Stl file size

[Anonymous]

Hi

i am using a 3D scanner to capture the negative surface of a violin in order to cut a perfect fitting positive patch. 

I need a way to reduce the file size without reduceing the texture of the scan. 

Since I am trying to cut a perfect posture match I can’t loose any geometry. I have tried decimating the mesh but this always looks far less accurate when I am down. 

I was was hoping for some advice. 

Thanks 

[TrippyLighting]

Can you share that .stl ? (zip and attach)

I have two workflows in mind but I need to see what level of detail is captured in the .stl.

One of the workflows is covered here, but again, I'd have to see the .stl to be able to determine it that makes sense or another workflow might be better.

[Anonymous]

Attached is a link to the file. The file is a scan of a damaged violin top
I am patching. Its several scans joined together. Reducing the mesh has
always resulted in a lower quality surface. I would like to reduce it so
its easier to work with but I cant loose any of the surface texture or the
cut part wont fit.
Master Top Joined Mesh.stl
<>

[TrippyLighting]

No file attached.

BTW you'll have to use the Forum's Web interface to do this. Replies per email won't work to attach things.

[Anonymous]

Im not able to upload the file its so large. 

[TrippyLighting]

Do you have a dropbox account ?

I created this tutorial for working with .stl files just yesterday. See if this applies to your situation.

[Anonymous]

So this is one of the scans

[Anonymous]

I do have a drop box account, is there a way to connect them or send you a link. My email is violinguy246@gmail

[TrippyLighting]

I shared a dropbox folder with that email address. You should get an email and then place the file in that folder.

I won't get to it before tomorrow morning.

[TrippyLighting]

Just looking at the size of the file I cannot help.I wonder ho many hundreds of millions of data points are in a .stl file approaching 1 giga byte in size. I don't have the hardware or software to deal with that amount of data. 

Did you experiment with mesh density and detail conveyed in .stl files before you had this scanned ?

Edit: I checked a part I recently had 3D scanned.  The file size is 144MB and it contains 3 million polygons. If file size grows linearly with number of polygons yours has approximately 18 million polygons.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

This is the largest object I have scanned so far. Usually my patches are
small enough the size isnt an issue.
I downloaded blender last night and was able to remove the duplicate layers
which took the file to a much more manageable size.