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Increasing Facet Data

Due to the wide variance of systems we've tried to include the most popular CAD systems.

Please be aware that an STL file is composed of triangles (facets) of your model, as opposed to formula defined surfaces.  Most systems refer to this as cordial deviation.

Please consult the export guide for your modeling system or call Sigma TCT with any questions concerning your STL models.

The .STL file format has become the Rapid Prototyping industry's standard data format.  This format approximates the surfaces of a solid model with triangles.  Almost all of today's CAD systems are capable of producing an STL file.  For the user the process is usually as simple as selecting File, Save As, STL.  Export your STL file as a Binary file since this saves on time and file size.

AutoCAD (Versions: R14-2000i)
AutoCAD Mechanical Desktop
I-DEAS
IronCAD
Pro-Engineer
Rhino
SolidDesigner (Version 8.X)
SolidEdge
SolidWorks
Think3
Unigraphics


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AutoCAD (Versions: R14-2000i) (Top)

Design must be a three-dimensional solid object to output an STL file.

1. At the command prompt type: "STLOUT"
2. Select Objects
3. Choose "Y" for Binary
4. Choose Filename

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AutoCAD Mechanical Desktop (Top)

1. Use the AMSTLOUT command to export your STL file.
2. 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 triangles.  The default setting is 15 degrees.  Reducing the angle will increase the resolution of the STL file.  (Try 7 degrees)
§ 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.
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I-DEAS (Top)

1. File > Export > Rapid Prototype File > OK
2. Select the Part to be Prototyped
3. Select Prototype Device > SLA5000.dat > OK
4. Set absolute facet deviation to 0.000395
5. Select Binary > OK

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IronCAD (Top)

1. Part Properties > Rendering
2. Set Facet Surface Smoothing to 150
3. File > Export
4. Choose .STL

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Pro-Engineer (Top)

1. File > Export > Model
2. STL
3. Set chord height to 0.  The filed will be replaced by minimum acceptable value.
4. Set Angle Control to 1
5. OK

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Rhino (Top)

1. File > Save As
2. Select File Type > STL
3. Enter a name for the STL file.
4. Save
5. Select Binary STL Files
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SolidDesigner (Version 8.x) (Top)

1. File > Save
2. Select File Type > STL
3. Select Data
4. Click OK

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SolidEdge (Top)

1. File > Save AS
2. Set Save As Type to STL
3. Options
4. Set Conversion Tolerance to 0.001in. or .0254mm.
5. Set Surface Plane Angle to 45.00deg
6. Save

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SolidWorks (Top)

1. File > Save As
2. Set Save As Type to STL
3. Options
4. Set Quality to Fine
5. Click OK
6. Save

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Think3 (Top)

1. File > Save As
2. Set Save As Type to STL
3. Save

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Unigraphics (Top)

1. File > Export > Rapid Prototyping
2. Set Output type to Binary
3. Set Triangle Tolerance to 0.0025
4. Set Adjacenty Tolerance to 0.12
5. Set Auto Normal Gen to On
6. Set Normal Display to Off
7. Set Triangle Display to On
8. Click OK
9. Enter File Name
 

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