Alias Studio Tools File Preparation

Please read the 3D Printer Overview page before proceeding.

Details about Alias Studio

When using a surface modeling program, only surfaces that form a closed object can be 3D printed. The closed surface model must be converted into a solid object, which is described by the .STL file.

Build Size/Maximum Printing Area

  • z310 - x8 x y10 x z8 inch / 203 x 254 x 203 mm
  • z510 - x10 x y14 x z8 inch / 254 x 356 x 203 mm

STL Export

To generate a .STL file in Alias Studio the user may choose from two methods:

Solidworks Assisted Workflow: Export the active model as an .IGES file, then open the .IGES file in Solidworks and export it as an .STL file.

  • Export active as .IGES
  • Open .IGES file in Solidworks
  • Check mass properties to get an idea of how much the 3D print will cost
  • Click on Save As, and set the file type to STL
  • Click on the options button and adjust the deviation and angle setting to control the tessellation.

Native Alias Studio Tools Export: Using the STL export function in Alias Studio may be a bit complicated.

  • After finishing modeling the normals of each surface have to be set pointing away from the object
  • Stitching into one entity with setting: keep originals; the order of picking surfaces may have an impact on the stitch-ability
  • No yellow lines (gaps) are a necessity
  • Export active as .STL: The export STL setting window offers two parameters to adjust, tessellation tolerance and merge vertices tolerance. Tessellation tolerance: setting is dependent on geometry, the smaller the number, the finer the tessellation and the bigger the file, merge vertices tolerance should be set it at 0.0004 inches.