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Opening STLs

8 REPLIES 8
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Message 1 of 9
Anonymous
803 Views, 8 Replies

Opening STLs

Anonymous
Not applicable
Hi, I've been working with Inventor off and on for a couple months, but I'm still fairly new to it. I noticed Inventor can save parts as STL files. But every time I try to open an STL with Inventor, it refuses to do it. I don't get a busy cursor, the performance manager doesn't show any additional resources being used, Inventor just ignores the command. This happens with files I save as an STL and try to open, and with files other people give me.

So, what gives? Is Inventor incapable of reading an STL? Or am I missing something?

I'm using Inventor 2008 Professional Education version on a quad core with 4GB of RAM running windows xp pro 32bit.

Thanks,
~N
0 Likes

Opening STLs

Hi, I've been working with Inventor off and on for a couple months, but I'm still fairly new to it. I noticed Inventor can save parts as STL files. But every time I try to open an STL with Inventor, it refuses to do it. I don't get a busy cursor, the performance manager doesn't show any additional resources being used, Inventor just ignores the command. This happens with files I save as an STL and try to open, and with files other people give me.

So, what gives? Is Inventor incapable of reading an STL? Or am I missing something?

I'm using Inventor 2008 Professional Education version on a quad core with 4GB of RAM running windows xp pro 32bit.

Thanks,
~N
8 REPLIES 8
Message 2 of 9
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Anonymous
Not applicable

yup, you got it - Iv can't open STL files even
though it's happy to export them.

 



style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
Hi,
I've been working with Inventor off and on for a couple months, but I'm still
fairly new to it. I noticed Inventor can save parts as STL files. But every
time I try to open an STL with Inventor, it refuses to do it. I don't get a
busy cursor, the performance manager doesn't show any additional resources
being used, Inventor just ignores the command. This happens with files I save
as an STL and try to open, and with files other people give me. So, what
gives? Is Inventor incapable of reading an STL? Or am I missing something? I'm
using Inventor 2008 Professional Education version on a quad core with 4GB of
RAM running windows xp pro 32bit. Thanks, ~N
0 Likes


yup, you got it - Iv can't open STL files even
though it's happy to export them.

 



style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
Hi,
I've been working with Inventor off and on for a couple months, but I'm still
fairly new to it. I noticed Inventor can save parts as STL files. But every
time I try to open an STL with Inventor, it refuses to do it. I don't get a
busy cursor, the performance manager doesn't show any additional resources
being used, Inventor just ignores the command. This happens with files I save
as an STL and try to open, and with files other people give me. So, what
gives? Is Inventor incapable of reading an STL? Or am I missing something? I'm
using Inventor 2008 Professional Education version on a quad core with 4GB of
RAM running windows xp pro 32bit. Thanks, ~N
Message 3 of 9
JDMather
in reply to: Anonymous

JDMather
Consultant
Consultant
If you just need to view the stl file the free Hoops ACIS viewer will also open stl files.

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


0 Likes

If you just need to view the stl file the free Hoops ACIS viewer will also open stl files.

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


Message 4 of 9
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Anonymous
Not applicable

As the others have said, Inventor doesn't support
reading STL files.  However, I wrote an add-in that does allow you to
import STL or OBJ files into Inventor.  There are major limitations with
what you can do with once imported.  Read the readme in the attached file
before installing it to see if it looks like it might be useful, even with those
limitations.
--
Brian Ekins
Autodesk Inventor API Product
Designer

href="http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine">http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine
0 Likes


As the others have said, Inventor doesn't support
reading STL files.  However, I wrote an add-in that does allow you to
import STL or OBJ files into Inventor.  There are major limitations with
what you can do with once imported.  Read the readme in the attached file
before installing it to see if it looks like it might be useful, even with those
limitations.
--
Brian Ekins
Autodesk Inventor API Product
Designer

href="http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine">http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine
Message 5 of 9
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Anonymous
Not applicable

Based on a discussion in another thread I obtained
some more obj files to test with and found a couple of problems that I've
corrected.  Attached is an updated version (1.4) of the
program.

