Import STL File to Generate Point Cloud Model and Configure Bin

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In this workflow, you can import an STL file to quickly generate a point cloud model and create a target object.

Under Bin target objects on the home page of target object editor, click Select. In the "Create target object" window, set the target object name, creation method (Import STL file), and STL file path. Then click OK to enter the configuration process. The overall process is shown below.

STL files come in two storage formats: ASCII and Binary. Binary STL files are smaller and load faster, so Binary STL files are recommended.

overview
  1. Configure STL file: Configure the imported STL file, including dimensional unit and point cloud generation mode, to generate a point cloud model.

  2. Configure bin: Edit the point cloud model for use in subsequent matching and in Mech-Viz.

The following sections describe the configuration process in detail.

Configure STL File

After importing the STL file, you must first configure it to generate the point cloud model.

Select STL File (Optional)

If you selected the wrong STL file, or if abnormal STL model normals are found after import, click Select file to re-import the STL file.

Refer to STL Model Correction to learn how to determine whether STL model normals are correct and how to correct STL models.

Set Unit

To make the generated point cloud model fit the actual dimensions of the target object, set the STL model unit according to actual conditions. You can choose millimeters (mm) or meters (m).

Select the Point Cloud Generation Mode

Refer to the table below and select the point cloud generation mode according to actual requirements.

Point cloud generation mode Description

Generate from entire surface

The software generates point cloud data from all surface information of the STL model.

Generate from specified views

The software generates point cloud data from one or more selected views of the STL model and stitches them together.

Set Model Downsampling Method

To ensure uniform point distribution and a reasonable number of points in the point cloud model, and to avoid affecting matching speed, the point cloud must be downsampled before model generation. In most cases, Automatic downsampling is recommended.

If the downsampling result does not meet requirements, select Custom downsampling and set the Sampling interval based on actual conditions. The larger the Sampling interval, the sparser the downsampled point cloud; the smaller the Sampling interval, the denser the downsampled point cloud.

Now the STL file configuration is complete. Click Next to configure the bin.

Configure Bin

After the point cloud model is generated, you need to edit it for use in subsequent matching and in Mech-Viz.

Edit Point Cloud

After generating the point cloud model, if interference points need to be removed, refer to Edit Point Cloud.

Adjust Object Center Point

If the auto-generated object center point is not at the geometric center of the target object, adjust the values under "Align model" to adjust the object center point.

Now the bin configuration is complete. Click Save to save the target object to Solution folder\resource\workobject_library, and then use it in subsequent 3D matching Steps.

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