Protojet

Stl File Help

What is an STL file?

Stl files are tesselated format models made up of triangles (facets). This format is the easiest for us to use provided a good STL model is created. Remember, what you see is what you get from a rapid prototyping machine.

Good STL	Bad STL

When possible, STL files should be output in Binary format. This will reduce the size dramatically and make file transfers much faster.

If you are unfamiliar with creating an stl file, follow these suggestions for your cad system.

Unigraphics | Pro-E | Pro-E Wildfire | SDRC-Ideas | AutoCad | SolidWorks | Mechanical Desktop | CadKey

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

Pro-E
File > Export > Model
STL
Set chord height to 0. The field will be replaced by minimum acceptable value.
Set Angle Control to 1
OK

Pro-E Wildfire
File > Save a Copy > Model
Change type to STL (*.stl)
Set Chord Height to 0. The field will be replaced by minimum acceptable value.
Set Angle Control to 1
OK

SDRC - IDEAS
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

AutoCAD (Versions: R14-2000i)
At the command prompt type "FACETRES"
Set FACETRES between 1 and 10. (1 Being low resolution and 10 high resolution for STL Triangles)
At the command prompt type "STLOUT"
Select Objects
Choose "Y" for Binary
Choose Filename SolidWorks File > Save As
Set Save As Type to STL
Options > Fine > OK
Save

Mechanical Desktop
Use the AMSTLOUT command to export your STL file.
The following command line options affect the quality of the STL and should be adjusted to produce an acceptable file.
Angular Tolerance - This command limits the angle between the normals of adjacent triangle. The default setting is 15 degrees. Reducing the angle will increase the resolution of the STL file.
Aspect Ratio - This setting controls the Height/Width ratio of the facets. A setting of 1 would mean the height of a facet is no greater than its width. The default setting is 0, ignored.
Surface Tolerance - This setting controls the greatest distance between the edge of a facet and the actual geometry. A setting of 0.0000 causes this option to be ignored.
Vertex Spacing - This option controls the length of the edge of a facet. The default setting is 0.0000, ignored.

CADKey
Choose Stereolithography from Export options
Enter the filename
Click OK

Unigraphics | Pro-E | Pro-E Wildfire | SDRC-Ideas | AutoCad | SolidWorks | Mechanical Desktop | CadKey