CAD-to-STL Settings list for most CAD systems
These are only general guidelines and may not work or produce the best possible STL files in some cases.
Please consult your user's guide or the software developers for more information or technical support.
Definition
STL is the standard file type used by most or all Rapid Prototyping systems. A STL is a triangulated
representation of a 3D CAD model.
The triangulation of a surface will cause faceting of the 3D model. The parameters used for outputting a STL will
affect how much faceting occurs.
You cannot build the model any better or smoother than the STL. So if the STL is coarse and faceted, that's
what you will see in the model.
In the CAD package, when exporting to STL, you may see parameters for chord height, deviation, angle
tolerance, or something similar. These are the parameters that affect the faceting of the STL.
You don't necessarily want to go too small. The finer the STL the larger the file is in size, which will affect
processing time as well as build time. Below is some information found on the Internet regarding exporting to STL
from various CAD packages.
STL Creation
Software packages: Again, these are only general guidelines and may not work or produce the best possible
STL files in some cases. Please consult your user's guide or the software developers for more information or
technical support.
Alibre
File
Export
Save As > STL
Enter File Name
Save
AutoCAD (Versions: R14-2000i)
Your design must be a three-dimensional solid object to output an STL file.
Make sure the model is in positive space
At the command prompt type “FACETRES”
Set FACETRES BETWEEN 1 &10. (1 Being low resolution and 10 high resolution for STL Triangles)
Next, at the command prompt type “STLOUT”
Select Objects
Choose “Y” for Binary
Choose Filename
I-DEAS
File > Export > Rapid Prototype File > OK
Select the Part to be Prototyped
Select Prototype Device > SLA500.dat > OK
Set absolute facet deviation to 0.000395
Select Binary > OK
IronCAD
Right Click on the part
Part Properties > Rendering
Set Facet Surface Smoothing to 150
File > Export
Choose .STL
Mechanical Desktop
Use the AMSTLOUT command to export your STL file.
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.
ProE
File > Export > Model (or File > Save a Copy)
Set type to STL
Set chord height to 0. The field will be replaced by minimum acceptable value.
Set Angle Control to 1
Choose File Name
OK
ProE Wildfire
File > Save a Copy > Model
Change type to STL (*.stl)
Set Chord Height to 0. The field will be replaced by minimum acceptable value.
Set Angle Control to 1
OK
Rhino
File > Save As
Select File Type > STL
Enter a name for the STL file.
Save
Select Binary STL Files
SolidDesigner (Version 8.x)
File > Save
Select File Type > STL
Select Data
Click OK
SolidDesigner (not sure of version)
File > External > Save STL
Select Binary mode
Select Part
Enter 0.001mm for Max Deviation Distance
Click OK
SolidEdge
File > Save As
Set Save As Type to STL
Options
Set Conversion Tolerance to 0.001in or 0.0254mm
Set Surface Plane Angle to 45.00
Save
SolidWorks
File > Save As
Set Save As Type to STL
Options > Resolution > Fine > OK
Save
Think3
File > Save As
Set Save As Type to STL
Save
Unigraphics
File > Export > Rapid Prototyping
Set Output type to Binary
Set Triangle Tolerance to 0.0025
Set Adjacency Tolerance to 0.12
Set Auto Normal Gen to On
Set Normal Display to Off
Set Triangle Display to On
CADKey
Choose Stereolithography from Export options
Enter the Filename
Click OK
Inventor
Save Copy As
Select STL
Choose Options > Set to High
Enter Filename
Save
This page contains information on how to output STL from several CAD packages. The information was taken
from the Internet. Some of the information could be outdated so please see your CAD manual for instructions.
These are only general guidelines and may not work or produce the best possible STL files in some cases.
Please consult your user's guide or the software developers for more information or technical support.
Definition
STL is the standard file type used by most or all Rapid Prototyping systems. A STL is a triangulated
representation of a 3D CAD model.
The triangulation of a surface will cause faceting of the 3D model. The parameters used for outputting a STL will
affect how much faceting occurs.
You cannot build the model any better or smoother than the STL. So if the STL is coarse and faceted, that's
what you will see in the model.
In the CAD package, when exporting to STL, you may see parameters for chord height, deviation, angle
tolerance, or something similar. These are the parameters that affect the faceting of the STL.
You don't necessarily want to go too small. The finer the STL the larger the file is in size, which will affect
processing time as well as build time. Below is some information found on the Internet regarding exporting to STL
from various CAD packages.
STL Creation
Software packages: Again, these are only general guidelines and may not work or produce the best possible
STL files in some cases. Please consult your user's guide or the software developers for more information or
technical support.
Alibre
File
Export
Save As > STL
Enter File Name
Save
AutoCAD (Versions: R14-2000i)
Your design must be a three-dimensional solid object to output an STL file.
Make sure the model is in positive space
At the command prompt type “FACETRES”
Set FACETRES BETWEEN 1 &10. (1 Being low resolution and 10 high resolution for STL Triangles)
Next, at the command prompt type “STLOUT”
Select Objects
Choose “Y” for Binary
Choose Filename
I-DEAS
File > Export > Rapid Prototype File > OK
Select the Part to be Prototyped
Select Prototype Device > SLA500.dat > OK
Set absolute facet deviation to 0.000395
Select Binary > OK
IronCAD
Right Click on the part
Part Properties > Rendering
Set Facet Surface Smoothing to 150
File > Export
Choose .STL
Mechanical Desktop
Use the AMSTLOUT command to export your STL file.
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.
ProE
File > Export > Model (or File > Save a Copy)
Set type to STL
Set chord height to 0. The field will be replaced by minimum acceptable value.
Set Angle Control to 1
Choose File Name
OK
ProE Wildfire
File > Save a Copy > Model
Change type to STL (*.stl)
Set Chord Height to 0. The field will be replaced by minimum acceptable value.
Set Angle Control to 1
OK
Rhino
File > Save As
Select File Type > STL
Enter a name for the STL file.
Save
Select Binary STL Files
SolidDesigner (Version 8.x)
File > Save
Select File Type > STL
Select Data
Click OK
SolidDesigner (not sure of version)
File > External > Save STL
Select Binary mode
Select Part
Enter 0.001mm for Max Deviation Distance
Click OK
SolidEdge
File > Save As
Set Save As Type to STL
Options
Set Conversion Tolerance to 0.001in or 0.0254mm
Set Surface Plane Angle to 45.00
Save
SolidWorks
File > Save As
Set Save As Type to STL
Options > Resolution > Fine > OK
Save
Think3
File > Save As
Set Save As Type to STL
Save
Unigraphics
File > Export > Rapid Prototyping
Set Output type to Binary
Set Triangle Tolerance to 0.0025
Set Adjacency Tolerance to 0.12
Set Auto Normal Gen to On
Set Normal Display to Off
Set Triangle Display to On
CADKey
Choose Stereolithography from Export options
Enter the Filename
Click OK
Inventor
Save Copy As
Select STL
Choose Options > Set to High
Enter Filename
Save
This page contains information on how to output STL from several CAD packages. The information was taken
from the Internet. Some of the information could be outdated so please see your CAD manual for instructions.
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