Increase the number of nodes and elements in STL file export.

Aerospace Desk
Aerospace Desk
in Other

Hi Everybody,

For the file of my Alclad plate which I have designed, (file attached) when I export the file as an STL Binary/ASCII, I find that the resolution of the elements and the number of nodes isn't good enough for my purposes.

The problem is that I need to test this plate in a finite element analysis FEA/FEM) programme but I also want to model-and-fit assembly exercises using a Makerbot Replicator (tm)printer.

Anyone have a clue how to overcome this?

Thanks in Advance

Comments

  • Jason Bourhill
    Jason Bourhill
    For EXPORT to STL format a larger FACETRES value will give better resolution (larger file size).

    FACETRES. Adjust the smoothness of curved faced 3D solids by increasing or decreasing the number of dividing faces for shaded and hidden views. Acceptable values are between 0.01 – 10, default is 0.5. Note: Larger FACETRES values incur a high calculation cost.

    Regards, Jason Bourhill CAD Concepts 
  • Aerospace Desk
    Aerospace Desk

    Brilliant Jason. Thank you. My element count went from 11,726 to 48,236 and the STL file size went from 573KB to 2356KB at 10. Very useful.

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