Export Options for STL (.stl) dialog box

Controls how a model document is translated to the .stl file format. STL files are used in additive manufacturing to produce 3D prototypes of your 3D CAD models.

Output file as

Specifies the format for the output .STL files.

Binary

Stores the STL files in binary format.

Note:

Binary STL files are much smaller than ASCII STL files.

ASCII

Stores the STL files in ASCII format.

Export displayed only

Exports only the active model and construction geometry that is visible in the part or assembly.

Note:

If you select this option, only design bodies are exported. Any simplified bodies contained in the assembly are not exported.

STL Document Structure

Specifies the STL document structure.

Single STL document

Creates a single STL document that contains components in the assembly. This option is disabled for part documents.

STL document for each component

Creates individual STL documents for each component in the assembly.

Note:

Only design bodies are exported to STL format. Construction bodies and simplified data is not exported to STL format.

Tolerance Options

Specifies the tessellation of the model document for Stereo Lithography (STL) output.

Custom

Enables the Conversion tolerance and Surface plane angle options so you can specify custom values for these options. You can enter a value or use the slider to change the value for the Conversion tolerance or Surface plane angle.

The slider range for the surface plane angle is from 1 to 60 degrees, which Solid Edge recommends, but you can key in a value up to 90 degrees. If you enter a value that is outside that range, the angle edit field becomes yellow. If you enter an invalid value below 0.5 degrees or above 90 degrees, the angle edit field becomes orange.

Note:

Lower numbers generate files with greater whole part accuracy,

Fine

Specifies that you want the tolerance to be fine. If you select this option, you cannot change the values for the Conversion tolerance or Surface plane angle.

Selecting this option sets the Surface plane angle value to 30 degrees.

Coarse

Specifies that you want the tolerance to be coarse. If you select this option, you cannot change the values for the Conversion tolerance or Surface plane angle.

Selecting this option sets the Surface plane angle value to 60 degrees.

Conversion tolerance

Specifies the conversion tolerance, which is the distance between the surface and its facets, in model units.

Conversion tolerance controls the amount of tessellation (facets) on the model. A higher tessellation value produces a coarser, more meshed model. A lower tessellation value produces a finer, smoother model.

File size decreases as tolerance size increases.

The tolerance range for Millimeters is .001 to 2.5. The tolerance range for Inch is 0.0001 to 0.1. Any value above these ranges is invalid and the tolerance edit field becomes orange. We do not recommend any value above these ranges, and the tolerance edit field becomes yellow, but 3D print preview and translation options are still available in this condition.

Surface plane angle

Specifies the surface angle tolerance, which is the tolerance between the surface and its facets. It is the upper bound on the angular deviation between the surface normals at any two positions under the facet.

A lower value produces greater accuracy in the model. This is most visible in small details.

The slider range for the surface plane angle is from 1 to 60 degrees, but you can key in a value up to 90 degrees. If you enter a value that QY CAD does not recommend, the angle edit field becomes yellow and the slider moves to the extreme right, but 3D print preview and translation options are still available in this condition.

By default, the angle displays in degrees, but you can change the measurement unit to radians.

Translation Options

Export units

The units of measurement for the part being exported. You can set the units to millimeters or inches.

Generate Log file

Produces a log file that contains warnings and information about the files involved in translation.

Saving QY CAD documents to STL format

XGL Export Options Dialog Box