File Export Recommendations
Use the following guidelines for preparing your files for rapid prototyping by Criteria Systems:
Outputting 3D STL and VMRL Files for Fabrication with Criteria Systems
Alibre
1. File
2. Export
3. Save As > STL
4. Enter File Name
5. Save
ArtCAM Pro
You export to STL from the Mesh Creation assistant.
1. File
2. Export
3. Save As > STL
4. Enter File Name
5. Save
Autodesk AutoCAD (Versions: R14-2000i)
Your 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
Autodesk Inventor
1. Go to the File menu, then select the Save Copy As... choice
2. Select STL from the Types drop-down
3. Click the Options button, and choose the High detail level
4. Click the Save Button.
Autodesk Mechanical Desktop
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. - 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.
I-DEAS
1. File > Export > Rapid Prototype File > OK
2. Select the Part to be Prototyped
3. Select Prototype Device > SLA500.dat > OK
4. Set absolute facet deviation to 0.000395
5. Select Binary > OK
IronCAD
1. Right Click on the part
2. Part Properties > Rendering
3. Set Facet Surface Smoothing to 150
4. File > Export
5. Choose .STL
Pro/E – STL Output
1. File > Export > Model
2. STL
3. Set chord height to 0. The field will be replaced by minimum acceptable value.
4. Set Angle Control to 1
5. OK
Pro/E – VRML Output
1. Perform a “save a copy” and select the VRML output and select “ok”.
2. In the Export VRML window select the “setup” button in the corner.
3. In the setup window select the “quality” pull-down and select “high”
Pro/E Wildfire – VRML Output
1. In Wildfire, from the tools menu, select OPTIONS.
2. In the lower left Option window, type in "Vrml_export_version"
3. In the "Value" window just to the right, the drop down needs to be set to 1.0.
4. Once the value has been set to 1.0, click on the "Add/Change" button, then OK
To adjust the resolution
1. In Wildfire, from the tools menu, select OPTIONS.
2. In the lower left Option window, type in "Vrml_export_resolution"
3. In the "Value" window just to the right, the drop down needs to be set to “High”.
4. Once the value has been set to “high” click "Add/Change" button, then OK.
Rhino
1. File > Save As
2. Select File Type > STL
3. Enter a name for the STL file.
4. Save
5. Select Binary STL Files
SolidDesigner (Version 8.x)
1. File > Save
2. Select File Type > STL
3. Select Data
4. Click OK
SolidEdge
1. Open your model and from the File menu choose Save As.
2. Select the file type STL.
3. Click on the Options button in the Save As dialog box.
4. Set the Conversion Tolerance to 0.001 inches or 0.0254 mm.
5. Set the Surface Plane Angle to 45o.
6. Select the Binary radio button and click the OK button.
7. Name and Save your STL file.
SolidWorks – STL Files
1. File > Save As
2. Set Save As Type to STL
3. Options > Fine > OK
4. Save
SolidWorks – VRML Files
1. Tools > Options menu
2. Select “Document Properties” tab at the top
3. Select “Image Quality” on Left side
4. Move “Resolution” slider bar to “high”
5. If working with an assembly you must select “Apply to all referenced part documents” first.
6. Select OK
7. Select File > Save As
8. Select .VRML format for “Save as type”
9. Select Options
10. Select “VMRL 1.0” on the Version Drop down list
11. Select “OK”
12. Select “Save”
Think3
1. File > Save As
2. Set Save As Type to STL
3. Save
Unigraphics
1. File > Export > Rapid Prototyping
2. Set Output type to Binary
3. Set Triangle Tolerance to 0.0025
4. Set Adjacency Tolerance to 0.12
5. Set Auto Normal Gen to On
6. Set Normal Display to Off
7. Set Triangle Display to On
CATIA version four
1. Select STL command.
2. Set Maximum Sag to 0.0005 inches or 0.0125 mm.
3. Pick the model to be converted to STL.
4. Select Yes to generate triangles.
5. Select Export, type a file name, and click OK to output an STL file.
Note: CATIA has a utility for checking and analyzing STL files. It is a good practice to check the direction of normal vectors (they should point outward) and verify that the STL surface is closed. Parts created as CATIA solids should be no problem. Parts created as volumes from surfaces are more likely to have flaws.
Parts with Special Requirements
If for example your parts are too large for our equipment and need to be built in multiple pieces or you have a large quantity order visit the Custom Quote page.
