STL (.stl)
Background
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- 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.
- Stores a 3D object, including solid, as a surface formed by a collection of adjacent triangles.
Import & Export
- Import["file.stl"] imports an STL file as a MeshRegion object representing the surface.
- Import["file.stl",elem] imports the specified element from an STL file.
- The import format can be specified with Import["file","STL"] or Import["file",{"STL",elem,…}].
- Export["file.stl",expr] exports a 3D mesh-based geometric region to a binary STL file. The expr can be any region that is ConstantRegionQ or a Graphics or Graphics3D object.
- The export format can be specified with Export["file",expr,"STL"] or Export["file",expr,{"STL",opt1->val1,…}].
- See the reference pages for full general information on Import and Export.
- ImportString and ExportString support the STL format.
Import Elements
- General Import elements:
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"Elements" list of elements available in this file "Rules" list of rules for each element "Options" list of options and settings "Summary" summary of properties "CoordinateTransform" transformation function from STL format - Data format representation elements:
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"BinaryFormat" whether the file is a binary or ASCII STL "Comments" comments "VertexData" list of vertex coordinates "PolygonData" list of polygon elements in indexed form "PolygonCount" number of polygons - Geometry representation elements:
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"BoundaryMeshRegion" boundary mesh representation of a solid "MeshRegion" mesh representation of a surface - Graphics representation elements:
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"Graphics3D" STL file represented as a Graphics3D object "GraphicsComplex" STL file as a GraphicsComplex object "PolygonObjects" list of polygon primitives in absolute coordinates - Import and Export use the "MeshRegion" element by default for STL files.
Examples
open all close allBasic Examples (2)
Import a 3D model from STL as a MeshRegion object:
Summary properties of the solid model:
Scope (13)
Import Elements (12)
Export Options (2)
Introduced in 2000
Updated in 2015
(4.1)
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(10.2)