Importing STL Files

Application menu Import StereoLitho (*.STL)

An STL file saves object data in a format used for stereolithography. STL files have a filename extension of .stl. There is an ASCII STL format as well as a binary STL format. You can choose which to create when you export a 3ds Max scene. STL files are generally used for purposes of rapid prototyping. A variety of methods use the STL format to construct prototypes. For example, many STL machines use a liquid polymer and harden it in small slices, creating a solid plastic model. Other STL machines use metal powder to create a model in steel. Still other machines use a special wax.

Interface

Name Enter a name for the 3D Studio object created from the STL file. Default is the file name (without extension) or the name saved internally in the STL file.

Weld Vertices group

Welds coincident vertices in the STL file into single vertices in the 3D Studio mesh. Weld Threshold Determines the size of the area which vertices must occupy to be welded. Vertices with distances equal to or less than this value are welded into a single vertex. Weld Turns on the Weld Vertices function. In most cases, you should leave this box turned on because unwelded objects can't be unified or smoothed. Use Threshold If on, STL import uses the standard 3D Studio welding method. This can be a very slow process. Quick Weld If on, STL import uses a welding algorithm optimized for the STL format. This is up to thirty times faster than standard 3D Studiowelding, and is highly recommended.

Auto-Smooth group
Auto-Smooth Applies smoothing groups to the geometry based on the smoothing angle set by the smooth angle spinner. Edges between faces that have an angle between them that is greater than the specified smoothing angle will appear faceted in the rendered image. Edges between faces that are below the specified angle are smoothed Smooth Angle Determines the size of the smoothing angle.

Auto-Smooth Turns on the Auto-Smooth function.

Miscellaneous group
Remove Double Faces Removes one of the pair wherever two faces are occupying the same location. Recommended. Unify Normals Forces the normals of all faces on each object to face the same way (usually out). If, when you render your scene, the face normals are pointing in the wrong direction, use the Normal modifier to flip them. For best results, leave this box turned on.

STL Check Modifier

Select an object. Modify panel Modifier List STL Check

Select an object.

Modifiers menu

Mesh Editing

STL check

The STL Check modifier checks an object to see if it's correct for exporting to an STL (stereolithography) file format. Stereolithography files are used by specialized machines to produce prototype physical models based on the data in the STL file. To create a physical model, an STL file must have a complete and closed surface. Using STL Check to test your geometry before you export it can save time and money when the file is used to create the physical model.

STL Check errors. 1. Open edges 2. Double face 3. Spikes 4. Multiple edges

Procedures
To check an object for STL compatibility:

Select the object, then on the choose Mesh Editing Turn on Check. STL Check.

Modify panel

Modifier List,

The message in the Status group shows if errors are found. STL Check indicates errors by selecting the problem geometry, assigning it a special material ID, or both.

Interface

Errors group
Choosing one of these options selects incorrect geometry specific to the choice, and selects it depending on the option chosen in the Selections group. Open Edge

Checks for open edges (holes). Double Faces Checks for faces that share the same 3D space. Spike Checks for spikes, which are isolated faces that share only one edge with the object. Multiple Edges Checks for faces that share more than one edge. Everything Checks for all of the above. TipWhile checking Everything takes the longest amount of time, it is recommended if you plan to use the STL file for generating a physical model.

Selections group
These options specify the level of incorrect geometry that's selected, based on the settings in the Errors group. Don't Select When on, STL Check doesn't select any part of objects in error. Select Edges When on, STL Check marks the edges of faces in error by selecting them. The selection of erroneous edges is visible in viewports. Select Faces When on, STL Check marks the faces of any object in error by selecting them. The selection of erroneous faces is visible in viewports. Change Mat-ID When on (the default), STL Check also marks faces in error by assigning them a unique material ID. Use the spinner to choose the value of the material ID that STL Check uses. Check

Turn on to perform the STL check. For complex models, expect a pause between the time you turn this on, and the time you see the reported errors in the Status group. Default=off. Status Displays the number of errors when Check is on. TipIf Select Edges is turned off, you can see faces in error by applying an Edit Mesh modifier and selecting by material ID at the Face sub-object level. You can also assign a Multi/Sub-Object material to the object to help you see where the errors are

Exporting to STL

Application menu

Export

StereoLitho (*.STL)

An STL file saves object data in a format used for stereolithography. STL files have a file-name extension of .stl. There is an ASCII STLformat as well as a binary STL format. You can choose which to create when you export a 3ds Max scene. STL files are generally used for purposes of rapid prototyping. A variety of methods use the STL format to construct prototypes. For example, many STL machines use a liquid polymer and harden it in small slices, creating a solid plastic model. Other STL machines use metal powder to create a model in steel. Still other machines use a special wax. An STL object must define a complete and closed surface. You can check whether the geometry you want to export satisfies this criterion by using the STL Check modifier. You can also import STL files. See Importing STL Files.

Interface

Object Name Enter a name for the object you want to save in STL format. Binary/ASCII Choose whether the STL output file will be binary or ASCII (character) data. ASCII STL files are much larger than binary STLfiles. Selected Only

Exports only objects that you selected in the scene.