This mean you can construct and export your objects as usual and a PP generates some supporting columns or 3D-structures in respect of physical and geometric properties - material weight, supporting grid, ...
Viktor
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Re: Converting to STL May 27, 2009 08:45PM |
Looking at the description of your problem, it seems that meshlab is a good candidate. It has a many (>100) mesh processing algorithms for cleaning, checking, converting, simplifying, filling, offsetting, remeshing, smoothing, etc etc... and it is used a lot for preparing meshes for RP.
You should try to ask in the meshlab forums...
You should try to ask in the meshlab forums...
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Re: Converting to STL May 28, 2009 03:17AM |
Admin Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 13,886 |
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Re: Converting to STL July 01, 2009 02:31AM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 40 |
Hi Viktor,
I believe Magics can do exactly what it is you are after, it can automatically generate support geometry fairly well. Its mainly used to generate supports for parts being made in SLA machines, but the options are highly customizable. I just had a play around then, and it seems quite easy. Not the cheapest software around *wink nudge*
Failing that, SLA System software should also be able to do similar tricks, or look for CAD packages that are purpose built for RP Applications, many contain support generation algorithms as SLA requires them also.
I believe Magics can do exactly what it is you are after, it can automatically generate support geometry fairly well. Its mainly used to generate supports for parts being made in SLA machines, but the options are highly customizable. I just had a play around then, and it seems quite easy. Not the cheapest software around *wink nudge*
Failing that, SLA System software should also be able to do similar tricks, or look for CAD packages that are purpose built for RP Applications, many contain support generation algorithms as SLA requires them also.
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Re: Converting to STL July 01, 2009 03:27AM |
Admin Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 13,886 |
Hi proto,
... when going the LOM-way i don't need any supporting structures as the surrounding area acts in the same way.
But then it's something tricky with horizontal object-surfaces - here i have to apply a fine hatch on the outside perimeter of the object (for cutting the neigboured sheet in small bits which don't stick) to separate the object after laminating ...
Viktor
... when going the LOM-way i don't need any supporting structures as the surrounding area acts in the same way.
But then it's something tricky with horizontal object-surfaces - here i have to apply a fine hatch on the outside perimeter of the object (for cutting the neigboured sheet in small bits which don't stick) to separate the object after laminating ...
Viktor
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Re: Converting to STL July 01, 2009 04:32AM |
Registered: 14 years ago Posts: 573 |
How does the support-structures look like?
Suppose you create an object with a horizontal, round hole in it.
As everything is made with the same material, what is needed to
clean the object? Does breaking off support-material damage
the smooth surface of the created object?
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* homeprototype free 3d design repository
* Blog
* Google+
Suppose you create an object with a horizontal, round hole in it.
As everything is made with the same material, what is needed to
clean the object? Does breaking off support-material damage
the smooth surface of the created object?
-------------------------------------------
* homeprototype free 3d design repository
* Blog
* Google+
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Re: Converting to STL July 01, 2009 04:41AM |
Admin Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 13,886 |
Hi Marcus,
... either you design objects embedding cavities with a separation-layer for removing the inner debris or you can remove it from a hole from the outside or when fabbing with different materials, then you can use water-soluble support material and wash it away.
With LOM-fabbing ist's similar - either separation-layers and/or a fine cutting hatch for the material in the inner cavities so you can chrunch and remove it through a hole ...
Viktor
... either you design objects embedding cavities with a separation-layer for removing the inner debris or you can remove it from a hole from the outside or when fabbing with different materials, then you can use water-soluble support material and wash it away.
With LOM-fabbing ist's similar - either separation-layers and/or a fine cutting hatch for the material in the inner cavities so you can chrunch and remove it through a hole ...
Viktor
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Re: Converting to STL July 01, 2009 04:46AM |
Registered: 14 years ago Posts: 573 |
VDX Wrote:
> ...or when fabbing with different materials,
> then you can use water-soluble support material
> and wash it away.
