There’s been a development regarding the official AMF file format.
format
Streamlining 3D Printing: The Demand for a Standardized Profile System
Could everyone please get together and figure out a way to standardize 3D printer profiles? Please!
Surprise: PrusaSlicer 2.5.0 Includes STEP Format Import
Prusa Research released the latest beta version of PrusaSlicer, and surprise — it includes the ability to use STEP files.
Could OVF Replace GCODE?
A newly invented protocol just might replace GCODE for certain types of 3D printing.
Prusa Joins 3MF Consortium
Prusa Research quietly announced they’ve joined the 3MF Foundation in a live video this week.
Is LulzBot Shifting To 1.75mm Filament?
The latest LulzBot machine is the TAZ Pro S, and it sports a 1.75mm tool head, unlike the rest of the company’s lineup.
1.75 vs 2.85mm Filament Showdown
Where did the two 3D printer filament diameters come from and what is the difference? Which one is better?
At Last: The End of STL Is In Sight
There have been a few developments recently that have brought me to the view that STL file format will slide away quietly.
3MF Specifications Now Entirely Public
The 3MF Consortium has finally released ALL of its specifications to the public via GitHub.
3MF Solves a Massive Problem
The 3MF Consortium announced a new feature that should have a significant effect on the use of 3D printing.
Could the End of STL be In Sight?
The venerable STL file format for describing 3D models has been around for far too long. But now the end could be finally appearing.
Is 3MF Actually Making Progress?
Is anyone actually using 3MF?
Why STL Files Can Be Insufficient For 3D Printing
I’m reading an interesting piece by Gal Raz on Medium about the file types required by 3D print service bureaus.
GE Joins 3MF Consortium; Let’s Declare This Competition Over
The 3MF Consortium announced a new member: GE Global Research. With this addition, it’s time to consider 3MF as the winning standard.
Just Maybe This 3MF Thing Is Going To Work
The 3MF Consortium announced the arrival of four more companies to the project. And they’re notable companies.
3MF Consortium Hopes to Standardize 3D Print Formats
Several key 3D print-related companies announced a new consortium focused on promoting a new, more powerful 3D model file format: 3MF.
Voxelizer Offers Interesting Opportunities
Voxelizer is the software made for ZMorph 3D printers, but it also may offer something for those who don’t use that machine.
i3DConverter: Save in Almost Any 3D Format
We’re checking out a 3D utility program that converts 3D files into different formats.
Where Did AMF Go?
Every once in a while you’ll run into a problem when 3D printing After some diagnosis you’ll realize the root cause of your issue was STL, the prehistoric file format most commonly used by the personal 3D printing industry. There’s no other way to say it, but STL sucks. It permits invalid 3D models… Continue reading Where Did AMF Go?
An End To The Dreaded STL Format?
Experiments are underway to 3D print without using STL, the standard meat and potato file format used by 3D printers worldwide. How can this be? The folks at the RepRap project are trying to use a different approach using CSG format. Ok, let’s back up a bit; there are too many acronyms fling around… Continue reading An End To The Dreaded STL Format?
Waiting For AMF
Some months ago (March actually) we wrote about a new file format for additive manufacturing that had been approved after long discussion: AMF, the Additive Manufacturing Format. This new format included a variety of key features to dramatically improve the information content found in 3D models. Meta data, materials, colors, textures and more were… Continue reading Waiting For AMF
MiniMagics2 Released
Materialise has released a new version of their MiniMagics software, which is used for management of STL files. What can it do? Here’s a short list: Import and save .STL, .magics or .mgx files Compress STL files up to factor 20 View parts and rotate, pan or zoom Detect bad edges and flipped triangles… Continue reading MiniMagics2 Released
.STL Overview
There’s a terrific overview of .STL and in fact the modelling and 3D printing process available at InstaTuts. It takes you through a simple explanation of how .STL works and how it is produced by modeling software. Eventually the model (a boxer, pictured) is sent to a Dimension SST 3D Printer for production. Via InstaTuts
Replacing .STL
We wrote on the problems with the prehistoric .STL format the other week, and bumped into a potential replacement: GTS. It’s an open source project: GTS stands for the GNU Triangulated Surface Library. It is an Open Source Free Software Library intended to provide a set of useful functions to deal with 3D surfaces meshed… Continue reading Replacing .STL
.STL To Be Replaced?
RapidToday posts an interesting interview with Hod Lipson, chair of the ASTM Committee on Additive Manufacturing Standards’s task force on file formats. The topic: .STL. You ask what’s wrong with .STL? Lots, it turns out. The 1987 vintage standard is so old you could legally buy it a beer in most states. As RapidToday points… Continue reading .STL To Be Replaced?
XVL – Now EVEN SMALLER!
Last September we wrote about Lattice Technology’s 3D model storage format, XVL, which offers significant (i.e. up to 99%) savings over other formats. Now though, they’ve gone even farther by announcing XVL v10 that “delivers 2 times more compression of 3D data than the previous XVL formats, along with vastly improved memory consumption and speed… Continue reading XVL – Now EVEN SMALLER!
My Model is Shrinking!
We bumped into Lattice Technology, a company that produces 3D modeling software. What’s the big deal? Actually, it’s a small deal: Lattice uses a unique storage format, XVL, that offers tremendous space savings over conventional 3D storage formats. According to Bill Barnes, GM of Lattice: “Our converters use the industry’s best translation technologies and allow… Continue reading My Model is Shrinking!
Through The Barrier
Previously we reported on a breakthrough in 3D software that permitted Revit 2009 users to easily access 3D Print Services via a special .STL exported for Revit 2009. Now Bim & Beam are collecting sample images of printed 3D objects that result from the use of the new software. Via Bim & Beam
STL Barrier Broken!
One of the ongoing bugaboos of 3D printing is that most 3D printers accept a limited number of 3D input files. Most typically, STL is expected. If you don’t match the protocol of your printer, you can’t print. One of the biggest hurdles has been making it possible for existing 3D models to be printed,… Continue reading STL Barrier Broken!
.STL ?
Frequently we’ve mentioned the use of .STL files when describing 3D printing services. But what are they, exactly? .STL is a computer file format, specifically designed to capture a three-dimensional model of an object. This kind of file format is frequently accepted by 3D print services as a way for you to tell them precisely… Continue reading .STL ?