Import STL File to Generate Point Cloud Model and Configure the Bin
In this workflow, you can import an STL file to generate a point cloud model and create a target object quickly.
Under the For bin positioning in the target object editor, click Select, and set the target object name, generation method (Import STL file), and file directory in the "Add Target Object" window. Then, click OK to enter the configuration process. The overall configuration process is shown in the figure below.
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STL files come in two formats: ASCII format and Binary format. Binary format STL files are smaller in size and load faster. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize the use of Binary format STL files. |
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Configure STL file: Set the unit, point cloud generation mode, and other parameters for the imported STL file to generate the point cloud model.
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Configure bin: Edit the point cloud model for subsequent matching and use in Mech-Viz.
The following sections provide detailed instructions on the configuration.
Configure STL File
After importing the STL file, you need to configure the STL file to generate the point cloud model.
Select STL File (Optional)
If you select a wrong STL file or find the normals of the imported STL model are incorrect, click the Select file button to import another STL file.
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Please refer to STL Model Correction to determine whether the normals of an STL model are correct and how to fix the STL model. |
Set Unit
To fit the generated point cloud model to the actual dimensions of the target object, you need to set the dimensional unit for the STL model to either millimeters (mm) or meters (m), according to actual needs.
Select the Point Cloud Generation Mode
Refer to the table below to select an appropriate point cloud generation mode based on actual requirements.
| Point cloud generation mode | Description |
|---|---|
Generate from entire surface |
The software generates a point cloud according to the entire surface information of the STL model. |
Generate from specified views |
The software will generate point clouds from one or more selected views of the STL model and then stitch them together. |
Set Model Downsampling Method
To ensure the density and uniform distribution of the point cloud and to maintain the matching speed, the point cloud needs to be downsampled before generating a point cloud model. In general, it is recommended to select Automatic downsampling.
If the downsampling result does not meet the 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 configuration for the STL file is finished. Click Next to configure the bin.
Configure Bin
After generating the point cloud model, edit it for subsequent matching and use in Mech-Viz.
Edit Point Cloud
After generating the point cloud model, if you need to remove interference points, refer to Edit Point Cloud.
Adjust Object Center Point
If the automatically generated object center point is not at the geometric center of the target object, adjust the corresponding values under "Align model" to adjust the object center point.
Now the bin configuration is completed. Click Save to save the target object to Solution folder\resource\workobject_library. Then the target object can be used in subsequent 3D matching Steps.