# STL file measurements wrong when exporting from Shapr3D
**URL:** https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827
**Category:** Modeling Questions
**Created:** [March 9, 2017, 9:18am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827 "2017-03-09T09:18:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Niklas](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Niklas)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 9:18am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/1 "2017-03-09T09:18:19Z")
# Hi!
When my brother try to 3D write using STL files created in Shapr3D they have all measurements in inches even though I used centimeters or millimeters when I designed. Does anyone have an idea what I am doing wrong an how I can get the measurements right?
Best regards, Niklas
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### Author:  [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 9:26am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/2 "2017-03-09T09:26:49Z")
## Hi there!
STL does not contain any unit information. Only numbers. This means that if you export to STL, it does not matter what units you used. This is not specific to Shapr, this is how it works in every modeling tool. I suppose you are trying to import it to a slicer - you will have to scale the model properly. It is quite unfortunate that STL has become the standard for 3d printing and for other manufacturing tools, but this is how it works ☹ Hopefully someone will come up with a much better file format soon.
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### Author:  [@Niklas](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Niklas)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 10:36am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/3 "2017-03-09T10:36:56Z")
Thank you, that was very good information!
Niklas
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### Author:  [@theepicapple1](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/theepicapple1)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/4 "2017-03-09T16:41:28Z")
## **Hi Istvan!**
I’ve been wandering, just out of pure curiosity, does IGES contain unit information?
Many thanks,
theepicapple1
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### Author:  [@theepicapple1](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/theepicapple1)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/5 "2017-03-09T17:04:39Z")
In addition, I’d like to ask if I print with STEP, will it contain triangles in the empty spaces?
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### Author:  [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/6 "2017-03-09T18:07:53Z")
Of course, igs does contain size information, but STP is always preferred over IGS.
can you clarify a bit what do you mean by the second question?
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### Author:  [@theepicapple1](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/theepicapple1)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/7 "2017-03-09T18:54:37Z")
When people showcase their 3D prints, if there are empty spaces, these are filled with triangles. But this is probably only with STL, which is a mesh format.
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### Author:  [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/8 "2017-03-09T19:40:11Z")
That’s not related to shapr or stl, but it is the result of the slicer apps, where you can control the infill of your objects.
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### Author:  [@richard1](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/richard1)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:12pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/9 "2022-01-16T19:12:21Z")
> [@Istvan](#):
>
> this is how it works in every modeling tool.
The Statement is incorrect, this is not how it works in every other CAD program
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### Author:  [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/10 "2022-01-16T19:14:14Z")
No, it’s not. I strongly recommend using 3MF instead. STL is an obsolete file format. Also I recommend reading this help desk article: [https://support.shapr3d.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001796029-Why-did-my-STL-file-change-units-](https://support.shapr3d.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001796029-Why-did-my-STL-file-change-units-)
“STL files contain no scale information, and the units are arbitrary.”
> **[STL (file format)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format))**
>
> STL is a file format native to the stereolithography CAD software created by 3D Systems. STL has several backronyms such as "Standard Triangle Language" and "Standard Tessellation Language". This file format is supported by many other software packages; it is widely used for rapid prototyping, 3D printing and computer-aided manufacturing. STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three-dimensional object without any representation of color, texture or other common CAD model An STL file de...
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### Author:  [@richard1](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/richard1)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/11 "2022-01-16T19:15:44Z")
Sorry, but all my CAD and Hard Surface Program export STL’s at the scale i create them
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### Author:  [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/12 "2022-01-16T19:18:45Z")
Hi Richard, I believe they do, but STL files don’t contain unit information. There can be a million reasons why you get the same size between two different programs when you are exporting to STL, but it’s not the STL format. I strongly recommend ditching STL and using 3MF instead. Also please read the linked help desk article, it will explain how to export from Shapr3D to STL in order to get the right units.
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### Author:  [@richard1](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/richard1)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/13 "2022-01-16T19:20:26Z")
I have never had to re-scale a STL in a slicer program, if i create a 1" cube and export it as an STL it imports into my slicer program as a 1" cube
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### Author:  [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:21pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/14 "2022-01-16T19:21:47Z")
Most likely it’s because the two software that you are using both handle STL’s unitless data in the same way. But there isn’t an industry standard for that unfortunately. This is something that you could experience between several different programs. It’s fortunate that the combinations you used so far are handling it the same way.
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### Author:  [@richard1](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/richard1)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:24pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/15 "2022-01-16T19:24:45Z")
For 3D printing STL file are fine and will get the job done, if you’re doing something else other than that the suggested file formats may be the better option, I really wanted to subscribe to this program, but rescaling is not an option
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### Author:  [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/16 "2022-01-16T19:27:05Z")
No need to rescale.
This characteristic of STL files can be problematic when you handle slicers, for instance, if your model is created in inches and your slicer uses centimeters by default. To fix this, you can scale your model in the slicer or standardize the unit of measurement in your entire workflow. In Shapr3D, you can change your model’s unit of measurement to your slicer’s during the export process:
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### Author:  [@richard1](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/richard1)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/17 "2022-01-16T19:32:33Z")
This is a 20MM cube from Shaper and a 20MM cube from Fusion
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### Author:  [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/18 "2022-01-16T19:34:33Z")
At this point I can only repeat myself unfortunately. Please check out the shared information above how to properly export STL files or event better: export 3MF instead.
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### Author:  [@Oregonerd](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Oregonerd)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/19 "2022-01-16T19:34:43Z")
I had the same problem with STLs from other Cad programs imported in Prusa slicer. If you didn’t change to mm before exporting you had to rescale. Change to mm before exporting and problem “accurately” solved.
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### Author:  [@Oregonerd](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Oregonerd)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827/20 "2022-01-16T19:38:09Z")
What slicer are you using? Shapr’s exports are very accurate and reliable when you change to mm before export. You might try a different slicer.
[Next page](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/stl-file-measurements-wrong-when-exporting-from-shapr3d/827.md?page=2)