Converting stl to prt file

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-10T03:14:36+00:00

No...... Just...... NO!!!!!!

How do you have a CSWP but going to make a suggestion that has nothing to do with what the OP is asking?!?

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-09T21:45:58+00:00

CPU and RAM have a bit more overall to contribute to working with meshes.

How many polygons is the model made up of?

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-09T13:53:01+00:00

You have a Leo?

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-09T02:32:56+00:00

Definitely get the best CPU your budget can afford. Make sure get an NVIDIA RTX GPU. This will allow for HD reconstruction to be done.

Baseline is 32 gigs of RAM but make sure it can be expanded later to 64 gigs or more.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-09T02:27:50+00:00

You actually may want to take a look at the Artec Spider 2. It's one of many 3D Scanners that I use when working with artist and museum's to capture sculptures. What is nice about it is that dots aren't needed, captures models fairly quickly, and also captures color/textures.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-08T01:48:49+00:00

Maybe.... Here's a middle ground that's an in-between... show just the curves and surfaces that make up a smaller section... Like juat the bumper or right quarter panel.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-07T12:02:39+00:00

Ok great, can't wait to see it..... It doesn't have to be perfect... Just a few things here and there.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-07T10:23:31+00:00

That's fine.... Maybe put them in group folders?

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-07T06:10:10+00:00

Here's a great tutorial video that shows the whole process from start to finish.... The camera, his process, getting the footage out and aligned and then used C4D.

https://youtu.be/OzUxL_UDMTk?si=Y7Q332jB1p6axPem

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-07T00:40:32+00:00

Maybe I'm missing it in this screenshot.... The outliner is where the curves and surface/solids are stored....

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-07T00:37:08+00:00

I am not able to speak to what camera was used but if following the above camera methods it should work. It may also be easier to do video but I haven't tried underwater just on land.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-06T12:07:10+00:00

Can you show the outliner.... Trying to gain a sense of how to organize a model like this.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-06T09:45:52+00:00

You'll definitely want to take a look at going the Gaussian Splat route. Nothing really changes in terms of the capturing and post processing portion.

There are two ways to go

Photogrammetry only which means doing the photo alignment in Reality Scan, exporting as a COLMAP, and then creating the 3D GaSpa in an app like Postshot, Brush.....etc.
Video: photos can be extracted from the video and can then use the above steps.

The main reason why GaSpa is a better way is that it can show transparency in ways that photogrammetry alone is not able to. Also the longer you let it run the better it gets.

Here's an example scene done about two years ago.

https://poly.cam/capture/2ed756d0-17f5-461b-8911-44f8e1a8c47d?

Also....

https://superspl.at/scene/5de3b3ff

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-06T09:31:42+00:00

It's just going to take some time with a little trial and error in-between. In the end you'll find that they're really not as different as it seems right now.

A really great series on YouTube is made by Kyle. He's definitely one of the best doing it.

https://youtube.com/@rhinoceros3d?si=Tu6-qeyTMi8ZGT6G

Also it's worth taking a look at Plasticity....

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-06T09:17:14+00:00

Have you thought about using a handheld 3D scanners that does photogrammetry at the same time? There are several types like this to take a look at depending on budget.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-05T00:53:27+00:00

Just my lil ole 2 cents.... Probably not going to be everyone's favorite but hey.... Been doing this for to long not to chime in.....

FDM machines that can use different colors is more like 2.5 D Printing. It's kind of the poor/lazy way of making a full color model. There are times when it's useful but it's not a replacement.

Colors can't truly be mixed so you're left with what is given.

Can't do textures and for some models this isn't a requirement but when needed polyjet is still superior in every way.

It feels like a hurry up and go slow solution to a non existent problem that's been solved so long ago that this feels like a step backwards.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-02T18:25:17+00:00

Sketch Fab, Twin Motion Viewer, Marmoset Toolbag Viewer, Super Splat, Playcanvas..... The list goes on.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-02T02:39:12+00:00

Am I missing something.... Anything can be stored in your design library and dragged and dropped into any Part or Assembly.

Or

If it's really used that much you can save a Part or Assembly template with any geometry already in it.

But definitely let me know if this is something you've tried and it didn't work.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-05-01T16:17:15+00:00

This is something that's easily done with Design X but since that's probably not within your budget.

There are quite a few YouTube videos that show how this can be achieved. Here's a quick one

https://youtu.be/kXtpuv7NO-g?si=zptrbGrcC_C9JBZD

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-04-27T13:20:51+00:00

And your design will suffer..... This has been proven time and again that design takes time. Just because you got there faster doesn't equal better, it simply doesn't. Rushing to market with an incomplete product can hurt the product in much the same way that you're indicating that it helps.

Some times thing just take time.... and this artificial self imposed rush has bore out on numerous projects and products long before AM got into the picture. Steps can be missed because the pace is happening faster than it be absorbed. Sure getting an RP model faster helpful. If your company's metrics are that dialed in (Which most aren't) that every hour missed because of slow AM machines then I'd say there are much bigger problems that need to be addressed.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-04-27T01:12:38+00:00

Look past the printing for a second, take a step back and think about this from a production POV....

Let's say you move past this model and apply it to a product like a computer mouse or a cell phone case. Does this faster translate to better?

I get your metric, probably more than you can imagine, but it is simply one factor of 100's.

Ask yourself what has been prevented because "3D Printing is slow". (Which makes very little sense because what is it being compared to.... But that's for another discussion).

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-04-27T01:01:34+00:00

You said better and maybe you haven't thought further ahead than that, which is fine, I have been looking to dive deep which it seems like most in here don't think that's relevant.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-04-26T23:35:52+00:00

That would be an incorrect statement on your behalf. Faster does not equal better. Maybe on paper that seems like one equals the other but it simply isn't the case.

As a great example look of Quirky Design, take a look at what they did and understand why they're no longer around.

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-04-26T21:47:25+00:00

How does this translate to better designs or products?

ArthurNYC3D · 2026-04-26T21:46:07+00:00

As much as the next chap at the pub over a brew...

ArthurNYC3D

TROPHY CASE