![]() ![]() Most of my STL files end up 50mb~ 500mb eventhough Formlabs informed me there limit is around 200mb before the software crash. highly compressible (too many repetitive structure), even if crank the settings to really high details (high polygon counts) you will end up having a very large file size. This is because STL is highly inefficient i.e. The only reason why STL still use today because Artist (unlike Engineers) couldn’t agree on a universal file standard until few years ago of using obj, This is because in the past, content creators (Artist & Engineers) rarely export from one CAD users to another as it was all done under the same roof in those days.Īrtist use Obj and Engineers use STEP and it unreasonable to think Formlabs only aim for artist and not engineers who also heavily involved in content creation.īecause STL will always be an approximation not true geometry, in fact, CNC, 2D laser cutter, assembly robots, NC programs ALL uses STEP (for 3D) or DXF (2D) to be convert from digital information to physical manufacturable parts People only use STL as a last resort, not because it easy to use (it not).ĭuring the late 90s Engineers have opt out STL and in favour of STEP (less so for IGES) as universal standards. But for those situations, I simply import it in to one of my many CAD and/or format conversion programs and export the STL I need for the printer. I do have situations where I find a model file on a site like GrabCAD and it’s not available in STL. I’d be interested in understanding an example use case if you have the time to explain… ![]() I’ve never had a situation where I needed to edit supports more accurately than PreForm lets me place them. STL is more than sufficient to meet/exceed the resolution of the Form2. ![]() And I’d argue that for what the printer does, a different native format would not result in improved prints. But ultimately, as Frew says, a STEP would need to be converted by PreForm in to something very much like a STL since that’s the native format the printer is designed to interpret. They generate smaller files because the geometry is more “abstracted” (a curve isn’t approximated by multiple discrete points like in a STL, it’s got a start point, an end point and a radius). STEP (and to a slightly lesser extent IGES) are much more complicated to support and much less universally supported. And almost everything can read/write STL. That’s because it’s a non-proprietary standard that is very easy to support in software, using math that most of us learned in High School. STL isn’t required by printing software, however most printing software uses STL. STL is a burden not a benefit for engineers.Į - Benefit to Formlabs as well, as they can have access to open source library like CrabCAD and other free 3D CAD library for downloads IN WHICH MAKERBOT IS ALREADY DOING. As STEP file is generated from a true solid CAD from engineering CAD software like Creo, Solidworks, Unigraphics. No other industries uses STL anymore like CNC or CMM or CAD CAM or PCB gerber file or Laser cutting (vector based).ĭ - Much easier to repair or modify. (surface CAD).Īs the Preform supports generation are too limiting, meaning the Preform should be allowed to export as STEP, STL or OBJ along with the supports for customisation.Ģ - In Preform, there will be many benefit of using 3D STEP beside using the outdated STL files (so last century):ī - True geometric shapes & details, which unlike STL that uses polygons to construct an approximate 3D mesh structure. 1 - This is for support modifications / improvement originated from Preform and edit it back in Solidworks, Creo (solid CAD) or 3D Max, Maya & etc. ![]()
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