SolidWorks 2000 ( and later ).
SolidWorks allows you to save model designs in STL format, at all levels of design, for both individual parts and assemblies, including the ability to save a multi-bodied model as a single
1. From the
File menu, select Save as.
The Save As dialog box opens.
2. From the Save as type drop-down menu, select
STL (*.stl).
3. Click
Options...
The Export Options dialog box appears, and the model is displayed in tessellated view.
STL is the File Format selection.
4. In the Export Options dialog box, in the “Output as” section, select
Binary. (The resulting file size will be much smaller than a file saved in ASCII format.)
5. In the “Resolution” section, select the appropriate option. If you select
Custom, you can manually adjust the Deviation and Angle settings, as needed.
These settings affect the tessellation of non-planar surfaces, as follows:
- Lower Deviation settings result in finer tessellation.
- Lower Angle settings result in with greater accuracy,
noticeable in small details.
As a rule, the higher the resolution, the larger the size of the file, and the longer it takes to generate.
6. Make sure that the following check box is selected:
Save all components of an assembly in a single file. This ensures that all components are saved as a single STL file.
7. Click
OK.
8. In the Save As dialog box, click
Save.
9. In the confirmation message, click
Yes.
CAD to STL
After designing a model in a CAD program, you save the design as an STL file. (Most CAD programs have this function.) An STL file renders surfaces in the CAD design as a mesh of triangles. The number and size of the triangles determine how accurately curved surfaces are printed. You control the number and size of the triangles by setting the following parameters when you create the STL file from the CAD design:
Chordal Tolerance / Deviation
The maximum distance between the surface of the original design and the tessellated surface of the STL triangle.
Angle Control
The angular deviation allowed between adjacent triangles. This setting enables you to increase tessellation, necessary for surfaces with small radii. (The smaller the radii, the more triangles are needed).
STL File Format
You usually have the option to save STL files in either binary or ASCII format. Binary files are smaller (by a factor of 6!), so this format is usually preferred. However, ASCII files can be visually read and checked.
STL Geometry Check
Model designs containing holes and gaps adversely affect the quality of the printed model. Therefore, you should perform a geometry check of the STL files before continuing. Thirdparty software for this purpose attempts to fix the geometry of problematic files.