 

Some .obj files were failing when reading. 
This is a fix for that.
--
Brian Ekins
Autodesk Inventor API Product
Designer

href="http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine">http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine


style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">


As the others have said, Inventor doesn't support
reading STL files.  However, I wrote an add-in that does allow you to
import STL or OBJ files into Inventor.  There are major limitations with
what you can do with once imported.  Read the readme in the attached file
before installing it to see if it looks like it might be useful, even with
those limitations.
--
Brian Ekins
Autodesk Inventor API Product
Designer

href="http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine">http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine
0 Likes


Based on a discussion in another thread I obtained
some more obj files to test with and found a couple of problems that I've
corrected.  Attached is an updated version (1.4) of the
program.

 

Some .obj files were failing when reading. 
This is a fix for that.
--
Brian Ekins
Autodesk Inventor API Product
Designer

href="http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine">http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine


style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">


As the others have said, Inventor doesn't support
reading STL files.  However, I wrote an add-in that does allow you to
import STL or OBJ files into Inventor.  There are major limitations with
what you can do with once imported.  Read the readme in the attached file
before installing it to see if it looks like it might be useful, even with
those limitations.
--
Brian Ekins
Autodesk Inventor API Product
Designer

href="http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine">http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine
Message 6 of 9
JDMather
in reply to: Anonymous

JDMather
Consultant
Consultant
>Attached is an updated version (1.4) of the program.

... now, if we could copy the geometry to the Construction Environment and Stitch...

I realize that for all but relatively simple geometry the facets would really slow things down....

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


0 Likes

>Attached is an updated version (1.4) of the program.

... now, if we could copy the geometry to the Construction Environment and Stitch...

I realize that for all but relatively simple geometry the facets would really slow things down....

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


Message 7 of 9
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Anonymous
Not applicable

That's what I would like to do but am limited by
the current API functionality.  The problem is that what you're viewing
isn't gometry, but only graphics.  I'm lacking the ability to efficiently
create the equivalent geometry.  Hopefully in the next release. 🙂
--

Brian Ekins
Autodesk Inventor API Product Designer

href="http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine">http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine


style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">

now, if we could copy the geometry to the Construction Environment and
Stitch... I realize that for all but relatively simple geometry the facets
would really slow things down....
0 Likes


That's what I would like to do but am limited by
the current API functionality.  The problem is that what you're viewing
isn't gometry, but only graphics.  I'm lacking the ability to efficiently
create the equivalent geometry.  Hopefully in the next release. 🙂
--

Brian Ekins
Autodesk Inventor API Product Designer

href="http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine">http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine


style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">

now, if we could copy the geometry to the Construction Environment and
Stitch... I realize that for all but relatively simple geometry the facets
would really slow things down....
Message 8 of 9
MariaManuela
in reply to: Anonymous

MariaManuela
Advisor
Advisor
Hi Brian,
This app works for Inventor 2010?

Some of our specific customers need to import STL in to Inventor and they had to use other programs to do this like Catia V5 for example.

Thanks.
Asidek Consultant Specialist
www.asidek.es
0 Likes

Hi Brian,
This app works for Inventor 2010?

Some of our specific customers need to import STL in to Inventor and they had to use other programs to do this like Catia V5 for example.

Thanks.
Asidek Consultant Specialist
www.asidek.es
Message 9 of 9
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Anonymous
Not applicable
I've made the latest version of this program available through my blog.
I'll post updates there as-needed. It works for Inventor 2009 and 2010.

http://modthemachine.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/working-with-stl-and-obj-files.html
--
Brian Ekins
Autodesk Inventor API Product Designer
http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine

"mapinho" wrote in message news:6214608@discussion.autodesk.com...
Hi Brian,
This app works for Inventor 2010?

Some of our specific customers need to import STL in to Inventor and they
had to use other programs to do this like Catia V5 for example.

Thanks.
0 Likes

I've made the latest version of this program available through my blog.
I'll post updates there as-needed. It works for Inventor 2009 and 2010.

http://modthemachine.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/working-with-stl-and-obj-files.html
--
Brian Ekins
Autodesk Inventor API Product Designer
http://blogs.autodesk.com/modthemachine

"mapinho" wrote in message news:6214608@discussion.autodesk.com...
Hi Brian,
This app works for Inventor 2010?

Some of our specific customers need to import STL in to Inventor and they
had to use other programs to do this like Catia V5 for example.

Thanks.

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