Re: some questions about RP technologies / Future of STL format

From: <Osbornmail_at_aol.com>
Date: Thu Apr 08 2004 - 23:51:16 EEST

Charles

A good point, but (without wishing to re-hash all the previous comments on
this topic) what do you recommend be done (realistically, commercially, etc.) in
order to improve the appeal of RP and help extend the market / applicability?
 Having recently attended the Solid Modelling show in the UK (3D CAD show
with a smattering of RP stirred into the mix) I don't see it as a priority for
the CAD vendors right now (am I wrong?).

We know how many zillions of facets you have to model into a piece of
jewellery (for example) in order to get it to build in a half decent shape...surely
as the RP machines get better and better at building hi res. parts then this
issue will become more and more important? Are we predicting that before much
longer the STL file format will be exposed and found wanting?

The crude answer is to chuck more computing power at the problem and stick
with triangles. A more elegant solution may include slicing IGES files (for
instance) into CLI files (for instance) which a number of machine vendors have
toyed with in the past.

I am constantly amazed at the number of people (e.g. design engineers
involved in manufacturing industries) who still have ansolutely no idea what an STL
file is...but maybe that's just me.

There has GOT to be a better way...

Regards

Nick

Nick Osborn
Director
Fenland RP Ltd
Mobile: +44 (0) 7881 92 00 38
Tel: +44 (0) 1406 350 124
Fax: +44 (0) 1406 350 183
www.fenlandrp.co.uk

In a message dated 05/04/2004 18:11:46 GMT Standard Time,
charles@lgmmodel.com writes:

> Subj:RE: some questions about RP technologies
> Date:05/04/2004 18:11:46 GMT Standard Time
> From:charles@lgmmodel.com
> Reply-to:cwho@lgmmodel.com
> To:rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi
> Sent from the Internet
>
>
>
>
> >how to transfer 3D
> > > > solid model to neutral format such as STL or others
>
> To my knowledge, there is no way, within the "accepted" stl format to
> describe anything other than surface geometry. STL does not do a very good
> job at that either! I will go out on a limb and say that, for various
> reasons, the two efforts at color description within the STL file have, to
> date, failed.
>
> I think that yours is one of many cases that expose the inadequacy of the
> STL format as the basis for RP into the future. IMHO, STL is a significant
> obstacle for the continuing development of RP in new markets and new
> applications.
>
> This is something the list has debated in the past, unfortunately without
> significant input from machine vendors who, for obvious reasons, need to be
> significant party to any effective solution. What is the correct forum for
> ongoing discussion? How might it be facilitated?
>
>
> Charles
> LGM
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi [mailto:owner-rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi]On
> > Behalf Of Amy Hu
> > Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2004 5:56 PM
> > To: psuomala@sandersdesign.com; rp-ml@rapid.lpt.fi
> > Subject: Re: some questions about RP technologies
> >
> >
> > Dear Paul,
> >
> > Thanks a lot for your response.
> >
> > You said it. My question is very general. From the theory of additive
> > fabrication, all RPTs can produce functional gradient material produts or
> > heterogeneous material object which material composition can vary by given
> > pattern. Actually, by then there are only a few RPTs which can
> > complete this
> > task, to name one I have knew is LENS. LENS can fabricate the functional
> > gradient material by controlling the power of laser and powder deposition
> > speed. But this process is random and the pattern of material composition
> > only can be know after fabrication. What I want to know is if I have
> > designed ah heterogeneous objects which have a specified material
> > distribution, how RPTs can fabricate automatically? What kind of processes
> > and software have to be designed or modified spefically? I am not sure
> > whether I have make my question clear. Anyway, thanks for your help.
> >
> > Yuna
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Paul Suomala" <psuomala@sandersdesign.com>
> > To: "Amy Hu" <hu_yuna@hotmail.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2004 3:57 PM
> > Subject: Re: some questions about RP technologies
> >
> >
> > > Amy Hu wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi all,
> > > >
> > > > How are you doing?
> > > >
> > > > I am a graduate student in Clemson University. I have some problems
> > > > about how to fabricate heterogeneous metal parts by using LENS or
> > > > other possible RP technologies. If I had a part with specified
> > > > material composition (have some gradient locally), are there any solid
> > > > modeling software can represent this kind of parts, how to transfer 3D
> > > > solid model to neutral format such as STL or others? If somebody has
> > > > this kind of experience, could you please give me some hints?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks a lot and have a good day.
> > > >
> > > > Best Regards
> > >
> > > Your questions seem rather general. Have you searched in your own "back
> > > yard" ?
> > > http://www.vr.clemson.edu/rp/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
Received on Thu Apr 08 23:18:55 2004

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