The STL file format has become the standard file format for the Rapid Prototyping industry's standard for transmission of data.  This format approximates the surfaces of a solid model with triangles. The more complex the surface the more triangles produced.  An STL file can be created with most CAD programs that are available today.  In most cases you can just do File, Save As, STL which should be exported as a binary file in order to save time and file size.  Below are some step by step directions to creating as STL file in dirrerent CAD software.

 

AutoCAD

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

1. Set the FACETRES=10

2. Use the STLOUT command to export your STL file.

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

Iron CAD

1. Part Properties> Rendering

2. Set Facet Surface Smoothing to 150

3. File> Export

4. Choose STL

 

3D Studio Max

1. Open Document

2. First save as new file lets say test.

3. Select pieces of your file(not whole item) boggs down your system.  Select a few pieces of your item at one time.

4. Go to modifiers/more/select meshsmooth/ok.

5. Meshsmooth is now in your modifer stack. Under parameters increase interations by 2 or 3. To many interations will bogg down your system.

6. You can also increase strength in your item to add more polygons but we believe it takes to long.  Plus we like to keep everything the same.

7. Now you should of noticed your wire frame model become more defined with more wires added to your polygons.

8. Once your done select all and export as an stl file then save as a 3ds file so you have two files that we can work with.    

Poser

1. Go to file menu.

2. Export

3. Export as 3D Studio File.

 

ProE

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

SolidDesginer

 1. File> External Save STL

2. Select Binary Mode

3. Select Part

 4. Enter Filename

 5. Enter Max Deviation Distance of .01mm

6. Click OK

SolidEdge

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 45.00 degree

6. Save

SolidWorks

1. Tools> Options> Export

2. STL Options

3. Set Quality to fine

4. File> Save As

 5.  Set save as type to STL

6. 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

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 and acceptable file.