Mathematica Import/Export Format

STL (.stl)

MIME type: application/sla
STL computer-aided design and manufacturing format.
3D geometry format.
Commonly used for representing solid models in rapid prototyping systems.
Native format of the 3D Systems stereolithography CAD software.
Developed in 1989 by 3D Systems, Inc.
STL is an acronym derived from stereolithography.
ASCII or binary format.
Binary STL files store data using little-endian byte ordering.
Stores a solid 3D object as a surface formed by a collection of adjacent triangles.
Does not store color information.

Import and Export fully supports the STL file format.

IMPORT AND EXPORT

Import["file.stl"]imports an STL file as a Graphics3D object.

Export["file.stl", expr] exports a Graphics3D expression to a binary STL file.

Import["file.stl"] returns an expression of the form Graphics3D[ GraphicsComplex[vertices, primitives, opts]].

Export["file.stl", Graphics3D[...]] creates an STL file representing a solid physical model.

Import["file.stl", elem] imports the specified element from an STL file.

Import["file.stl", {elem, sub_a, sub_b, ...}] imports a subelement.

Import["file.stl", {{elem₁, elem₂, ...}}] imports multiple elements.

The import format can be specified with Import["file","STL"] or Import["file", {"STL", elem, ...}].

Export["file.stl", expr, elem] creates a binary STL file by treating expr as specifying element elem.

Export["file.stl", {expr₁, expr₂, ...}, {{elem₁, elem₂, ...}}] treats each expr_i as specifying the corresponding elem_i.

Export["file.stl", expr, opt₁->val₁, ...] exports expr with the specified option elements taken to have the specified values.

Export["file.stl", {elem₁->expr₁, elem₂->expr₂, ...}, "Rules"] uses rules to specify the elements to be exported.

See the reference pages for full general information on Import and Export.

ImportString and ExportString support the STL format.

ELEMENTS

General Import elements:

	"Elements"	list of elements and options available in this file
	"Rules"	full list of rules for each element and option
	"Options"	list of rules for options, properties and settings

Data representation elements:

	"Graphics3D"	STL file represented as a Graphics3D object
	"GraphicsComplex"	STL file as a GraphicsComplex object
	"PolygonData"	the polygon elements in indexed form
	"PolygonObjects"	list of Polygon primitives given in absolute coordinates
	"VertexData"	list of vertex coordinates

Import and Export use the "Graphics3D" element by default for STL files.

The "VertexData" element corresponds to the first argument of GraphicsComplex.

Advanced Import element:

"BinaryFormat"

whether the file is a binary or ASCII STL

OPTIONS

General Import options:

	ImageSize	Automatic	specifies the overall size of the graphics to display
	Background	Automatic	specifies what background color to use

Export options:

	"BinaryFormat"	True	whether to write a binary or ASCII file
	"SurfaceOrientation"	Automatic	specifies how triangles should be oriented

Possible settings for "SurfaceOrientation" are:

	Automatic	specifies no orientation
	{x,y,z}	triangle faces are oriented toward the given point
	Infinity	triangles face away from the origin of the coordinate system

TUTORIALS

Importing Graphics and Sounds

Exporting Graphics and Sounds