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Is STL export broken?

16 REPLIES 16
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Message 1 of 17
LeonMF
2309 Views, 16 Replies

Is STL export broken?

When I export via STL, it appears that units don't get properly exported.  The file shows up in ReplicatorG as smaller than actual size by a large margin.  I have to export to IGS, import into FreeCAD, export as STL for sizing to be preserved.

16 REPLIES 16
Message 2 of 17
tdtwohy
in reply to: LeonMF

 

 

Yeah, they're having issues with files being reduced to 10% of original.

But the more complaints, the faster it gets fixed... we hope 🙂

Message 3 of 17
innovatenate
in reply to: tdtwohy

I was curious if changing the default units in F360 to cm may be a work-around? I don't currently have Replicator G installed, but that may change soon 🙂

 

Thanks!

 

 




Nathan Chandler
Principal Specialist
Message 4 of 17
tdtwohy
in reply to: innovatenate


Are you sure there isn't an old "send to print" code from 123D in there?

I remember 123D used to be a centimeter based interface and there could be a lot of old code from 123D still remaining in F360.


Message 5 of 17
innovatenate
in reply to: tdtwohy

The geometry kernel in F360 works behind the scene in cm's. The STL format is unitless (I believe - please correct me if I'm off base here). I think this may be where the issue is.

 

Here's what I've found so far:

 

-I created a 100 x 100 x 100 cm cube in F360. Next, I imported into Inventor where I can specify the units of my choice and the size is correct. 100x100x100 in, cm, mm, palms (just kidding), etc... 

-If I import the STL file into Alias (where the default is mm), I seem to get a similar results (100x100x100mm).

 

I was noticing that RepG gives two options for units, mm or in.  I just noticed that if I export the F360 cube into RepG, it looks like it comes in as 100x100x100 mm  (instead of 1000x1000x1000 mm). Does this like a possible explanation to what is happening? 

 

Thanks,

 

 




Nathan Chandler
Principal Specialist
Message 6 of 17
LeonMF
in reply to: innovatenate

It does appear that STL is unitless. However, it also appears that the defacto standard is that the implicit unit is 1mm based on a quick google search. If Fusion 360 is using a different standard of cm, then that would exactly explain the problem.

FWIW, unitless or not, it would make sense for the software to support the defacto standard.
Message 7 of 17
innovatenate
in reply to: LeonMF

 

Thanks for the quick feedback!

 

I'm hoping to clarify that if the default units are changed to mm (or to match the destination program's units) prior to exporting the STL file from Fusion 360, that the scale is correct once opened in the destination program. It's not that exporting a file that everything is shrinking by a scale of 1/10.

 

I'm hoping the above suggestion is a useable work-around for users importing into RepG, for now. The ultimate enhancement would be to have the ability to scale the exported STL during export; however, the above suggestion of matching units manually may be the best available option for the short term. Hope this is helpful!

 

Please keep the feedback coming, it is very much appreciated!

 

Thanks,

 

 




Nathan Chandler
Principal Specialist
Message 8 of 17
schneik-adsk
in reply to: innovatenate

are the wrong scale exports coming from when you are selecting/looking at the design in Fusion or from when you use the export tool built into the dashboard?
Kevin Schneider
Message 9 of 17
tom
Participant
in reply to: LeonMF

STL is truly unitless - it's just numbers in the file.  For makerbot they assume everything is mm, although if you exported it in inches they will try to detect this and automatically correct.

 

I've seen a few 3d programs that export STL, and the most common way to export is to just use the native unit of the file you're exporting.  But I've seen one program handle this by asking you during STL export whether you'd like to export with native, mm, or inches as the unit.

 

Or, I bet if you switched the default units of fusion documents to mm it would fix the issue for most users.

Message 10 of 17
LeonMF
in reply to: schneik-adsk

Kevin,

The problem is only with the exported file. I'm not aware of any problems with viewing the files in Fusion.
Message 11 of 17
LeonMF
in reply to: LeonMF

I've just learned that importing DWG and DXF files exhibits this problem. My drawing was 133mm wide and imported as 1330mm wide. If this is to be a paid, professional product, it needs to have these basics worked out. *sigh*
Message 12 of 17
schneik-adsk
in reply to: LeonMF

Was the units set in the DWG file to mm? AutoCAD files can be unit-less so this would come in at the wrong scale as you describe. We are looking at these unit issues and understand the frustration.
Kevin Schneider
Message 13 of 17
LeonMF
in reply to: schneik-adsk

I'm not sure if the program used to export the files added units.  I do know that we ticked the metric/mm box on export.

Message 14 of 17
schneik-adsk
in reply to: LeonMF

This was tracked internal as defect FUS-7703. It has been fixed and will be in our next update coming the end of the month.
Kevin Schneider
Message 15 of 17
jbbwa
in reply to: schneik-adsk

Has anyone else seen this issue recently reemerge?  Modeling previously in Fusion using inches would generate appropriately sized STL files for printing, but have noticed this issue reappear after applying the Fusion update yesterday (3/4/15).  Did anyone else experience the same?

 

Message 16 of 17
benlongo
in reply to: jbbwa

Yes, I have seen this reemerge - exporting as STL for import into shapeways.com, which reports parts cannot be printed because they are too small.  My coffee thermos has turned into the size of a shot glass.

 

Inventor Professional 15 - build 159

Message 17 of 17
deyop
in reply to: benlongo

I checked with the latest release and found that the STL file was using the currently set units to create the STL.  I tested this by inserting the STL back into Fusion and also Meshmixer.  This means if you are using inches that the system that is importing the STL will need to apply inches as well.  STL are unitless so the scale that is applied when it is created will determine the position for each vertex in the STL mesh file.  This posting may help explain the issue.  Let me know if you are still having problems.

 

Thanks

 

 

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