From STL to PTN - Wow What Fun!

[LittleRedWoodshop]

Check this out - this is a whole new world - if anyone else knew about this they sure hadn't told me .

I bi-sected the STL in the STL impoter and exported it without any more slices. The result is shown hear. What am I saying - yes all of those 3DS and DAE files that I am converting to STL files will make some great carvings (THE OLD WAY). The proof is in the pudding. I will be carving this project and the Northern Pike this week and my brother (Brian) and I will be painting them - yes I will take many pictures and notes of the painting process.

By the way - be sure to sign up for the STL Newsletter (sign up on my website) Look for the first installment in about 2 weeks.

[geekviking]

that looks great! Sure wish I could afford the STL program...

[eromran]

I'm missing some thing about the importer i think. I thought, that (making PTN's ) is what the importer was doing by slicing up a object (STL file) it was giving you several patterns you could then carve to be placed back together. One thing that would be cool to be able to do but i don't have importer so i don't know. Is to take our PTN's into importer and change them a little (without the use of other software). Can some one tell us what files importer can import if any others or is it as the name implies STL Importer.

[LittleRedWoodshop]

What I have been doing is not doing the multiple slicing - I just bisected (cut down the middle) the Bluegill. Using half of the fish as a PTN to make the image below. So I am going to carve the image - just like we always have. But, yes it is intended to be used to slice an STL file into multiple pieces to be carved and then put back together.

I guess what I was trying to illustrate was the ability to use the STL Importer to take STL files and turn them into PTNs to use on a .75" piece of material.

[mostlycold]

What I have been doing is not doing the multiple slicing - I just bisected (cut down the middle) the Bluegill. Using half of the fish as a PTN to make the image below. So I am going to carve the image - just like we always have. But, yes it is intended to be used to slice an STL file into multiple pieces to be carved and then put back together.

I guess what I was trying to illustrate was the ability to use the STL Importer to take STL files and turn them into PTNs to use on a .75" piece of material.

OK - so here's the really ***pid question, I have seen some really neat 3D patterns that would carve without being sliced at all - can I use the STL importer to just be a conversion tool for those patterns or do you have to go through the slicing process to get it into the ptn format?

[LittleRedWoodshop]

I have Imported STLs - Done No Slicing - and then exported right back out. Now this isn't going to work on every STL. You have to remember that you are "packing" that entire model into .75".



From STL to PTN - Here is a file that was Imported into the STL Importer, Bisected (cut down the middle), saved out of the STL Importer - then game as usual.
http://www.mediafire.com/file/4gye0a...rain-train.mpc