Working with an STL

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Allen
Posts: 26
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 4:00 am
Model of CNC Machine: Built it myself/ Linuxcnc control

Working with an STL

Post by Allen »

Hi folks,

I have a solid .STL model opened in Aspire.
Is there a tutorial illustrating how to apply vectors to a solid model?

Or can someone explain how to apply vectors to a solid model.

Thanks in advance.

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Adrian
Vectric Archimage
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Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:19 pm
Model of CNC Machine: ShopBot PRS Alpha 96x48
Location: Surrey, UK

Re: Working with an STL

Post by Adrian »

What is it you want to do?

You don't really apply vectors to an Aspire model. You draw them in a flat plane as usual and then use the "project onto 3D" option in the associated toolpath to make the toolpath conform to the 3D shape.

FastFarmer
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Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2013 9:26 am
Model of CNC Machine: BF-30 mill and 360 x 100 lathe

Re: Working with an STL

Post by FastFarmer »

Adrian wrote:What is it you want to do?
:lol: :lol: :lol: Yes that would help!

You can trace your STL which will give you the outline but if you want all the objects vectors here's what to do -

1. open your STL in meshlab and simplify it.
2. open your simplified STL in Sharkcad (or a similar decent CAD program) and convert it to a solid - Convert to Analytic
3. Select the view you want to work with and then convert your new solid view into a 2d drawing and clean up any unwanted vectors.
4. Select your 2d drawing and save it as a DFX
5. In Vcarve or Aspire, turn off the STL layer and create a new layer, import your DFX, select all and join vectors.
6. Make sure the DFX is sitting with the same origin or datum as your STL
7. Turn back on the STL layer and now you have all the vectors for that view siting ontop of your model.

Good luck

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