Equipment

Default locations	If checked, the locations of the macro file and the Report File are automatically set to being at the same location as the input STL File. Note: When this option is checked, the user is no longer allowed to select or modify Locations for either the Macro or Report files manually.
Default filenames	If checked, the filenames of the Macro file and the Report file are automatically the same as the input STL file but with .mac and .log extensions, respectively. Note: When this option is checked, the user is no longer allowed to select or modify Filenames for either the Macro or Report files manually.

Input File
Select STL file	the field is used to specify the full path and filename of the STL file to be translated.
STL Mode	the field is used to specify the format of the STL file, ASCII or Binary. ASCII is the default value of this field.
Destination
Macro File	The field is split into two sections; the Location and Filename. If a location is not valid, the last valid location automatically replaces the location that was entered.
Report File	Again, the section has separate location/file sections and is used to select where Import-STL should create its' log file and the name of the file.

Model Section
Holes		the field is used to set how the Import-STL program deals with holes. The options are:
	On	the default value for this field. Where the program finds holes in objects in the STL file, corresponding negative primitives (holes) are generated in the MAC file.
	Off	when this option is selected, where the program finds holes in objects in the STL file, these are all ignored and no holes are generated in the MAC file.
	<Diameter>	when this option is selected, the user is able to specify the maximum size of hole that is to be translated as a hole. Where the program finds holes in objects in the STL file with a diameter smaller than the value entered, these are ignored and corresponding holes are not generated in the MAC file. Where the program finds holes in objects in the STL file with a diameter equal to or greater than the value entered, corresponding holes are generated in the MAC file.
Scale factor		the field is used to specify an enlargement or reduction factor that the Import-STL program is to apply. The default value for this field is 1.0.
Note: Within an STL file there is no concept of units. During the translation process the Import-STL program maintains the physical relationships of objects in the STL file, resultant primitives in the MAC file are therefore of the same relative size and use mm for all distances. If the units used in the originating program, from which the STL file was generated, are known, the Scale factor field can be used to scale up or down the resultant MAC file objects.
Create		Clicking Create initiates the translation process within the Import-STL program.
Exit		Clicking Exit closes the user interface and terminates the Import-STL program.
Output Summary		Output Summary is used for displaying messages and status reports when translating a file
Hide/Show Output Summary		With the Output Summary pane displayed, clicking Hide Output Summary, closes the pane and displays the option as Show Output Summary which displays the pane again.
More >>		Clicking More>> displays further options.
Min. sides per cylinder		the field is used to specify the minimum number of sides required in order for the program to recognise and map a cylinder. The program determines that an object is a cylinder by inference, it actually detects a cylinder as an extrusion having a circular profile. The circular profile is mapped by intersecting vertices, and the value set in this field represents the minimum number of intersecting vertices that the program is required to use to map a circular profile.
Compressed Geometry		Used to set how the Import-STL program is to deal with coplanar faces. Selecting the check box, the program combines coplanar faces with shared edges into bigger faces. It also maps geometric solids into AVEVA E3D™ primitives. The option produces the smallest resultant MAC file. De-selecting the check box, the program does not combine coplanar faces with shared edges into bigger faces and does not map geometric solids into primitives. The option produces a much larger MAC file than the when Compressed Geometry is switched on.
Wrapper		Used to set how the program is to treat objects with internal parts. Selecting the check box, the program creates a wrapper around all solid parts. It then removes from the MAC file any parts that are wholly inside other parts. Internal features created by solid parts overlapping are also removed from the MAC file. The option is useful if the STL file contains parts that have lots of internal parts that can be recognised by Import-STL as solids. De-selecting the check box, the program does not perform the wrapping operation.
Solid polyhedron		Used to set how the program is to map solid parts to AVEVA E3D™. Selecting the check box, the program creates solid polyhedra for solid parts that can not be mapped onto Boxes, Cylinders and other AVEVA E3D™ primitives. De-selecting the check box, the program does not create solid polyhedra but maps these parts to POHE/POGO.
Edge visibility		Used to set the mode by which the program can set edges to be visible or invisible. Selecting On, the program sets all edges to be visible. Selecting Off, the program sets all edges to be invisible. Selecting Angle, allows the user to set an angle by which the program computes if an edge becomes visible or invisible. The default value is set to 60 degrees. If the angle is greater than the angle between the normals of the two faces that share an edge then the edge becomes invisible otherwise it becomes visible.
Create VOLM element		Allows the output primitives in the Macro file to be created under a VOLM element rather than an EQUI. Selecting the check box, creates output primitives under a VOLM element. De-selecting the check box, creates output primitives under an EQUI element.
Unicode macro		Allows the user to generate a macro file encoded as a Unicode UTF-8 file. Selecting the check box, encodes the macro file so that more none-ASCII filenames are described correctly. De-selecting the check box, disables Unicode handling.
<< Less		removes the advanced options from the display.

STEP 1	Start up the Import-STL program from the Equipment tab of the MODEL module:
STEP 2	Enter or select, using the browser, the name of the STL file to be translated.
STEP 3	Specify whether the STL file is in ASCII or binary format.
STEP 4	Click Create to start the translation process.
STEP 5	Repeat STEPS 2 to 4 for each STL file that is to be translated. Click Exit to terminate the Import-STL program.

<stl_filename>

is the filename of the input STL file.

-b	indicates that the input STL file is a binary file. If this switch is not used the program uses the default value, in this case ASCII.
-o <output_filename>	indicates that the following filename is to be used for the output MAC file. If this switch is not used the program uses the default value which is the same root as the input STL file with the extension .mac.
-r <report_filename>	indicates that <report_filename> is to be used for the report or log file. If this switch is not used the program uses the default value which is the same root as the input STL file with the extension .log.
-w	indicates that the Wrapper option is to be used. If this switch is not used the program does not apply the Wrapper.
-t	indicates that the Geometry option is to be set to Uncompressed. If this switch is not used the program uses the default value, Compressed.
-h <holes_diameter>	indicates that holes are to be translated and that <holes_diameter> is to be applied as the minimum size of hole that is to be translated, for example, holes with a diameter of less than the value specified are ignored. If <holes_diameter> is set to -1.0 then all holes are ignored.
-c <cylinder_sides>	indicates the minimum number <cylinder_sides> of sides to be used to recognise and map cylinders or negative cylinders. The default value is 6.
-s <scale_factor>	indicates that the following <scale_factor> is to be applied during the translation in order to enlarge or reduce the resultant model in the MAC file.
-spoff	indicates that solid polyhedra should not be created.
-i <invisibility_angle>	indicates that <invisibility_angle> is to be applied to decide if an edge is visible or invisible when a Solid Polyhedron is created. If the angle given is greater than the angle between the normals of the two faces that share the edge then the edge becomes invisible, otherwise it becomes visible.
-volm	indicates that all elements in the macro file should be created under VOLM elements instead of EQUI.
-dpdms113	indicates that solid polyhedra are to be created, this is now obsolete as solid polyhedra are created by default.
-d <directory_path>	the option can be used to translate every stl file in a specified directory <directory_path>.
-unicode	allows the user to generate a macro file encoded as a Unicode UTF-8 file. The option should normally be used.
-f <facet_limit>	allows the user to analyse files with more facets. If the option is not used, ImPlant - STL uses "uncompressed geometry" for files with more than 4000 facets to reduce processing time. If the user wants to generate compressed geometry for more complex files they can up the limit with this option.
-?	Help.

STEP 1	Start up MODEL, if it’s not already running and make sure that the database is at the appropriate ZONE level.
STEP 2	Read in each MAC file as:
	$m <filename>