Madhurig at 06:06, 3 December 2025

2025-12-03T06:06:28Z

Madhurig at 15:47, 2 December 2025

2025-12-02T15:47:53Z

Ketkinaina at 06:57, 1 December 2025

2025-12-01T06:57:55Z

Ketkinaina: Created page with "'''Title of the script: Working with STL Files in FreeCAD''' '''Author: Jakub Michalski''' '''Keywords: FreeCAD, STL, mesh, shape, solid, pocket, 3D modeling, video tutorial.'..."

2025-12-01T06:57:01Z

Created page with "'''Title of the script: Working with STL Files in FreeCAD''' '''Author: Jakub Michalski''' '''Keywords: FreeCAD, STL, mesh, shape, solid, pocket, 3D modeling, video tutorial.'..."

New page

'''Title of the script: Working with STL Files in FreeCAD'''
'''Author: Jakub Michalski'''
'''Keywords: FreeCAD, STL, mesh, shape, solid, pocket, 3D modeling, video tutorial.'''

{|border=1
|-
|| '''Visual Cue'''
|| '''Narration'''
|-
|| '''Slide 1 '''

'''Title Slide'''
|| Welcome to the Spoken Tutorial on '''Working with STL Files''' in '''FreeCAD'''.
|-
|| '''Slide 2 '''

'''Learning Objectives'''
|| In this tutorial, we will learn to:
* Export a FreeCAD model to STL format.
* Import an STL file into FreeCAD.
* Convert an STL mesh into a solid.
* Refine the solid and make modifications.
|-
|| '''Slide 3 '''

'''System Requirements'''
|| To record this tutorial, I am using:
* '''Windows 11'''
* '''FreeCAD version 1.0.0'''
|-
|| '''Slide 4 '''

'''Prerequisite'''
|| To follow this tutorial, learners should know the basics of the '''FreeCAD''' interface and navigation.
|-
|| Click '''Help''' menu

In the drop down click '''Start'''.
|| Let’s open FreeCAD.

Go to the '''Help''' menu.

In the drop down click '''Start''' option.
|-
|| In the start menu, scroll down.

Under examples, select the PartDesignExample.FCStd file.
|| Scroll down to see the examples.

Under examples select the '''PartDesignExample.FCStd '''file.

'''PartDesignExample''' model loads in a new file.
|-
|| Select the body in the model tree.

Select file and click export.
|| Now let us export the '''FreeCAD''' file into '''STL '''format.

Select the '''Body''' in the '''Model''' tree. Go to '''File '''and select '''Export''' or press''' Ctrl + E.'''
|-
|| Select the Save as type as STL Mesh (*.stl * .ast) format.

Type the File name as Example.stl and click Save.
|| Export File dialog box opens.

In the dialog box, select the '''Save as type''' as '''STL Mesh '''format.

Type the File name as '''Example''' and click '''Save'''.

Users can save the file with some other name as well. This exports the part as an STL mesh file.
|-
|| Select file and click new.
|| Now, let’s create a new file.Go to '''File''' click '''New'''
|-
|| Select file and click import.

Set the file type to '''STL''' Mesh '''(*.stl *.STL *.ast *.AST)'''

Select the '''Example.stl''' file. Click '''Open'''.
|| In the new file, go to '''File''' and select '''Import'''.

Set the file type to '''STL Mesh.'''

Select the''' Example.stl''' file and click '''Open'''
|-
|| STL Model in 3D view
|| The model is imported into the workspace.
|-
|| Select the dropdown next to Draw style.

Select Flat lines option.
|| By default the draw style is set to '''Shaded'''.

Select the dropdown next to''' Draw style''' and select''' Flat lines''' option.This helps to clearly see the triangular meshes.
|-
|| Switch to '''Part''' '''Workbench'''
|| Switch to the '''Part Workbench'''.
|-
|| In the model tree select the model mesh.Go to the '''Part''' menu.

Click '''Create shape from mesh''' option.
|| In the model tree select the model mesh.Go to the '''Part''' menu and click '''Create shape from mesh''' option.
|-
|| Point to the pop window

Click OK.
|| '''Shape From Mesh''' pop up window opens.

Let’s leave the settings as default and click '''OK.'''
|-
|| Show the model tree.

Click the eye icon to hide the mesh.
|| A new '''Shape''' object is created in the tree.Hide the old '''Mesh''' object by clicking on its eye icon.
|-
|| Show in the model.
|| This shape now allows selection of faces, edges, and vertices.We can use it for measurements or further modeling.
|-
|| Select the shape object from the model tree.

Select part. Click Convert to solid.
|| To create a solid, select the shape object .

Go to the''' Part''' menu and click''' Convert to solid'''.
|-
|| Show the model tree.

Click the eye icon to hide the Shape object.
|| A new Solid object appears in the tree.Hide the Shape object as before.

Now we can see only the Solid object
|-
|| Select the solid object.

Select the '''Part''' menu. Click '''Check''' '''geometry'''.

Check the box for Advanced shape content and leave others as default.

Click Run Check in the menu.

Select the drop down of the shape content.

Show the solid.

Click '''Close'''.
|| To check if it’s a valid solid, select the solid object from the model tree.

Go to the '''Part''' menu and select '''Check Geometry'''.

In the left panel, '''Settings''' menu opens with check boxes.

Check the box for '''Advanced '''shape content and leave others as default.Click the''' Run Check''' button in the menu..

Now select the drop down of the shape content.

You can see the shape type as solid.

Now click the '''Close''' button.
|-
|| Select the Solid object.

Select the Part menu.

Click create a copy.

