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D
DeanLong1-Visitor
1-Visitor
November 3, 2010
Question

Maybe Old Hat but.......STL files in WF4

  • November 3, 2010
  • 6 replies
  • 1281 views

Are any users having .stlresolution issues with WF4? In twenty years I have never had any issues sending stl to Rapid Prototype houses until WF4. Yes, chord height and angle control are set to minimum...just like the last twenty years....but I continually hear back that "the stl is rough, can you send the iges?"

Am I alone...?

    6 replies

    J
    jer3d11-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    November 4, 2010
    Hey Dean,

    Use a low value for chord height and a 1.0 for angle control.

    (This is the way to achieve the highest resolution. The difference is evident when working with large parts.)


    Best wishes,
    Jered


    R
    rhills1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    November 5, 2010
    There is also a hidden config option called ALLOW_SMALL_CHORD_HEIGHT.
    Set this to YES and you will be able to make your file with a chord
    height approximately 10x smaller than normal. I agree with the 1.0 for
    angle control, too.


    Robert Hills
    Cooper Tire & Rubber, Co.
    (419) 427-4909
    -


    P
    ptc-5936191-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    November 5, 2010
    I was under the impression that if you put the chord height to zero,
    ProE calculates the minimum chord height for you. I didn't know about
    this hidden config though.
    R
    rhills1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    November 5, 2010
    You are correct that if you put in zero for the chord height, Pro/E will
    calculate the minimum chord height. On a recent model I created, I
    entered zero and Pro/E calculated a chord height of .0011". After
    setting the config option, I entered zero and Pro/E calculated a minimum
    chord height of .0001".


    Robert Hills
    Cooper Tire & Rubber, Co.
    (419) 427-4909
    -


    S
    sl27411-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    November 5, 2010

    my sla provider suggested that I change the part accuracy prior to exporting the stl.

    I am running WF2, so this is "edit / setup / accuracy"

    default is .0012, which I modify to .0001 (lowest number)

    model will regenerate based on new accuracy setting - then export the stl.

    I have only modified the angle if the stl fails, but I will try that.

    Anyway, that has a tremendous effect on triangle size (and file size)

    Not sure if this is holding in WF4 / 5 - guess I'll find out sooner or later...

    D
    DeanLong1-VisitorAuthor
    1-Visitor
    November 14, 2010

    Scott,

    I just had a chance to read all the forum replies today. In my opinion, (20 years worth) your sla provider is dead wrong. changing your accuracy is not a practice you want to employ as a rule. Allow_min_chord height config option,chord height,angle control and step size check boxes with Pro are all you will ever need to produce an adequate stl.

    Dean

    In Reply to Scott Larsen:

    my sla provider suggested that I change the part accuracy prior to exporting the stl.

    I am running WF2, so this is "edit / setup / accuracy"

    default is .0012, which I modify to .0001 (lowest number)

    model will regenerate based on new accuracy setting - then export the stl.

    I have only modified the angle if the stl fails, but I will try that.

    Anyway, that has a tremendous effect on triangle size (and file size)

    Not sure if this is holding in WF4 / 5 - guess I'll find out sooner or later...

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