They may also be difficult for 3D printers to read.
Full 3D models created with CAD software can be too complex to easily share online. The format also serves as an interface between 3D modelling software and 3D printing hardware. Furthermore, most 3D modelling software is designed to open STL files. 3D printers are therefore being designed to work with the format.
STL has become widely accepted as the standard format for prints intended for additive manufacturing and manufacturers. The format makes file portability possible, which is a significant advantage for most manufacturers in the AM space. They may lack the precision of other formats, but most 3D printers are similarly limited in the level of detail they can reproduce, so it doesn’t really matter. Thanks to the format’s simplicity, STL files are fairly small. Many websites that publish 3D models use the STL format. The more triangles used, the higher the model’s resolution. This format uses a series of interconnected triangles to recreate or reproduce a 3D model’s surface geometry. The format describes a 3D object’s surface geometry without any color, texture or other properties. STL stands for Standard Tessellation Language or STereo Lithography. The STL format is the most widely used format for additive manufacturing. This post is a guide that clarifies the process, so that users can optimize their settings for specific needs. stl files for 3D printing and SLS printing.