I though the RepRap could not do multiple extrusion-heads
(required for multiple materials) yet?
What soluble materials exist that the current head can
work with? I only know of a number of plastics but
nothing water soluble.
Marcus
-------------------------------------------
* homeprototype free 3d design repository
* Blog
* Google+
> ...or when fabbing with different materials,
> then you can use water-soluble support material
> and wash it away.
I though the RepRap could not do multiple extrusion-heads
(required for multiple materials) yet?
What soluble materials exist that the current head can
work with? I only know of a number of plastics but
nothing water soluble.
Marcus
-------------------------------------------
* homeprototype free 3d design repository
* Blog
* Google+
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Re: Converting to STL July 01, 2009 05:35AM |
Admin Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 13,886 |
Hi Marcus,
... the standard reprap can't but its adressed and there's development/experimenting in this area ...
AFAIK actual firmware and tools can adress several extruders, so it's more the software generating the 3D-objects, where you have to apply supporting structures.
Water soluble material could be molten sugar or a fast drying paste printed with a syringe-dispenser - here the adhesion between the plastic-tray and the support-material is the interesting point.
I'm actually busy (or waitng on the parts) building a second controller around an Arduino Mega and some microstepping drivers for my CNC-mill - when this works, i'll go further with paste-dispensing and lasercutting/LOM-fabbing. Here i can combine milling, paste-dispensing and laser-cutting/-sintering on one machine and maybe in one fabbing job too ...
Viktor
... the standard reprap can't but its adressed and there's development/experimenting in this area ...
AFAIK actual firmware and tools can adress several extruders, so it's more the software generating the 3D-objects, where you have to apply supporting structures.
Water soluble material could be molten sugar or a fast drying paste printed with a syringe-dispenser - here the adhesion between the plastic-tray and the support-material is the interesting point.
I'm actually busy (or waitng on the parts) building a second controller around an Arduino Mega and some microstepping drivers for my CNC-mill - when this works, i'll go further with paste-dispensing and lasercutting/LOM-fabbing. Here i can combine milling, paste-dispensing and laser-cutting/-sintering on one machine and maybe in one fabbing job too ...
Viktor
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Re: Converting to STL October 15, 2010 06:28PM |
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Re: Converting to STL October 16, 2010 04:26AM |
Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 406 |
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Re: Converting to STL October 20, 2010 07:25PM |
Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 1,094 |
tried blender? it should be able to read 3ds and I know it exports STL
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Wooden Mendel
Teacup Firmware
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Wooden Mendel
Teacup Firmware
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Re: Converting to STL November 18, 2010 05:44AM |
Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 9 |
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Re: Converting to STL July 10, 2011 07:00PM |
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Re: Converting to STL January 21, 2012 04:13AM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 30 |
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Re: Converting to STL January 18, 2014 02:08AM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 11 |
Hi guys,
I put up a free online converter here: [www.3DTransform.com]
It converts some common 3D model formats to .STL. Optionally, it will also render an image of your new .STL file.
Let me know if there is anything that I can do to improve the converter, or make it more useful.
Thanks.
I put up a free online converter here: [www.3DTransform.com]
It converts some common 3D model formats to .STL. Optionally, it will also render an image of your new .STL file.
Let me know if there is anything that I can do to improve the converter, or make it more useful.
Thanks.
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Re: Converting to STL August 02, 2014 08:07PM |
Registered: 9 years ago Posts: 3 |
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Re: Converting to STL August 02, 2014 08:10PM |
Registered: 9 years ago Posts: 3 |
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Re: Converting to STL August 02, 2014 09:56PM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 1,381 |
You need to publish your project to the cloud, then open the .stl data file with Meshmixer.
Download an STL of your 123D Catch project.
[www.youtube.com]
Meshmixer
[www.meshmixer.com]
Download an STL of your 123D Catch project.
[www.youtube.com]
Meshmixer
[www.meshmixer.com]
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Re: Converting to STL August 02, 2014 11:10PM |
Registered: 9 years ago Posts: 3 |
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