STL Import option in v 3.14

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#1

Really excited about the ability to import the STL format in the latest 3.14 update.

I noticed the Supported Formats screen now shows a green check next to stl in the import column and also shows “reference only”. I expect this otherwise might be referred to as “Read Only” in that the underlying geometry in the STL file is brought into SHAPR and that point becomes basis for a SHAPR file.

An export to STL would create a new STL file from the native SHAPR file data. All work is done in SHAPR and none of the original STL is maintained inside of SHAPR. Am I understanding correctly?

#2

Hi Fillister and welcome to the forum :slight_smile:

The STL file format is a mesh based file format, that means that it’s not “proper CAD data”, just a bunch of triangles. A fairly good comparison would be vector graphics compares vs. raster graphics = CAD data vs. mesh data.

This is why it’s not possible to edit STL files like other data, because it’s a “lossy” file format. However in future releases you will be able to mix mesh bodies and CAD bodies (boundary representation is the technical term for it) in Shapr.

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#3

Thank you. The reply is appreciated.

#4

I noticed talk of meshes in 3.15. Are we able to alter the .stl files with the current release or no?

#5

You can do booleans. subtract, union and intersect them with solids. The result will be always mesh.

#6

The problem is I need to make a shell. If I have to do that as a subtraction method, which is not ideal, I will just use tinkercad for that.