- 1. From the part menu select "Interface"
- 2. Then select "Export"
- 3. Then select "SLA"
- 4. Then select "Output to Binary"
- 5. Select "Chord Height'
- Enter maximum chord height
- for inch files .001 or .002 works in most
cases
- for mm files .025 or .05 works in most cases
- 6. Select "Output"
- 7. You will be prompted for a Coordinate system Choose a coordinate system by picking it
using your mouse
- 8. Next enter a file name
- 9. You may be warned that your part in negative space. That's OK! Enter "Y"
- 10. Output file will be in the directory where Pro/ENGINEER was started
- 11. You will see the triangle representation on your screen as the .STL file is being
created
Pro/Engineer Release 20
1. Open part to be exported.
2. Click on File then drag to Export then Model.
3. Click on STL.
4. Click on Chord Height.
5. Type 0 and press the Enter key.
6. Pro/Engineer will then give a minimum and maximum chord height.
Type in the minimum number and press the Enter key.
7. Click on Angle Control and press the Enter key to except the default
of (.5).
8. Click on Output.
9. Click on Default.
10. Press Enter to except the default name of the part.
11. Type Y then press Enter to continue with points in non-positive
coordinates.
Note: What you see here is what you will get in surface representation on
your part. A complete description of the SLA process in Pro/ENGINEER is available here.
Autocad rel. 13
- First make sure that the part lies in the positive XYZ octant of the WCS
- Type FACETRES @ the command prompt
- enter a number between .01 an 10 (10 will give you the highest resolution mesh but may
take a while)
- Type STLOUT and select one object. Enter Y to create a binary STL file.
Autocad rel. 12
- Set wire density in your part file to 12
- Run SOLSTLOUT for command line
- Choose Binary format
- Name your file
Note: There are limits to what can be outputted. Such as complex surface
data etc. You may need to consult with your applications engineer or refer to your users
manual.
Alias Studio
- Make sure part is located in the positive space and located .3" in Z direction
- To set facet resolution of part, select the object and open WINDOWS->RENDER STATS.
Min & Max Subdiv control resolution. The default values of 2 & 4 (Min & Max)
is usually too rough. Set a value of 8 (both for Min & Max) for fairly smooth surfaces
or 16 for really smooth surfaces. Any values above 16 creates large files.
- Close RENDER STAT WINDOW
- Select all objects that are to be made.
- Open FILE->EXPORT->SAVE STL/SLC Option Box
- The following values should be set in the Option Box:
- SLA File Format: STL
- Output Format: Binary
- Output units should match model units
- Scale Type: Absolute
- Scale: 1
- Vat Size: 10 for output units of inches
- Click GO
- Give the Output File a name
- Click SAVE STL
- Message appears indicating SLA file is being created. Two files will be created: a
triangle file (.tri) and the .stl file. The .stl file is what you give to Reggie while the
.tri can be deleted.
A complete description of the SLA process in Alias is available here.
SDRC I-DEAS I-DEAS Master
Series 3.0-5.0
- Select Rapid Prototype from the design menu.
- Select the file icon in the top left corner.
- Select the solid part for output.
- From the Prototyping Dialog
- Select Prototype Device from the list.
- Set your part position, there are three options here.
- CENTERED
- ORIGIN
- CURRENT
NOTE: Centered will position your part in the center of your build tank.
Origin will place your part at 0,0,0, in the positive octant. Current will use the current
origin of your part. If the part is in negative space it will not allow you to process the
model and provide you with a error dialog.
- Set your Facet deviation to the desired tolerance.
- Choose Binary (Preferred for file size)
- Ok, or Apply to create the STL file. You will notice in the IDEAS list verification of
the RP file being written.
- I assume you know what to do from here.
SDRC I-DEAS Master Series 6.1:
1. Check the parts validity by calculating its volume. It should be able
to calculate the volume with no open surfaces to be a good part. Also
delete unnecessary lines and points.
2. Select File/Export and then Rapid Prototype File/OK. Then select the
part as prompted by Pick part to prototype. Only one part can/will be
selected, but multiple parts may be on the screen.
3. A window/form entitled Create Prototype will appear on the screen.
Fill in the entries as follows:
In the first entry, Prototype Device, select the file folder on the
right to get the RP systems list.
Select SLA-500.
In the second entry, Part Positioning (X,Y,Z), select the arrow button
on the right to get the part positioning list.
Select Centered.
NOTE: In the two entries above, you must keep in mind that you are
creating a somewhat universal file that can be used with all RP systems.
By choosing the SLA-500 and Origin selections, I-DEAS will not issue a
warning that the part will not fit in the RP workspace. It really
doesn't matter which settings are selected as the RP system operator
will manipulate the STL file to the proper orientation for the system to
be used.
In the third entry, Output File, enter a name for the STL file being
created, or use the file folder on the right to select an existing name.
Make sure the name has the .stl included.
In the forth entry, Absolute Facet Deviation, input .002. This is a
setting that determines the number of facets that are used to describe
the CAD part. It is sometimes referred to as a tolerance. Occasionally,
parts with curved surfaces and larger rounded features will require a
better definition. At that time, .0015 or .001 may be appropriate. The
smaller the value, the greater number of triangles or facets are
generated to define the parts surfaces. This also creates larger file
sizes which are more difficult to handle.
Select the Show Facets button to view the triangles. This step is not
required and is only for the users reference as it is very difficult to
view.
Select the Binary button.
Select Done.
If an error or warning appears that the part will not fit in the RP
workspace, ignore it. The software has determined that the part, which
is located in free space, is not completely within the RP modeler build
volume that is assigned in that free space. The part would have to be
located in the positive 3D quadrant to not get the message.
4. The .STL file has now been created and resides in the ideas
directory.
A complete description of the SLA process in SDRC I-DEAS is available here.
Mechanical Desktop 2.0
1. Open part to be exported.
2. Set viewres of drawing at 20000
(COMMAND: Type VIEWRES press the Enter key.
FASTZOOM (Y) press the Enter key.
New Value(100) 20000 press the Enter key.
3. Set the facetres of the drawing.
(COMMAND: Type FACTRES press the Enter key.
(.500) Type 10 press the Enter key.
4. Put drawing in ISO view.
Click on VIEW and drag to MODEL VIEW.
Pick an ISO View.
5. Make work planes invisible.
Look at the browser and locate the work and axis plane.
If there is a check next to the word visible click to remove.
6. Save the file as a different name than the MDT model drawing. If
you finish the steps of building the model or you cannot save or do
undo. ?
7. Explode the part (Check to see what layer is current, you will want
it on a continuous line layer). Select just the part. Do not select all
or it will include the title block. Type YES at prompt to remove from
assembly.
8. Click on File then Export.
Export Data box
in save as type:
Click Lithography(*.stl)
When you get the command line back. DO UNDO OR DO NOT SAVE CHANGES
IF SAVED EARLIER AS DIFFERENT FILE YOU WILL BE OKAY
OR
Command: viewres
Do you want fast zooms? <Y> Y
Enter circle zoom percent (1-20000) <100>: 20000
Regenerating drawing.
Then type in facetres at the command prompt and change the value to 10.
This will give you the highest resolution for an STL output that
Mechanical Desktop is capable of outputting.
Command: facetres
New value for FACETRES <0.5000>: 10
Now you can use the "stlout" command and you will get a very good STL
file. (providing there are not any problems with the construction
of your model).
BACK TO BUILD PROCEDURE PAGE
