SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — .STL headache

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-19T17:08:14Z

edgeflyer wrote:

WooHoo! I got the file imported. It still saves as some type of certificate, but I can right click the desktop file and open with meshlab, and it works. Now i just need to learn how to use meshlab. Are there any meshlab tutorials dedicated to manifold and slicing? The ones I saw weren't geared toward 3d printing.

Actually somehow you got your extensions in windows mixed up. Just use the open with and select the box that says always and now double clicking on an STL file will run the program of your choice.

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-19T16:52:58Z

Give me a week... working on that one right now... but I've been away from the computer for the past 4 days...
See the post "Modeling Basics" for base information. Updates on the post will follow.

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-19T16:12:56Z

WooHoo! I got the file imported. It still saves as some type of certificate, but I can right click the desktop file and open with meshlab, and it works. Now i just need to learn how to use meshlab. Are there any meshlab tutorials dedicated to manifold and slicing? The ones I saw weren't geared toward 3d printing.

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-18T21:29:00Z

I will try that if I can't get it to work tonight. Ya'll are awesome . Thanks for all the input!

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-18T19:15:03Z

If this does not fix the problem you are having could you try to post the files your are getting here on the forum? it may have some clue to whats going on even an empty file

One other thing, you did not mention which stl plugin you are using? there are quite a few... I just tried the cadspan plugin and another plugin(???) on my mac, the cadspan one puts an export menu under tools the other one puts it under the File men. I assume you are using windows(ver? >vista) because you mention 'certificate' type file... I haven't tried it on the windows laptop I have running one of my printers because I have a print running and if/when windows crashes so does the print so it will be a little while before I could try it....

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-18T19:03:15Z

O.K. quick google serch taught me how to show them. I will try this tonight and post results. Cross your fingers for me.

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-18T18:58:05Z

All extensions are hidden. Could that cause the program not to see the file. I would think it would still see that is is an STL even though the icon dosn't show that it is. How do you "show" extensions. Windows 7 BTW.

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-18T18:25:30Z

Does anything else have extensions, or is windows set to hide extensions of known file types?

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-18T17:37:13Z

I think the problem is there is no .stl extension on anything I have exported. I have tried exporting with nothing selected and with the whole thing selected (as in tripple clicking the object first). None of my files ever have an .STL extension. I also downloaded 123D and even that software would not give me an file with an .STL extension. I can save the file and reopen with whichever program created it, but when I save as an STL, it either asks which program to open with or it gives me some kind of "Certificate" file. Out of despiration I used my notebook and even with a diferent computer, I can't get it to work. There's got to be something I am missing during the saving process. I hate to give up on this endevor as it seem soo much fun, but if I can't get the software to work, there's no sense in continuing my order. I am a very mechanically, and somewhat computer literate person, but I am just stumped. Would it help if someone walked me through the process on the phone?

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-17T22:02:38Z

Silly question, but does the file have an extension of .stl? I remember something along the way where some program didn't give it an extension when I hit export. No idea if this was sketchup though.

If that is all ok, have you tried exporting a simple cube?

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-17T13:48:35Z

This is a bit of a long shot but are you exporting the model with a line selected?
I have found that if anything is actively selected then it only exports that part, so if you have a single line selected then that is all you get, but of course as there is no surface with the line it just just you a blank file.
As a test you can select half of the model you have and try again to see if that shows up at all.

Also you may want to look at the solid inspector plugin for Sketchup by thomthom. This has saved me loads of work when things don't come out right and the "is not manifold" error pops up but gives little other information. This highlights the error so you correct it. Very useful indeed.

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-17T12:38:42Z

Not to belabor the point, I have no problems exporting STLs from Sketchup (using the free plugin). We need to help understand what is going wrong in this particular situation.

lotw_1 wrote:

Sketch up is a pain, there are plenty of free or cheap options to create your models for printing. I know it's not a perfect solution and they all have learning curves but almost ever 3d modeling and rendering program can export STL fine.

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-17T07:31:57Z

Sketch up is a pain, there are plenty of free or cheap options to create your models for printing. I know it's not a perfect solution and they all have learning curves but almost ever 3d modeling and rendering program can export STL fine.

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-17T05:18:12Z

Upload your stl to here. http://cloud.netfabb.com/ They will process your file in a few seconds and email you a link. Once you view the link they send you, click it an view your model. If it looks correct it should print.

Re: .STL headache

2013-02-17T00:02:06Z

When I open with meshlab it tells me file format not supported. Under my file (STL test) it says file type is file. I just don't think the files are getting exported as actual stl's.