Click refine shape.
|| To remove redundant faces, select the solid object from the model tree.

Go to the '''Part '''menu, click '''Create a copy'''.

From the submenu select '''Refine shape'''.This cleans up planar faces left by the mesh conversion.
|-
|| Model showing refined solid
|| The refined model now appears smoother and cleaner.
|-
|| Switch to Part Design Workbench
|| Let’s now switch to the''' Part Design Workbench''' to modify the solid.
|-
|| Select the refined solid.

Click '''Create''' '''Body'''.
|| Select the refined solid in the tree.Click on the '''Create Body''' tool.This converts it into a '''BaseFeature '''under the '''Body.'''
|-
|| Click on the workspace.

Set the view to top.

Select the bottom face of the hole. Click '''Create''' '''Sketch'''.
|| Click on the blank space to deselect the selection.

Set the view to top.

Select the bottom face of the hole and click '''Create Sketch'''.
|-
|| Select the '''Toggle grid '''tool.

Select the '''Toggle snap''' tool.

Select the drop down near the toggle snap tool.

In the drop down enable '''Snap to grid.'''
|| In the''' Sketcher''', let's draw a circle in the middle of the hole.

Select the''' Toggle grid''' tool.

Select the''' Toggle snap''' tool.

Now select the drop down near the Toggle snap tool.

In the drop down ensure '''Snap to grid''' is enabled.
|-
|| Now select toggle construction geometry tool.

Show the tools.
|| Now select '''Toggle construction geometry''' tool.

Some sketcher tools now appear in blue colour.

This mode is used to draw construction lines.

These construction lines do not appear in the final sketch.
|-
|| Select the '''View section''' tool.

Select the '''Create line''' tool.

Zoom in to the hole.
|| Select the '''View section''' tool.

Select the''' Create line''' tool.

Zoom in to the hole.
|-
|| Place the cursor where the left side of the circle touches the grid.

Left click and draw a straight line to the right end of the circle.

Place the cursor where the top side of the circle touches the grid.

Left click and draw a straight line to the bottom of the circle.
|| Place the cursor where the left side of the circle touches the grid.

Left click and draw a straight line to the right end of the circle.

Do the same to draw a line from top to bottom.
|-
|| Select the '''Toggle construction geometry''' tool.
|| Now select the''' Toggle construction geometry''' tool.

This exits the construction mode.
|-
|| Select the create circle tool.

Place the cursor near the intersection of the two construction lines.
|| Select the '''Create circle''' tool.

Place the cursor near the intersection of the two construction lines.

One of the lines will turn yellow in color.

You can see the constrain symmetric symbol appears near the cursor.
|-
|| Draw a circle.

Select the '''dimension''' tool.

Set the '''Diameter''' to 25mm.

Click close.
|| Left click in the middle and draw a circle.

Set the diameter to 25 mm using the '''Dimension''' tool.

Close the sketcher.
|-
|| Select Pocket tool.

Select the type as through all.

Click ok.
|| With the sketch selected, click on the '''Pocket''' tool.In the dialog box, set the Type to '''Through All'''.Click '''OK'''.
|-
|| Show the model.
|| A hole is now created through the solid.This shows how we can edit '''STL''' models in '''FreeCAD''' after conversion.
|-
|| Select the file and click '''Save As.'''

Enter the name as '''Example_edited.'''

Click '''Save'''.
|| To save the file, go to '''File''' and click '''Save As'''.Enter the file name as '''Example_edited.FCStd''' and click '''Save'''.

Users may save the file with a different name.
|-
|| '''Slide 5'''

'''Summary'''

In this tutorial, we learnt to:
* Export a FreeCAD model to STL format.
* Import an STL file into FreeCAD.
* Convert an STL mesh to a solid.
* Refine the solid and modify it in Part Design.
|| With this we come to the end of this tutorial.

Let us summarize.
|-
|| '''Slide 6'''

'''Assignment'''
# Import '''Example.stl''' file into '''FreeCAD'''.
# Convert it to a solid and refine it.
# Create a circle of 30 mm in the center of the hole
# Extrude the sketch 70 mm.
|| As an '''assignment''', please do the following:
|-
|| '''Slide 7'''

'''Thank You'''
|| This Spoken Tutorial is brought to you by EduPyramids Educational Services Private limited SINE IIT Bombay

Thank you for joining.
|-
|}

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 |-
 || Select file and click new.
-|| Now, let’s create a new file.Go to '''File''' click '''New'''
+|| Let us open a new file.
 |-
 || Select file and click import.
@@ Line 315: / Line 315: @@
 # Import '''Example.stl''' file into '''FreeCAD'''.
 # Convert it to a solid and refine it.
-# Create a circle of 30 mm in the center of the hole
+# Create a circle of 30 mm in the centre of the hole
 # Extrude the sketch to 70 mm.
 || As an '''assignment''', please do the following:

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Title of the script: Working with STL Files in FreeCAD'''
+'''Title of the script: Working with STL Files in FreeCAD.'''
 '''Author: Jakub Michalski'''
 '''Keywords: FreeCAD, STL, mesh, shape, solid, pocket, 3D modeling, video tutorial.'''

FreeCAD/C3/Working-with-STL-Files-in-FreeCAD/English - Revision history

Madhurig at 06:06, 3 December 2025

Madhurig at 15:47, 2 December 2025

Ketkinaina at 06:57, 1 December 2025

Ketkinaina: Created page with "'''Title of the script: Working with STL Files in FreeCAD''' '''Author: Jakub Michalski''' '''Keywords: FreeCAD, STL, mesh, shape, solid, pocket, 3D modeling, video tutorial.'..."