topic Inventor 2017 unusable with large STL files in Inventor Forum

Inventor 2017 unusable with large STL files

Anonymous — Tue, 31 May 2016 23:04:14 GMT

I realise 2017 has loads of cool new features regarding stl's. My problem however is that because of the size of stl files I am importing I am now slowed right down to the point where 2017 is practically unusable with imported stls.

I have been using inventor with STL files for years now in this size and they have been fine up until now. 2016 works perfectly fine with the STL's I need imported. This needs to be sorted out if I am to keep using inventor into the future - I love the software and the new features surrounding STL's but if it isn't useable or have a practical speed then I have no option but to either revert back to 2016 Inventor forever or change to another CAD software.

Re: Inventor 2017 unusable with large STL files

mdavis22569 — Tue, 31 May 2016 23:19:18 GMT

Can you share one?

Re: Inventor 2017 unusable with large STL files

Anonymous — Tue, 31 May 2016 23:25:00 GMT

Unfortunately due to patient confidentiality I can not share the file. They are typically anatomical models with very organic surfaces hence the large file size. eg the model I last tried in 2017 that was slow had two STL's imported - one was 61MB - the other 39MB

Re: Inventor 2017 unusable with large STL files

mdavis22569 — Tue, 31 May 2016 23:28:46 GMT

so they open in 2016 faster than 2017?

Have you gone into your Task Scheduler for 2017 and set up the processors and space? 2017 is suppose to handle STL's and importing much better ..hmmm

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Support-for-multi-core-processors.html

Re: Inventor 2017 unusable with large STL files

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 23:44:22 GMT

Yes I have gone into task sheduler for 2017 and done this. Hasn't seemed to make a difference.

I think the problem is stemming from the fact I prefer to view my CAD modelled parts with "shaded with edges". The problem with this in 2017 is that it shows all of the edges on the STL as well which is slowing it down. When 2016 is set to "shaded with edges" the STL's still appear shaded but have no edges (which is great because I don't necessarily need to see loads of triangles of an STL - I just want to see the edges of my CAD model).

Perhaps it would be benificial to be able to switch the view options for an inventor part but then also have separate viewing options for STL's?

Re: Inventor 2017 unusable with large STL files

mdavis22569 — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 23:46:00 GMT

I use Shaded with edges too ...but my parts are huge.

Maybe someone from Autodesk can jump in and you give give them an example ....

Re: Inventor 2017 unusable with large STL files

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 23:52:25 GMT

Thanks for your replies mdavis22569, when you say your parts are huge how big are we talking? The 61MB file is was referring to above has 1,266,458 triangles so when inventor shades this many edges it is clearly a heavy process. Is there any way to view the STL as fully shaded with no edges whilst viewing the solid bodies in my CAD model with edges?

Re: Inventor 2017 unusable with large STL files

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 04:03:45 GMT

Has anyone found a solution to this issue? I am suffering from the same problem which is making me think about changing software...