WOLFRAM

Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center

STL (.stl)

Background & Context

    • 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 Elements

  • General Import elements:
  • "Elements" list of elements and options available in this file
    "Rules"list of rules for all available elements
    "Summary"summary of the file
    "CoordinateTransform"transformation function from STL format
  • Data format representation elements:
  • "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:
  • "BoundaryMeshRegion"boundary mesh representation of a solid
    "MeshRegion"mesh representation of a surface
    "Region"region representation of a surface
  • Graphics representation elements:
  • "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.

Options

  • Export options:
  • "BinaryFormat"Truewhether to write a binary or ASCII file

Examples

open all close all

Basic Examples  (2)

Import a 3D model from STL as a MeshRegion object:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/seashell.stl"]

Summary properties of the solid model:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/seashell.stl", "Summary"]

Export a 3D model to an ASCII STL file:

Wolfram Language code: Export["model.stl", [image], {"STL", "BinaryFormat" -> False}]

Print the raw textual contents of the file:

Wolfram Language code: FilePrint[%]

Scope  (13)

Import  (7)

Import works on an ASCII STL file:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/chain.stl"]

Binary STL file:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/seashell.stl"]

Any accessible URL:

Wolfram Language code: Import["http://exampledata.wolfram.com/vase.stl"]

Stream:

Wolfram Language code: str = OpenRead["ExampleData/spikey.stl"]
Wolfram Language code: Import[str]
Wolfram Language code: Close[str]

Import automatically detects STL files:

Wolfram Language code: Import["http://exampledata.wolfram.com/gear.1"]

Import provides access to elements in the STL file:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/spikey.stl", "Elements"]

Import works on large files:

Wolfram Language code: Import["http://exampledata.wolfram.com/turtle.stl"] // MeshCellCount//AbsoluteTiming

Export  (6)

Export works on 3D graphics:

Wolfram Language code: Export["model.stl", [image]]

Special regions:

Wolfram Language code: Export["sphere.stl", Sphere[]]

Formula regions:

Wolfram Language code: Export["ball.stl", ImplicitRegion[x ^ 2 + y ^ 2 + z ^ 2 ≤ 1, {x, y, z}]]

Mesh regions:

Wolfram Language code: Export["pyramid.stl", MeshRegion[{{-1, -1, 0}, {1, -1, 0}, {1, 1, 0}, {-1, 1, 0}, {0, 0, 1}}, Pyramid[{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}]]]

Export to a binary STL file:

Wolfram Language code: Export["model.stl", [image]]

ASCII STL file:

Wolfram Language code: Export["model.stl", [image], "BinaryFormat" -> False]

Import Elements  (12)

"BinaryFormat"  (1)

Test whether this file is a binary or ASCII STL:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/spikey.stl", "BinaryFormat"]

"BoundaryMeshRegion"  (1)

Give a boundary mesh region:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/spikey.stl", "BoundaryMeshRegion"]

"Comments"  (1)

Give the comments in the STL file:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/spikey.stl", "Comments"]

"CoordinateTransform"  (1)

The coordinate system used by the STL format is identical to the Wolfram Language:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/dodecahedron.ply", "CoordinateTransform"]

"Graphics3D"  (1)

Give the Graphics3D object:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/spikey.stl", "Graphics3D"]

"GraphicsComplex"  (1)

Give the GraphicsComplex object:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/spikey.stl", "GraphicsComplex"]

"MeshRegion"  (1)

Give a mesh region:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/spikey.stl", "MeshRegion"]

"PolygonData"  (1)

Give the polygon elements in indexed form:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/spikey.stl", "PolygonData"]

"PolygonObjects"  (1)

Give the list of Triangle primitives given in absolute coordinates:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/spikey.stl", "PolygonObjects"]

"PolygonCount"  (1)

Give the number of triangles:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/spikey.stl", "PolygonCount"]

"Summary"  (1)

Give the summary of properties:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/seashell.stl", "Summary"]

File size:

Wolfram Language code: %["FileSize"]

"VertexData"  (1)

Give the vertex coordinates:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/spikey.stl", "VertexData"]

Export Options  (2)

By default, a binary file is generated when exporting:

Wolfram Language code: Export["model.stl", [image]]

Print the raw textual contents of the file:

Wolfram Language code: FilePrint[%]

Use "BinaryFormat" False to generate an ASCII file:

Wolfram Language code: Export["model.stl", [image], {"STL", "BinaryFormat" -> False}]

Print the raw textual contents of the file:

Wolfram Language code: FilePrint[%]