Here at Clemson, we have developed an environment to visualize STL files
and in effect virtually prototype an object before building a physical
prototype.
The first step in this visualization was transforming the STL data into
the VRML (OpenInventor) format.
The VRML format allows us to easily verify and correct STL files, and
then, in the virtual environment, since every point is uniquely defined,
no duplication of points is present since all triangles are defined by
pointers to the appropriate vertices. This format allows us to move a
point in the virtual environment, and the correcponding triangles
are updated automatically.
A paper on the use of Virtual reality to virtually prototype was presented
at last year's SME conference, and one detailing the mechanics has been
submitted to the ASME Design Technical Conferences next August. Also, a
paper on error correction of STL files has been submitted to the upcoming
SME conference in Detroit.
Happy new year to all.
--- Georges M. Fadel Associate Professor Mechanical Engineering Department Tel: (864) 656-5620 Clemson University Fax: (864) 656-4435 Clemson SC 29634-0921 USA e-mail: gfadel@eng.clemson.edu mosaic: http://www.eng.clemson.edu/dmg/people/fadel.html
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