pySTL

Python code for working with .STL (sterolithography) files.

Often, STL files are exported from modelling software in awkward locations or with strange bounding boxes. It can be useful to move them around and rotate them without having to open with modelling software again. This is a simple library that can read, write and do basic manipulations of STL files.

Currently can be given inputs of ASCII or binary STL and outputs ASCII STL. ASCII inputs are better tested.

Usage

The basic workflow goes like this:

1. Import a model from a file
2. Manipulate that model
3. Export the model to another or the same file

Importing a File

To import a file, create a new pySTL STLmodel object. The constructor takes one argument, the filename to import.

import pySTL

#Load a model from a file.
model = pySTL.STLmodel('text.stl')

Manipulations

Manipulate through, translation, scaling, and rotation. Use 3-D rotation matrices to rotate the model.

To translate, pass a 3 element NumPy array to the translate method of the model.

import numpy
#Move ten units in the X direction.
movement = numpy.array([10, 0, 0])
model.translate(movement)

To scale, pass the scale value to the scale method.

#Scale down to 10% size
scale = 0.1
model.scale(scale)

To rotate, create a 3-D rotation matrix as a 3*3 numpy array and pass to the model's rotate method. There are three convenience methods to allow for easy calculation of rotations about the X,Y, and Z axes (give angles in radians). You can combine these to develop any rotation matrix necessary (e.g. from Euler Angles).

#Rotate the model
R1 = pySTL.rotationAboutX(-3.14149/2)
R2 = pySTL.rotationAboutY(-3.14159/4)

R = R1.dot(R2)

model.rotate(R)

You can also get the centroid and volume of the model.

c = model.get_centroid()
v = model.get_volume()

And finally, export the model back to a new (or the same) .STL file.

model.write_text_stl('newText.stl')

editSTL.py

There is also a script that goes along with the library that gives a nice command-line interface to editing your STL files. Run it using python.

usage: editSTL.py [-h] -i INFILE [-o OUTFILE] [-s SCALE]
                  [-t TRANSLATE TRANSLATE TRANSLATE] [-r ROTATE ROTATE ROTATE]
                  [-c] [-v]

Process a given STL file and perform rotation, translation, and scaling on it.
Actions happen in the order given here. Scaling, then translation, then
rotation. If selected, centroid translation happens last.

optional arguments:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -i INFILE, --infile INFILE
                        input STL file
  -o OUTFILE, --outfile OUTFILE
                        output STL file including the extension. If none is
                        given, processing is performed in place and the input
                        file is replaced by the edited version
  -s SCALE, --scale SCALE
                        scaling factor for output STL
  -t TRANSLATE TRANSLATE TRANSLATE, --translate TRANSLATE TRANSLATE TRANSLATE
                        translate the STL file: provide three numeric values
                        for x, y, and z translation e.g. --translate 10.1
                        -14.2 15
  -r ROTATE ROTATE ROTATE, --rotate ROTATE ROTATE ROTATE
                        rotate the STL file: provide 3 angles for 3-1-3 body-
                        fixed Euler angle rotations in radians
  -c, --centroid        move the STL file so that the origin is the centroid
                        after performing all other operations
  -v, --verbose         print out operations