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.stl file size?

michael_fullermichael_fuller Member Posts: 23 ✭✭
What is the primary determinant of file size for .stls?  Is it simply geometry?  Also, when exporting out, what can I tweak to reduce file size?  I usually save as "fine" as I'm 3D printing the .stl.  Any ideas what saving as one lower than "fine" will do to print resolution?  I print scale models, so resolution is king.  But I haven't done any testing (too expensive as I use 3rd party printer) to see what reducing that parameter will do to print resolution.  Anyone know from experience?  Have a 74 mb stl that I need to get below 64.  Tried eliminating some geometry but it had marginal effect on file size.

Comments

  • NeilCookeNeilCooke Moderator, Onshape Employees Posts: 5,284
    edited December 2018
    Why do you need to get it below 64? The parameters - angular deviation (max angle between adjacent facets), chordal tolerance (max distance between facet and actual surface), and minimum facet width - are all dependent upon the type of geometry you are printing.

    You can always try re-importing the STL into Onshape to see "how it looks".
    Senior Director, Technical Services, EMEAI
  • paul_chastellpaul_chastell Onshape Employees Posts: 124
    STL is a triangle-based format and scales with the number of triangles created by converting the Onshape geometry into triangles. As a result the print resolution is the way to control size. If 'fine' is 74Mb then 'medium' will almost certainly be small enough but it achieves this by approximating the geometry with less precision. Depending on the resolution of your print, however, you may find that to be acceptable.

    If you want to see what it looks like you could re-import the STL into Onshape and derive the imported part into the original part studio. You ought to find that the two versions are in the same location in space. Then you can section it to see differences or use the measure tool to measure distances. 

    Example here: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/3fc575c56a6b194f94e5440d/w/d552b716a661bc7a0a16d96d/e/d570f41f4fd197f2ef7e2c5b

    Also I would suggest that you check that you are exporting as binary (assuming where you are consuming it can take binary), since text STLs are a lot bigger than binary ones (about 3-4 times the size). Binary STL files also compress pretty well in my experience and so if you are needing to make it smaller as a means to send it somewhere you could zip it up. Of course, if it is the receiving software that mandates a maximum 64Mb then that won't be an option.

    Finally, if you are sharing it with someone else then you could share a link to the Onshape document and let the receiver download it. If you only want the receiver to see the STL tab then you could move that tab to a new document and share that.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)

    Ok. I got carried away there, hopefully something that I said is useful.
    Paul Chastell
    TVP, Onshape R&D
  • owen_sparksowen_sparks Member, Developers Posts: 2,660 PRO
    paul_chastell said:

    Finally, if you are sharing it with someone else then you could share a link to the Onshape document and let the receiver download it. If you only want the receiver to see the STL tab then you could move that tab to a new document and share that.
    This is something Onshape excels at.  If the end user wants a dxf, a step file, and stl an I-Guess file, whatever, they can just help themselves to exactly what they want.  Let the designer do the designing, not the Admin.  B)

    OwS. 
    Business Systems and Configuration Controller
    HWM-Water Ltd
  • paul_chastellpaul_chastell Onshape Employees Posts: 124
  • michael_fullermichael_fuller Member Posts: 23 ✭✭
    edited December 2018
    Does the parametric history have an impact on file size?  Could I make a copy and strip that out of the copy and export as I've normally been doing ("fine") and have a smaller file?  64 mb because that's Shapeways' maximum file size upload.
  • NeilCookeNeilCooke Moderator, Onshape Employees Posts: 5,284
    Does the parametric history have an impact on file size?  
    No, just the geometry
    Senior Director, Technical Services, EMEAI
  • ilya_baranilya_baran Onshape Employees, Developers, HDM Posts: 1,172
    No, the history has no effect on the STL file size.
    Ilya Baran \ VP, Architecture and FeatureScript \ Onshape Inc
  • billy2billy2 Member, OS Professional, Mentor, Developers, User Group Leader Posts: 2,014 PRO
    @michael_fuller
    I just looked at my download folder and checked stl files. None are over 64mb. I always run at fine mesh and don't worry about it.

    The geometry will dictate stl file size. Rounds take more than flats.

    If you like adding fillets, stop doing that. 
    A cube is 12 polygons depending on settings.
    A filleted cube could be a billion polygons.





  • michael_fullermichael_fuller Member Posts: 23 ✭✭
    Tried reducing some geometry over lunch but really didn't make a dent in file size.  And I can't eliminate the fillets as that's how the object looks (multiple rivet heads).  Might have to break the file up and upload it as separate products though I really hate doing that as that requires the customer to read and understand that two products need to be added to the cart in order to get the whole thing.
  • NeilCookeNeilCooke Moderator, Onshape Employees Posts: 5,284
    It's worth noting that min facet width overrides chordal tol which overrides angular deviation - meaning that if you set a large min facet width, it would not be possible to attain a small chordal or angular setting. I would not concern yourself with angular - chordal tol will get you closest to your required shape (assuming a small enough min facet width). Do shapeways use SLA or FDM? If you know what tolerance they work to you could use that to set min facet width. 
    Senior Director, Technical Services, EMEAI
  • MBartlett21MBartlett21 Member, OS Professional, Developers Posts: 2,033 EDU
    Can you make sure you are exporting it as binary, not ASCII?
    mb - draughtsman - also FS author: View FeatureScripts
    IR for AS/NZS 1100
  • NeilCookeNeilCooke Moderator, Onshape Employees Posts: 5,284
    If you share your doc URL I’m sure somebody will take a look at it for you. 
    Senior Director, Technical Services, EMEAI
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