Method One: ASCII encoding where the coordinates of the vertices of each triangle are stored.

If the end goal for 3D solid model creation is to 3D print the model, first the two methods for storing information about the triangular tessellations should be considered: Ensure that the tessellation size is appropriate for each application. Feature sizes less than this will not be correctly printed. In addition, when 3D printing STL files, it is important to pay attention to the minimum feature thickness that a 3D printer or the 3D printer filament is capable of printing. Consult with your printer manufacturer’s instructions to determine how to change settings that impact tessellation patterns. For example, a simple cube will require 12 triangles whereas a sphere may require thousands of triangles.ĭepending on the 3D CAD software utilized, there are settings that may be manipulated to change the size or complexity of the tessellation pattern so that the file size is smaller and/or the model is less complex. More complex surfaces will require more triangles to define their surfaces, as they must be smaller to fit the curvature of each surface. It turned out that the tiny triangles, or facets, utilized to define the outer surface of the 3D model are perfect for defining simple and complex surfaces alike. This discovery was made as part of the process of transferring information from the 3D CAD system file to the 3D printer file. This method was discovered in 1987 by Chuck Hill. Tessellations occur in the world around us commonly, examples include brick walls or tiled floors they can be made from simple shapes or complex shapes.Īn STL file uses triangles to perform tessellations for conveying information about the surfaces of a 3D model. Tessellation is a simple concept whereby a surface is covered with a pattern of shapes so that there are no overlaps or gaps.

When a designer chooses to save a solid model as an STL (Standard Tessellation Language) file, the surface of the object is encoded using a concept called tessellation, hence the meaning of the STL acronym. Creating the solid model involves defining the component’s geometry and typically involves a combination of planes, extrusions, surfaces, and possibly strategic material removal. The process to build an STL file first starts with the creation of the solid model by the CAD designer.

3d printing stl files