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

[DeanLong]

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...?

[jer3d1]

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

[rhills]

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
-

[ptc-593619]

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.

[rhills]

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
-

[sl2741]

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...

[DeanLong]

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...