Export 2D STL

[TL_9812138]

Hey everybody,

I want to export a 2D geometry into a stl file. So far I created a sketch with the 2D geometry, which I can‘t export to stl. I know that stl is actually for 3d volumes but in Siemens nx you can also export 2d geometry into stl files.

Is there a way to do so in Creo? I used the fill command to generate a face of the sketch  but I can‘t export the face to stl either. 
Someone Haus an idea?

Best

Tim 

[tbraxton]

For STL-Export option to be available, either criteria has to be fulfilled:
• Part contains solid geometry
• Part contains faceted geometry feature (can be suppressed)

Workarounds:
1. Solidify or Thicken surfaces or primitives to make a solid part
1. Use Save as and change File Type to Stereolithography (*.stl)
2. Use Save as and change File Type to Shrinkwrap
1. In the Create Shrinkwrap dialog box set Creation method to Faceted Solid, uncheck Ignore Quilts, and set Output format to STL

[TL_9812138]

Hey thank you for your reply.

When I use Thicken after I filled my sketch I can’t set the thickness to zero, what I need. 
Concerning Solidify I‘m not able to select Solidify for a filled face.

Best

Tim

[tbraxton]

Perhaps you can state the problem you are trying to solve with the 2D export data, STL may not be your only option. If you are looking to export a surface or quilt from Creo then STL is not the format for that. Some pictures would likely help get the problem across to viewers.

[TL_9812138]

So I attached some photos. There you can see my sketch, my filled sketch and the filled sketch after thickened (doesn't help because the geometry should stay planar). I successfully exported the shrinkwrap as stl  but as you can see on the "stl from shrinkwrap"-photo the contour of the geometry is not so good anymore. Is there a way to achieve better quality? 

Also I was wondering if there is other surface data types which I can convert to stl ? Like with shrinkwrap or with a free online converter in the internet?

[tbraxton]

The fidelity of shrink-wrap can be improved with the use of the level of detail controls. Refer to the PTC help for details on this.

I am still not clear on what you intend to do with a zero thickness surface in the shape of your sketch. You can export the filled sketch geometry using STEP or IGES which are neutral file formats compatible with many CAD tools. Why does the format need to be a 2D stl file?

[TL_9812138]

Thank you!

I'm coding a little program in Matlab that is supposed to plot different contours of parts. I need these contours for visualization purpose. Matlab has got a built in function for 2d and 3d stl geometries. There is no built in functions for other data formats. 

[tbraxton]

If I understand you just need to get the shape from your sketch then you should be able to import and image file.

MATLAB can read an image from file.

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/imread.html 

Create a drawing of your model in Creo and save as a TIFF file or other compatible format at desired scale and import it into MATLAB.

Alternatively if you have access to Adobe Acrobat then save the Creo drawing as .pdf and then use Acrobat to save it in a format that MATLAB can read in.

[TL_9812138]

Images is no alternative as I have to plot the geometry and need its coordinates for further processing. (For example align multiple geometries in the plot). Is there a way to only get one specific surface after extruding the sketch (see photo) and save this surface as stl?

[KenFarley]

If it were me, and I absolutely *HAD* to have an STL file that is 2D, I figure you have a couple of options.

(1) Find an online converter, if there is one, that can punch out a 2D STL file using an IGES or STEP file. I don't know of such a thing, but you can search for it.

(2) Make an extrusion of the shape to a depth, then output an STL file of the resultant solid. Make sure you save the STL file as ASCII, not BINARY. Use a text editor to delete any facets that are not on the plane of Z=0.0000. For example, for a solid that was extruded to a depth of 1.000, you'd want to delete any facets with a Z value of 1.000 for any of the vertices, like this one:

  facet normal 0.000000e+00 0.000000e+00 1.000000e+00
    outer loop
      vertex -3.500000e+00 -3.500000e+00 1.000000e+00
      vertex 0.000000e+00 -3.500000e+00 1.000000e+00
      vertex 0.000000e+00 0.000000e+00 1.000000e+00
    endloop
  endfacet

It's not a nice solution, but with a good editor, and using a depth value that's easy to find (i.e. 9.999), it will work.

[TL_9812138]

Hey thank you for contributing!

I already tried online converters but either the output stls are erroneous or the converter fails.

Your second option is a great workaround but seems too complicated to me as other students, that are not so much into that topic, have to use my matlab program.

So far the solution using shrink wrap seems to be the easiest. But if there was a command like making a face solid (remaining zero wall thickness) so you can directly export it to stl would be amazing. 

A friend of mine who I was asking for help was able to create planar stl faces with Siemens NX. He solved it using "Shell" but I don't know how this should work for Creo. Using shell in Creo you still have a certain wall thickness and you can only use it for extrudes.

[tbraxton]

One thing you may want to investigate with the translators is to check whether they process ASCII or binary format when submitting the STL files. You can export either from Creo.

If this shape (tensile test specimen?) representative of the complexity I think MATLAB will enable you to plot the shape so you would then have access to vertices etc. explicitly. For something this simple it may be more expedient to "draw" it in MATLAB unless you can get your 2D stl file format.

[MartinHanak]

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@TL_9812138 wrote:

Hey thank you for contributing!

I already tried online converters but either the output stls are erroneous or the converter fails.

Your second option is a great workaround but seems too complicated to me as other students, that are not so much into that topic, have to use my matlab program.

So far the solution using shrink wrap seems to be the easiest. But if there was a command like making a face solid (remaining zero wall thickness) so you can directly export it to stl would be amazing. 

A friend of mine who I was asking for help was able to create planar stl faces with Siemens NX. He solved it using "Shell" but I don't know how this should work for Creo. Using shell in Creo you still have a certain wall thickness and you can only use it for extrudes.

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Hi,

maybe one of apps mentioned on https://all3dp.com/1/7-free-stl-editors-edit-repair-stl-files/ page will help you.