stl file

STL File

The STL file format has become the Rapid Prototyping industry's standard data transmission format, and is the format required to interact with most prototyping and milling equipment. This format approximates the surfaces of a solid model with triangles. A good stl file must conform to two rules. The first rule states that neighboring triangles must have two vertices in common. Second, the direction of the triangles (what side of the triangle is in and what side is out) as specified by the vertices and normals must concur. If either of these two criterion are not met, troubles exist in the stl file. Negligible gaps and inconsistencies can usually be fixed by focused STL-handling software. More important problems usually require going back to the original CAD model for modifications.

The STL file for prototyping.

Also, for most rapid prototyping processes and materials, the minimum feature thickness is 0.020. Anything less than this and features will not develop.

STL FILE

Simply explained, a stl file is a format used by Stereolithography software to create information needed to fabricate 3D models on Stereolithography machines. In fact, the extension "stl" is said to be resulting from the word "Stereolithography."

In short, a good stl file must conform to two rules. The first rule states that adjacent triangles must have two vertices in common. Second, the orientation of the triangles (what side of the triangle is in and what side is out) as specified by the vertices and normals must agree. If either of these two criteria are not met, problems exist in the stl file. Minor gaps and inconsistencies can usually be fixed by specialized STL-handling software. More significant problems usually require going back to the original CAD model for modifications.