Hello, I have found several relevant posts here about converting 3D data to stl format for 3D printing. However, I have not seen how to increase the resolution that is used by Mathematica to make the stl file. When I use the standard commands I have seen so far, e.g. "Export["file.stl",obj]", the resolution is far to low for my needs. I should also note that I am using ParametricPlot3D to make my surface. I can easily increase the resolution of that plot using "Mesh" but it has no effect on the stl file created. How can I accomplish that task? Thanks!

Right now I have this on the new window in Math and the file its calling for IS on the desktop. Now how do I execute it?

OK. What about this?

p = ListPlot3D[0.1*Import["~/Desktop/test_2.txt", "TSV"][[2 ;;]], 
  PlotRange -> All, Mesh -> None, PlotStyle -> Red, Axes -> False, 
  Boxed -> False, Filling -> Axis, FillingStyle -> Red]

It exports nicely as stl:

Export["~/Desktop/test.stl", p]

Again, you will have to adapt the path.

Cheers,

M.

PS: The stl file is attached.

Attachments:

how do i even get the results like you do. I copied the above code to the new file in Math and made sure the source file is on desktop but then what? How do i get the 3d image like you did?

Thanks.

the number of the column and the row is the XY location and then the value of the point itself will be the Z value.

Attachments:

This data set contains only one layer; the first one had more of them. I can plot this one, i.e. one layer, like so:

Import["~/Desktop/test_2.txt", "TSV"][[2 ;;]] // ListContourPlot![enter image description here][1]

When I constructed the 3D shape I only plotted one particular contour line. In 2D this works like so:

ListContourPlot[Import["~/Desktop/test_2.txt", "TSV"][[2 ;;]], Contours -> {250}]

The 3D case is similar; you only need to use ListContourPlot3D.

Cheers,

Marco

Hi,

that would require me to try to figure out what your file actually contains, i.e. how many columns and rows etc. The basic idea could be like this. You first generate ContourLines in 3D. Something like this:

obj3d=ListContourPlot3D[Table[(Select[Import["~/Desktop/test.xls"][[2 ;;]], Length[#] == 64 &][[1 + k ;; 64 + k]]), {k, 0, 64*14, 64}], Contours -> {475}]

With the Contours-> {475} bit you can choose different contours. You can then make the walls thicker, just like in the links or with some external program like MeshLab. The obj3d can easily be exported like so:

Export["~/Desktop/test.stl", obj3d]

There are obviously many things that must be improved, but I hope it helps you to proceed. I would need more time, or more info to figure out how to better align the slices, but you should know what was measured.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Marco

Hi,

it's actually quite simple. In one of the links I posted above they show you how to export an stl-file:

Export["filename.stl", output]

It's as simple as that. Much of the remainder of the code they use is to make the two dimensional surfaces into three dimensional objects (obviously two dimensional objects cannot be 3D-printed).

One good piece of advice is to additionally use MeshLab to post-process the file and prepare it for printing. It is really quite straight forward.

Cheers,

Marco

I'm not sure where to begin, I downloaded trial version of Mathematica. I'm so lost in this program. I'm able to open the data that creates the graph in the Mathematica but have no idea what to do with it next.

Creating something that can print on a 3D printer is harder than creating a 3D graphic. I would recommend using RegionPlot3D for your purpose. But that's getting ahead of everything

I'm not sure how to interpret that data in your spreadsheet. The first step, I suppose would be to figure out how to plot your data with ListPlot3D (which I am guessing is the function you would use for your data based on the pictures you have)