Import-STL User Interface

Default locations

If checked, the locations of the macro file and the Report File are automatically set to being at the same location as the input Standard Triangle Language (STL) File.

Note:
When this option is checked, the user is no longer allowed to select or modify Locations for either the Macro or Report files manually.

Default filenames

If checked, the filenames of the Macro file and the Report file are automatically the same as the input STL file but with .mac and .log extensions, respectively.

Note:
When this option is checked, the user is no longer allowed to select or modify Filenames for either the Macro or Report files manually.

Input File

Select STL file

the field is used to specify the full path and filename of the STL file to be translated.

STL Mode

the field is used to specify the format of the STL file, American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) or Binary. ASCII is the default value of this field.

Destination

Macro File

The field is split into two sections; the Location and Filename. If a location is not valid, the last valid location automatically replaces the location that was entered.

Report File

Again, the section has separate location/file sections and is used to select where Import-STL should create its' log file and the name of the file.

Model Section

Holes

the field is used to set how the Import-STL program deals with holes. The options are:

On

the default value for this field. Where the program finds holes in objects in the STL file, corresponding negative primitives (holes) are generated in the MAC file.

Off

when this option is selected, where the program finds holes in objects in the STL file, these are all ignored and no holes are generated in the MAC file.

<Diameter>

when this option is selected, the user is able to specify the maximum size of hole that is to be translated as a hole. Where the program finds holes in objects in the STL file with a diameter smaller than the value entered, these are ignored and corresponding holes are not generated in the MAC file. Where the program finds holes in objects in the STL file with a diameter equal to or greater than the value entered, corresponding holes are generated in the MAC file.

Scale factor

the field is used to specify an enlargement or reduction factor that the Import-STL program is to apply. The default value for this field is 1.0.

Note:
Within an STL file there is no concept of units. During the translation process the Import-STL program maintains the physical relationships of objects in the STL file, resultant primitives in the MAC file are therefore of the same relative size and use mm for all distances. If the units used in the originating program, from which the STL file was generated, are known, the Scale factor field can be used to scale up or down the resultant MAC file objects.

Create

Clicking Create initiates the translation process within the Import-STL program.

Exit

Clicking Exit closes the user interface and terminates the Import-STL program.

Output Summary

Output Summary is used for displaying messages and status reports when translating a file

Hide/Show Output Summary

With the Output Summary pane displayed, clicking Hide Output Summary, closes the pane and displays the option as Show Output Summary which displays the pane again.

More >>

Clicking More>> displays further options.

Min. sides per cylinder

the field is used to specify the minimum number of sides required in order for the program to recognize and map a cylinder. The program determines that an object is a cylinder by inference, it actually detects a cylinder as an extrusion having a circular profile. The circular profile is mapped by intersecting vertices, and the value set in this field represents the minimum number of intersecting vertices that the program is required to use to map a circular profile.

Compressed Geometry

Used to set how the Import-STL program is to deal with coplanar faces.

Selecting the check box, the program combines coplanar faces with shared edges into bigger faces. It also maps geometric solids into AVEVA E3D Design primitives. The option produces the smallest resultant MAC file.

De-selecting the check box, the program does not combine coplanar faces with shared edges into bigger faces and does not map geometric solids into primitives. The option produces a much larger MAC file than the when Compressed Geometry is switched on.

Wrapper

Used to set how the program is to treat objects with internal parts.

Selecting the check box, the program creates a wrapper around all solid parts. It then removes from the MAC file any parts that are wholly inside other parts. Internal features created by solid parts overlapping are also removed from the MAC file. The option is useful if the STL file contains parts that have lots of internal parts that can be recognized by Import-STL as solids.

De-selecting the check box, the program does not perform the wrapping operation.

Solid polyhedron

Used to set how the program is to map solid parts to AVEVA E3D Design.

Selecting the check box, the program creates solid polyhedra for solid parts that can not be mapped onto Boxes, Cylinders and other AVEVA E3D Design primitives.

De-selecting the check box, the program does not create solid polyhedra but maps these parts to POHE/POGO.

Edge visibility

Used to set the mode by which the program can set edges to be visible or invisible.

Selecting On, the program sets all edges to be visible.

Selecting Off, the program sets all edges to be invisible.

Selecting Angle, allows the user to set an angle by which the program computes if an edge becomes visible or invisible. The default value is set to 60 degrees. If the angle is greater than the angle between the normals of the two faces that share an edge then the edge becomes invisible otherwise it becomes visible.

Create VOLM element

Allows the output primitives in the Macro file to be created under a VOLM element rather than an Equipment (EQUI).

Selecting the check box, creates output primitives under a VOLM element.

De-selecting the check box, creates output primitives under an EQUI element.

Unicode macro

Allows the user to generate a macro file encoded as a Unicode UTF-8 file.

Selecting the check box, encodes the macro file so that more none-ASCII filenames are described correctly.

De-selecting the check box, disables Unicode handling.

<< Less

removes the advanced options from the display.