Objet Objet30 User Manual - page 23
DOC-24000 Rev. C
3–3
Objet30 User Guide
When installing the Objet software, you choose whether to install it as a
client station or as a master station (server or standalone station).
The Objet software arranges the jobs it receives according to their priorities,
model‐material type, and other factors. In multi‐workstation
configurations, the operator of the server—typically the production
administrator—has total control over the jobs sent to the 3‐D printer, and
can prioritize and delete jobs, review job history and reprint a job, and so
on.
Source Files
Objet30 3‐D printing systems produce three‐dimensional models designed
with most 3‐D CAD tools and with other job‐specific 3‐D applications.
Objet30 systems accept:
•
•
Objet30 systems feature the capability of producing both types of model
files simultaneously.
STL Files
STL is short for Standard Triangulation Language. This language views any
object as a collection of surfaces, and describes each surface of the object as
a collection of triangles.
For example, a square can be described as two triangles; a cube (six
squares) as 12 triangles. Curved surfaces need more triangles to describe
them. The higher the tolerance (for smooth surfaces), the more triangles are
needed. The result is that high‐quality object descriptions mean very heavy
files.
Most CAD software can export STL files. The Objet30 system utilizes these
files for building models (rapid prototyping), and also for directly making
molds for mass‐producing items.
STL files are ASCII (text) files. The content of each file begins with “solid”
and ends with “end‐solid” (both lower case). Between these keywords is a
list of the triangles that describes the faces of the solid model. Each triangle
defines a single normal vector directed away from the solid’s surface,
followed by its X‐Y‐Z coordinates. These are expressed as Cartesian
coordinates and are floating‐point values. The coordinates of all triangles
should be positive and should fall within the volume of the model.
SLC Files
SLC is short for Stereo‐Lithography Contour. SLC files describe two‐
dimensional contours of the three‐dimensional models. These contour lines
are polylines.
SLC files are ASCII (text) files that save models as a series of slices. This
means that models based on SLC files cannot be orientated; only their scale
(size) and position on the build tray can be controlled. For this reason, the
model’s orientation must be suitable for production before it is saved as an
SLC file. Because of the nature of SLC files, the appearance of models in
Objet Studio may be different than the solid‐object images displayed from
STL files.