Community
Inventor Forum
Welcome to Autodesk’s Inventor Forums. Share your knowledge, ask questions, and explore popular Inventor topics.
cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

STL - can I export only surfaces?

14 REPLIES 14
Reply
Message 1 of 15
czoobs
5103 Views, 14 Replies

STL - can I export only surfaces?

Hello Inventor users,

 

I'm wondering if there is a possiblity in Inventor to export a surface model as a STL file. I use CAD programs to prepare models for simulations in other software and I would like to work with Inventor because my Depratment uses it. Till now I have been using SolidWorks and with a little trick it is possible to export surfaces as a STL file. In Inventor I didn't manage to do this. So, is it possible? 

 

Best regards,

 

Wojek

14 REPLIES 14
Message 2 of 15
john.laidler
in reply to: czoobs

STL is an export option for Inventor 2011.

John Laidler
AutoCAD, Inventor and Vault



Please use "Accept as Solution" & give "Kudos" if this response helped you.
Message 3 of 15
JDMather
in reply to: czoobs


@czoobs wrote:

 export surfaces as a STL file. In Inventor I didn't manage to do this. So, is it possible? 

 Wojek


I don't think it is possible to export surface bodies as stl in Inventor.
AFAIK only solid bodies are supported for stl export.
(Of course the exported stl is all surfaces as stl is a surface definition format.)


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autodesk Inventor 2019 Certified Professional
Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 Certified Professional
Certified SolidWorks Professional


The CADWhisperer YouTube Channel


EESignature

Message 4 of 15
AustinLiu
in reply to: czoobs

Wojek,

 

It's not feasible for Inventor to export surface data as STL.

Why not use other formats instead? IGES/STEP/Parasolid?

 

Also if available, please share me more information about your workflow and request. We may consider the surface export in STL later.

 

Thanks,

Austin



Austin-Zongjie Liu
Zongjie.Liu@autodesk.com
Software Quality Assurance Manager
Design, Lifecycle & Simulation
Autodesk, Inc.
Message 5 of 15
czoobs
in reply to: czoobs

Thank you for your answers.

 

As I mentioned before I use CAD programs to prepare models for my simulations. To be precise, I simulate work of bulk handling machines and devices with the Discrete Element Method. In these simulations it is advisable to use simplified geometry because of the character of the calculating process. In many cases I need only one side of, for exemple chute wall, and surface is far enough. For now I can only import STL geometry and that is why I asked about this format. 

 

I would like to use Inventor because my department uses it and there wouldn't be any problems with data exchange.

Message 6 of 15
rdyson
in reply to: czoobs

Buy a seat of Rhino 3D, about $1000

Export from IV to Rhino as stp

Save as stl in Rhino

 

JD,

FYI, stl is polygon mesh, not surfaces



PDSU 2016
Message 7 of 15
czoobs
in reply to: czoobs

Yes I know what STL is 😉

 

The way you suggested...this is not a good solution. Maybe I'll just stay with SolidWorks

Message 8 of 15
john.laidler
in reply to: czoobs

Try creating a 'level of detail' that only has surfaces, then export as an STL.

 

John Laidler
AutoCAD, Inventor and Vault



Please use "Accept as Solution" & give "Kudos" if this response helped you.
Message 9 of 15
JDMather
in reply to: john.laidler


@jclaidler wrote:

Try creating a 'level of detail' that only has surfaces, then export as an STL.

 


Can you attach example files of this workflow?


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autodesk Inventor 2019 Certified Professional
Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 Certified Professional
Certified SolidWorks Professional


The CADWhisperer YouTube Channel


EESignature

Message 10 of 15
grv19191
in reply to: czoobs

Hi,

I am having problems with saving some surfaces as STL in solidworks. Please help me with how can i save as stl in solidworks.

Thanks

Message 11 of 15
JDMather
in reply to: grv19191

 


@grv19191 wrote:

Hi,

I am having problems with saving some surfaces as STL in solidworks. Please help me with how can i save as stl in solidworks.

Thanks


You should have started a new thread on this, and perhaps on their user forum (what happened - couldn't anyone on that forum answer your question?
Attach your SolidWorks file here.  Indicate which "surfaces" you need as stl.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autodesk Inventor 2019 Certified Professional
Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 Certified Professional
Certified SolidWorks Professional


The CADWhisperer YouTube Channel


EESignature

Message 12 of 15
LorenJ
in reply to: czoobs

I used Fusion to delete a face from a part and saved it as an STL.

 

 It comes with Inventor 2012, or you can download it from Labs.

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/fusion/

LorenJ
Message 13 of 15
bravaiser
in reply to: AustinLiu

Is it available now? I mean can you save only a surface as STL in Inventor 2012?

Message 14 of 15
JDMather
in reply to: bravaiser

Yes, it is available now.  http://labs.autodesk.com
You can save a surface body as stl file in Inventor Fusion.

 

No, you cannot save a surface body as stl file in Autodesk Inventor.

 

 

(same answer as Message  #12 rephrased)


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autodesk Inventor 2019 Certified Professional
Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 Certified Professional
Certified SolidWorks Professional


The CADWhisperer YouTube Channel


EESignature

Message 15 of 15
bravaiser
in reply to: JDMather

Thank you for the rapid response! 

Can't find what you're looking for? Ask the community or share your knowledge.

Post to forums  

Autodesk Design & Make Report