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  #1  
Old 04-08-2008, 06:56 AM
May Kung May Kung is offline
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Converting from .STL to CAD formats

A friend needs to convert .STL (stereo-lithography) files into usable CAD formats. IGES, ACIS (SAT), or STEP would all work. She's tried using Pro/E, SDRC, UG, OSD, and SolidWorks. Most can import, but when saving out the resulting file is empty. I only have OSD 13 and it won't let me import at all.

Suggestions? Do the newer versions of OSD allow import and successful conversion to PKG, IGES, STEP, or SAT?
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  #2  
Old 04-08-2008, 07:42 AM
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Mike Swartz Mike Swartz is offline
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

CoCreate Modeling does not import STL data. Other systems will import STL, but the files do not import as geometry. They import as graphics data, so there is really nothing to export from those systems. (STL data is really just a collection of 3D Pixels)

SolidWorks has an option to import STL as a solid body. I have done some testing with it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Don't expect to have any data that you can work with.
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  #3  
Old 04-08-2008, 07:53 AM
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Swartz View Post
(STL data is really just a collection of 3D Pixels)
3D polygons, really. To be exact, triangles which approximate the actual geometry.

Claus
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  #4  
Old 04-08-2008, 04:12 PM
May Kung May Kung is offline
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

Ah, I suspected that was the case. I remember the STL format was supposed to be a big blob of triangles, in essence. I've tried SW 2007 for importing and while it will bring in the file, I can't do a thing with it. Saving it out results in an empty file.

I suggested seeing if the 3D scanner software allows direct conversion into a 3D CAD format and not into STL, but perhaps it's set up for going from scan into prototypes or something.
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  #5  
Old 07-02-2008, 04:16 PM
MichaelA MichaelA is offline
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

Some point cloud data can be converted to cad thru other software such as polyworks or geomagic (I think I have those spelled right). Not sure how well they work or how easy they are to use. my local 3d scanner guy was testing geomagic but I haven't talked to him in months to see what he thought. otherwise 3d scanner data are useless in Cocreate even if they can save into step or iges all you get is a ton of small triangular faces (still not a body) which you could use to generate real geometry and build a true 3d body but that takes a lot of work for anything with any complexity.

Michael
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  #6  
Old 07-02-2008, 10:13 PM
woho woho is offline
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

If you import STL-data into Modeling (or in other CAD-systems) you would
have a big problem:
You have a lot of data, because you get a lot of faces.
Example:
a block consists of 24 triangular faces,
a cylinder has 200 to 1.000 faces, it depends on the facets,
a screw may have 700 faces,
a bearing may have 10.000 faces, ...
If you import a complex part or an assembly you may have many
thousands of faces and this decreases the performance of the system.

Because edrawings can export STL-files it could be used in other
CAD-systems by importing so I think it makes no sense because
the geometry is not really useful.

Regards

WoHo
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  #7  
Old 07-03-2008, 11:47 AM
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gmatelich gmatelich is offline
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

check this tool out - http://www.sycode.com/products/index.htm
For Modeling you'd probably use the Mesh to Solid, which will give you an .sat file. They also have some direct import tools too. It has a 10 day trial period.

I just tried this a few days ago myself. The part I imported was reminiscent of a geodesic dome - possibly useful as reference geometry, but the hundreds of little faces would be hard to do anything useful with.
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  #8  
Old 08-16-2008, 10:38 AM
Alokin Alokin is offline
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

And for the inverse?
We just save it in .stl and it work if a company print it (Rapid prototyping)?

Another question, when I save it, it says « The part is in negative space. Move it if the part need to be in positive space for the rapid prototyping process. », what does it means and what to do?

Thank you guys
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  #9  
Old 08-16-2008, 10:51 AM
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alokin View Post
And for the inverse?
We just save it in .stl and it work if a company print it (Rapid prototyping)?
Yup, that's how it works.

Quote:
Another question, when I save it, it says « The part is in negative space. Move it if the part need to be in positive space for the rapid prototyping process. », what does it means and what to do?
This warning is relevant if you want to transfer the STL data to a prototyping machine which cannot cope with negative part coordinates.

Claus
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  #10  
Old 08-16-2008, 10:57 AM
Alokin Alokin is offline
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

So, if I want to do rapid prototyping (what I want to do), I need to put him in positive space?

How can I do that?

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  #11  
Old 08-16-2008, 11:23 AM
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alokin View Post
So, if I want to do rapid prototyping (what I want to do), I need to put him in positive space?
Only if the STL machine which you'll be using doesn't understand negative coordinates. I'm not very up to date on these machines, but my guess would be that by now they all know how to handle such situations. You may want to contact your STL vendor.

Quote:
How can I do that?
Simply reposition the part.
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  #12  
Old 08-16-2008, 11:43 AM
Alokin Alokin is offline
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

I don't have the machine :P
I'll go with company.

But, how can I know where is the positive space?
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  #13  
Old 08-16-2008, 02:11 PM
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clausb clausb is offline
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

Measure the part to see where its X/Y/Z coordinates are.

That said, I think you're worrying needlessly. First, it is very likely that your STL manufacturer will accept data even if some of your parts have negative coordinates. Second, if their software cannot cope with negative coordinates, they will tell you, and then you can still reposition the part.

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  #14  
Old 08-16-2008, 02:21 PM
Alokin Alokin is offline
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

Oki thanks.


Yeah i'm worried needlessly

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  #15  
Old 12-03-2008, 04:39 PM
Alokin Alokin is offline
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Re: Converting from .STL to CAD formats

Hello guys!

Sorry to bump this old thread, it's just that I need to convert my .stl into cad file, but I've reeded the whole thread, and didn't found any answer to the principal question asked in the thread

Cheers
,Nikola
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