Problem with .STL files.

[kozen]

I'm new to UG/NX.

So to open my .STL file, I created a new .prt file. I went into File -> Import -> STL and imported the .STL file (without changing any settings in any of the options).

From here, I could only select the 3D object. I couldn't work with it in any way after selecting it. Is there a process that makes it workable?
I even tried converting it into a .prt file by saving the file then going into File -> Export as PART file.

 

[kozen]

Even with it exported as a .prt file, I couldn't work with it.

Help!

 

[cowski]

If you created the .stl file from an NX .prt file, go back to the original .prt file to work with the geometry. If you received the file from another source, ask if they can send another format. File formats in order of preference are:[ul]
[li]native NX file (make sure it is not from a newer version of NX than what you are using[/li]
[li]parasolid file (most commonly .x_t, but may also be .x_b, .xmt_txt, or .xmt_bin)[/li]
[li]STEP file (.stp or .step)[/li]
[li]IGES file (.igs or .iges)[/li]
[/ul]

Each of these formats maintains the underlying mathematical geometry of the source file. The .stl format breaks up every surface in the source file into small planar triangles; the underlying mathematical definition is lost. If you create a cylinder and export it to .stl, you end up with 100's (possibly 1000's) of planar triangles. If you open this file hoping to quickly change the diameter or add taper, you will be in for disappointment.

NX does offer a limited toolset for editing .stl files; but you will be much better off if you can get one of the other formats. The synchronous tools are great for working with dumb (featureless), imported geometry, but they don't help with .stl geometry.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[Toost]

STL is "STereo Lithograpy" a very crude file format.
It contains something which could be described as "triangulated data", triangular facets.
These facets are not surfaces, they are three coordinates and a facet normal.
When imported into NX these facets will be converted into NX facets. In principle the same data that the graphics card displays on the screen.
There is no intelligence at all in STL data and definitely no solid bodies or surfaces.
You can with quite some work map surfaces to the STL data and thereby build a model.

What did you expect to be able to do with it ?


Regards,
Tomas

 

[kozen]

@Tomas:

I'm not expecting to get anything out of it. I'm currently being taught how to use UG/NX, and I was told to cut certain pieces off of an STL model. I figured it out, though.

I didn't know that the STL files were composed of triangles until I started snipping pieces off of the model. Is that why the edges are jagged after being cut?

Thanks.

 

[kozen]

Also, is there a way to avoid the jagged edges?

- Kozen

 

[cowski]

If you are using the snip facet body command, choose the snip boundary facet option (in settings) rather than remove.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[kozen]

@cowski

THANKS A LOT MAN! Can't believe I missed that.

Thread closed.

- Kozen