# Units Issue on STL file

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [May 22, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740 "2019-05-22T13:45:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dopper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/dopper/32/3796_2.png) [@dopper](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/dopper)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740/1 "2019-05-22T13:45:18Z")

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Hello! I’m a brand new user but I’m having an issue. I created a 2” x 2” x 2” cube, saved it as a STL file. When I import the file to Cura, the object comes in as 2mm x 2 mm x 2mm. What am I missing? Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Victor\_Shapr3D](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/victor_shapr3d/32/3502_2.png) [@Victor\_Shapr3D](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Victor_Shapr3D)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740/2 "2019-05-22T13:53:49Z")

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Hello, the set unit will have to be the same in Shapr3d and in Cura. Please try setting unit in Cura to be Inches before importing the body. If Cura does not support the imperial measurement system, a workaround can be to convert your units online like on this website [https://www.convert-me.com/](https://www.convert-me.com/) and then export in MM for Cura.  
I hope that this is helpful.

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**Author:** ![dopper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/dopper/32/3796_2.png) [@dopper](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/dopper)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 4:35pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740/3 "2019-05-22T16:35:06Z")

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Thank you! Will take a look.

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**Author:** ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740/4 "2019-05-22T21:49:29Z")

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Better yet, change the units from inches to millimeters in Shapr3D before exporting to STL.

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**Author:** ![dopper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/dopper/32/3796_2.png) [@dopper](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/dopper)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740/5 "2019-05-24T23:36:22Z")

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Thanks! That took care of it.

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**Author:** ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740/6 "2019-05-24T23:51:51Z")

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You’re welcome.  
Since I’m in the US, I work in inches. Then I convert to mm when I want to 3D print something, then revert back to inches (because I think in inches). However, sometime I bounce back and forth between inches and mm when I want the wall thickness to be an increment of mm or 0.5mm solely for the purpose of 3D printing as my 3D printer nozzle size is 0.5mm.

Regards, Mike

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**Author:** ![Docabilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@Docabilly](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Docabilly)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740/7 "2019-05-28T22:32:17Z")

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Hi,  
When I export .stl from Shapr3D to FlashForge’s Flash Print, I also was have to scale the object by 10x. Strangely one time I even had to scale the Z-axis an extra 10x. The workaround works so I am happy enough.

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**Author:** ![Istvan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/istvan/32/23668_2.png) [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 5:11am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740/8 "2019-05-29T05:11:25Z")

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The STL file format does not containt any unit information. The size difference comes from your unit settings in your slicer and Shapr3D.

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**Author:** ![Irwinning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@Irwinning](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Irwinning)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 3:30am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740/9 "2019-10-03T03:30:26Z")

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Could you please add this info to a help bubble or tutorial somewhere? I also had issues drawing in inches and opening in Slic3r. Changing dimensions to metric before exporting fixed it, but I didn’t understand why until I stumbled in here.

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**Author:** ![Victor\_Shapr3D](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/victor_shapr3d/32/3502_2.png) [@Victor\_Shapr3D](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Victor_Shapr3D)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 8:23am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/units-issue-on-stl-file/4740/10 "2019-10-03T08:23:09Z")

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We have an article on this and here’s the link to the 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-)