12
votes
Accepted
How can I create PNG image files from STL files?
If you have OpenSCAD installed, this shell script will generate 100x100 pixel PNG images for each STL file in your current directory.
...
- 1,053
7
votes
Split/edit part in FreeCAD?
When you want to change an STL file in FreeCAD then this is how I do it. I open the STL file in FreeCAD and select the option in the Part/...
- 283
7
votes
Accepted
Tool for modifing STLs?
Sculpting should be the tool you are looking for.
You can find a lot of sculpting software on the web, including free ones. I personally use Meshmixer and Blender for simple works.
- 1,151
6
votes
Accepted
Split/edit part in FreeCAD?
I found that the answer provided by @Marco was helpful but not the correct answer I was looking for.
Here is the general approach I used (Based on this).
Create new document
Import STL file
Switch ...
- 283
6
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between STL and OBJ files and which one should I use?
STL is the de facto standard in consumer-grade 3D printing. It is a bare-bone format that describes the shape of the object by defining the coordinates of all the vertices of all triangles that a ...
- 4,687
6
votes
Accepted
What is the point of diminishing returns on the STL refinement level in Fusion 360 on an Ender 3?
I don't know that this can be definitively answered for a specific printer and all arbitrary designs.
The refinement level basically determines how smooth a curved surface will turn out. The STL ...
- 798
6
votes
Accepted
Export STL as ASCII or binary?
The two formats contain the same information about the model, but the binary format is much more compact, so it will produce smaller files from the same part but they should work the same. That's to ...
- 897
6
votes
Combining multiple STL files
The operation you want is almost just cat'ing the files together. However you need to remove the 80 byte header from all but the first, and add up the 32-bit triangle count from each file immediately ...
6
votes
Cura messes up my print. How can I make it print what I see in Blender?
It's common for modeling software to flip normals, causing what you describe. You said,
I only care about the externally facing faces.
But are you sure they are truly externally facing? Turn on ...
- 11.3k
6
votes
Cura messes up my print. How can I make it print what I see in Blender?
There are several problems at work here:
Internal Geometry & unjoined parts
Missing Surfaces
Generally inverted surfaces: every surface is inside out!
Fixing it!
Step 1: add missing surfaces.
...
- 21.2k
5
votes
How to modify 3D model of body?
The correct/good method to achieve this is called "rigging", but it is not an easy feat (as pointed out by others), as it requires plenty of knowledge about the software being used to edit the model, ...
- 4,687
5
votes
STL to STP CAD Conversion
a good way to convert a 3D print file like STL to STEP a useable file format for plastic injection molding companies
I don't know much about plastic injection molding companies, but I do manipulate a ...
- 166
5
votes
Is it possible to use Three.js to determine the wall thickness of an STL file?
An STL file is a surface model file. From Wikipedia you can read that:
STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three-dimensional
object without any representation of color, texture or ...
- 34.5k
5
votes
Accepted
Cura 4.4 missing object parts
Using the preview feature as you have is a good method to determine that the original model is flawed. It's not unusual to discover detailed models have reversed normals or non-contiguous surfaces, ...
- 11.3k
5
votes
Cura messes up my print. How can I make it print what I see in Blender?
Rhino gives the following output for MeshRepair
Mesh has 3 degenerate faces. (a face that's actually a line or a point)
Mesh has 42 non manifold edges. (a line ...
- 151
5
votes
3mf circles are printing as polygons
The problem lies in Fusion 360.
If you export using file export as .3mf then the refinement (poly count) is set to low. Thus it creates a low-quality circle.
If you export through the mesh tab, select ...
- 171
4
votes
How can I create PNG image files from STL files?
Typically you would install a (free) 3D model program as Fusion 360, FreeCAD, or many more options to choose from. Once installed, import the STL file and use menu options to export a picture of your ...
- 34.5k
4
votes
Subtract of two STL files in Slic3r software
Given my limited familiarity with all the CAD tools that exist, I would fall back to something that I know does binary operations on volumes -- openScad.
One can create two objects, one from each of ...
- 4,481
4
votes
OpenSCAD 2018 Command line
You can specify variable values from command line using:
openscad ...\
... \
[ -D var=val [..] ] \
... \
... \
filename
See the ...
- 41
4
votes
How to estimate the printing time of a 3D printer from an STL file?
There is no way to estimate the print time of an STL file directly.
The print time is based on the number of instructions in the g-code file plus the time it takes to move the effector (the hot end) ...
- 2,360
4
votes
OpenSCAD weirdness with imported STL
I see you've accepted cmm's answer, but I'd still like to take a stab at the mechanism of the failure based on your comment on it:
Excellent explanation, thanks. The "WTH" cylinder is centered on ...
4
votes
Export STL as ASCII or binary?
You should always pick the binary option. ASCII files are larger and slower to save and load. There's no reason to ever use ASCII unless you are using software that is incompatible with binary files.
...
- 14.8k
4
votes
Combining multiple STL files
Similarly to @R..'s answer, you can easily concatenate the contents of each file if you have ASCII .stls.
Make sure the .stls are in ASCII format: Open them in any text editor (like Notepad++). If it'...
- 1,387
4
votes
Accepted
How can I include seperate Slicing Parameters in my 3mf file
Huh. On a hunch I just changed a copy of a .3mf model to have a .zip file extension, and what do you know, it works! 3mf is just a set of compressed xml.
The zip ...
- 2,256
4
votes
Face where there should be no face
At the intersection of the top and bottom planes of the cross-piece and the cylinder, there are non-manifold edges. Meshmixer is able to identify this problem but cannot repair it. My slicer, ...
- 11.3k
4
votes
How to edit STL model files
I think it depends on your use case.
As Bobt already commented, Meshmixer is a common tool for editing STLs.
But also a lot of CAD-Tools should be able to import STLs.
Then there is also of course ...
- 41
4
votes
File too big to open in Tinkercad. How can I shrink it?
If you have 3D software like Blender you can import your model and use the decimate modifier to lower the number of vertices and then re-export.
Here is a link to how you can do this: Simplify ...
- 141
3
votes
Accepted
How can I tell if an STL model will need supports?
You could try to:
Slice with slicer (Cura in my case) with support enabled.
Search for text: TYPE:SUPPORT
G0 F1800 X237.873 Y184.24
G0 X233.869 Y183.237
;TYPE:SUPPORT
G1 F1500 E562.81355
G1 F900 ...
- 1,922
3
votes
Route to transform 2d image (depth map) into a curved bracelet (and STL file)?
This may not be your cuppa tea, but if you're willing to learn to use OpenSCAD or already know how, there's a Thingiverse post that appears to directly address your objective.
Correction, this ...
- 11.3k
3
votes
STL to STP CAD Conversion
It depends very much on the molding company, and how much engineering service you can afford to buy from them.
Some will remodel your entire part anyway, to make it suitable for molding. Others will ...
- 96
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