The binary file starts with an 80 character header and each triangle is then represented by twelve 32-bit floating point numbers. If your file is big and really detailed, the file might become a little bit complicated and become huge. The name will be the name of the model, and it continues with this all numbers of triangles:Įach n or v is a floating point number. The ASCII STL file is always starting with this line: There are two different ways for a file to store information: ASCII encoding and binary encoding, which both save the components of the unit normal vector to the triangle and the coordinates of the vertices.

The role of the file will be to store the information of these triangular geometries. To get the best 3D printed result while ordering your part on our online 3D printing service, you might need to follow all our tips to get the best resolution for your STL file. Once you have your file, you might want to optimize it and increase the resolution of your model. You just have to export your STL file from the CAD program. Today, almost all CAD software on the market are able to generate an STL file from your 3D model. The first step for you will be to create a 3D design.

It has all the information about the surface of the object, exactly what the 3D printer will print.Ĭreating a good STL file can help you on many levels! Indeed, as you may know, 3D printing your project, from rapid prototyping to production, can be a great advantage. The information of an STL file is only describing the geometry of the model, there are no specifications about the texture, the color or the material of your model. Once your model is created, you need to translate it in a language your 3D printer will understand.

But why is this file format useful, exactly? The more complex and detailed the structure is, the more triangles will be used to represent the model. The format represents the raw surface of a model with small triangles. No one really knows, but the most important thing is not the origin of the name STL, it is what it does.Īn STL file stores information about your 3D model. But others will tell that it is actually referring to Standard Triangle Language or even Standard Tessellation Language. What does “STL” mean ? The most common explanation is to say that it is the abbreviation of the word Stereolithography, given by 3D Systems. Indeed, creating an object in three-dimensions requires a special three-dimensional file. If you want to use additive manufacture for your next project, you will have to get your file in the right file format, and STL is certainly the most popular one.

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