Importing STL files?

[Roch Comeau]

Hello,

I would like to be able to import STL files into VectorWorks. Unless I am missing something, this does not look possible. If it is indeed possible, can someone point me to the right procedure? Otherwise, does anyone know of a free/inexpensive program that can convert STL to something importable to VectorWorks?

I am generating the STL files myself using some medical visualization software to extract anatomical structures (e.g. bone) and want to use VectorWorks to add implant parts that we design. STL is handy because it is used in CAD/CAM to actually make the parts.

Thanks for any info.

Roch

[bclydeb]

Roch,

While VW does not currently have an import function for STL files - it does produce them (STL files).

Perhaps you could run the parts the other way - export the STL from VW and then import into the other program to merge the models?

[Roch Comeau]

Hi,

Thanks for the idea, but unfortunately that is not really possible. It took me an hour to write an export function to my image segmentation software, but has no CAD features. What I want is to use VectorWorks to do all the mechanical design (what it was designed to do) and have some actual bone data extracted from MR images so I can design the interface between the two in VectorWorks as well as to have real medical models for illustrative purposes.

Regards,

Roch

[Pat Stanford]

Roch are you Windows or Mac based? If you are on windows, there appear to be a number of inexpensive (<$200) options to convert your STL files to something VW can read like 3DS or DWG.

http://www.filedudes.com/Mesh_To_Solid-download-43322.html

http://www.staigerland.com/amapi/obj2amapi.html

http://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=5697-3&affiliate=24872

If you don't want to spend the money and don't mind a little more time, then check out http://home.austin.rr.com/reubenrachel/reuben/3D/index.html#stl

It gives "recipes" of how to convert using free or inexpensive software, but many of the options are multiple step and not necessarily the simplest to use.

Pat

[Roch Comeau]

Hi,

I was hoping to avoid the PC but thanks to VMWare...

I had tried Quick4D but it crashed loading my data. I tried something called Photo3DBrowser (or something like that, I don't have Windows running at the moment) and it was able to convert it and using PolygonSmasher reduced the 200k+ polygons to something manageable. The interface was really weird though. MeshToSolid looks interesting (maybe give me a nice NURBS in the end) so I'll give it a try before deciding which to purchase.

Thanks for the pointers!

Cheers,.

rcomeau

[islandmon]

When you get a chance please share images of your results.

Blender is awesome and OpenSource with many powerful conversion options including STL.

http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Manual/Manual