How do you use STL import in Create Pro?

Software Carbide Create
1

We’re working on the updated 3D modeling in Create Pro and it’s time to rework the STL import command. We’re looking at how to set the defaults for the UI and the question we have is:

If you use the STL import in Create Pro, are you typically importing an “artistic component” that will be scaled and tweaked to fit your stock (like a relief to be carved out) or a dimensional part that you need to cut at the exact size in the STL?

To be clear, both will be supported, this is only to figure out the defaults.

5 Likes
2

I can only speak for myself but the workflow I use for cutting 3D is usually framed around needing a desired dimension. I don’t really size to a given piece of stock, but i can see where that would be preferred by some people. You could consider a basic default which would support those that don’t care about specifics but then have a “Advanced Settings” button that would access options to overide basic default.

3

I’ve done both. There are a couple pieces of key information that are missing when importing a model. The native height of the model, and any built in base height.
I think by default, if the Z height was imported at the same scale as the XY, and adjusted when the scale is changed. Then perhaps a “Keep Proportions” check box that we could uncheck if we wanted to use a different Z scale. ?!

Not sure how to get the built in base height, or respectively the total height of the contoured portion when there is a solid base. ??

1 Like
4

I’m usually doing something artistic like a relief, but am trying to scale it to fit with another feature or to the size of the stock.

1 Like
5

I’ve done more to-scale two-sided operation cuts primarily with STL imports.

2 Likes
6

I import the STL and make it fit the stock I have.

7

For me, a dimensional component is the highest priority. It would be good if I could import solid model files as well.

1 Like
8

Most of the time: To-Scale, Multi-sided parts - for certain.

9

Dimensional parts for me.

10

My imports will be mostly dimensional parts, but I will use both.

11

Thanks for the feedback. It looks like more people are doing dimensional work than we expected based on what we’ve seen posted here in the forum.

We’ll beef that up and make it easier to get what you need when importing an STL for dimensional work.

7 Likes
12

While your at it, if you can make it to where we can go back and edit those import settings after initial import of the STL is 0K’ed. Currently I believe you can only go back and edit the name, merge type and base height. Oh yeah, and position, scale and rotation. But not height range. For me being able to edit the defined height range would be fantastic.

13

A quick update:

I think we got the STL importing and editing worked out in a way that it’ll work easily for both use cases. Making the STL heightmap “editable” means that we probably won’t create the outlines automatically. Instead, we’ll have a dedicated command to create an outline from any 3D component.

We had everything set up to link the outlines to the STL components, and then we realized that we had no good way to handle replacing their use in a toolpath since the number of outline vectors and even their order can change when the component is edited. Given that constraint, it’s better to remove the magic and make the outline creation an explicit action instead.

The Create Outline command will probably accept a height value for what the height threshold is to create the cross-section. This might make it possible to do things like extract internal features from an STL for things like pockets or slots. We’ll see if it works out that way.

3 Likes
14

Another thing that would be a godsent is anything that could contribute to less work needed to do 2 sided work as well as anything possible to prevent shift between flips as even 1mm can really wreck some projects.

15

Why not just make MeshCam and Carbide Create a single product and use MeshCam’s STL processing with it? Seems like nit would make a fairly complete product and open up more possibilities regarding manufacturing of components with STL or even STEP files

16

Same as Graham, I import the STL and make it fit the stock I have.

17

I have used a laser scanner for parts to a minimal degree.
If I had a complex shape for a customer, I would need full control over scaling.

It becomes a round trip test to see if I am close enough.

19

Hi
Glad to hear you are adding new features to this and for me dimensional accuracy is the main criteria nice if it scales although I seem to recall it does to a degree now based on the work size.

As for the abilty to generate outlines to say pocket rather than wait for 100’s of passes would be nice. If someone sends me a guitar body to cut as an STL it would be way more expediant to simply pocket things like the neck cavity. pickup cavities bridge etc than let the thing run through as it does at the moment.

PS when can we get our hands on the new stuff lol

thanks appreciate the work you guys put in to Create Pro

20

The STL part is mostly-done. We’re trying to make all of the internal changes and then we’ll make the changes to the file format. Once we do that, it should be sharable, and then it’ll just be features that get added.

As far as timelines, maybe a couple of weeks.

3 Likes
21

Something amazing would be a reductive formula for STL’s that can generate based off what should be remaining of the stock after prior toolpaths are done.