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Home > Supported File Formats > Intergraph PDS to STL


How to convert Intergraph PDS to STL (StereoLithography)?


PolyTrans|CAD+DCC performs mathematically precise CAD, DCC/Animation, GIS and BIM 3D file conversions into all key downstream 3D packages and file formats. Okino software is used and trusted throughout the world by many tens of thousands of 3D professionals in mission & production critical environments, backed by respectable personal support directly from our core development team.

     

Intergraph PDS

Intergraph 'Plant Design System' is a comprehensive, intelligent computer-aided design/engineering (CAD/CAE) application for plant design, construction, and operations.

Files can be exported from PDS as MicroStation DGN files and imported natively into Okino software via our dedicated DGN importer. Preferably, you should import only the .DRI (Design Review) file which itself will then read in all of the individual DGN files. Please follow the method as outlined in the 'How to Import from Intergraph PDS DGN Models' section of the Okino online DGN help file. It is also suggested that you read the 'Tutorial: How to Import Massive DGN Files (PDMS Plants, Oil Refineries, etc)' section of the same help page.

     

STL

STL (StereoLithography) is one of the industry's oldest (and simplest) 3D file formats created back in 1987 for 3D Systems' first commercial 3D printer. It is widely used for rapid prototyping, 3D printing and CAM. Okino has provided one of the very first and still primary STL export conversion systems for close to 3 decades.

Please take note that there is no 3D file format which is much simpler than STL. It is not a high-end, high fidelity 3D conversion file format as many people have come to wrongly believe. Rather, STL defines just a raw triangulated polygon mesh with no smoothing information (vertex normals), no uv texture coordinates, no assembly hierarchy part naming or any material assignments. 3MF and VRML2 are often much better file formats for moving 3D datasets into downstream programs and/or 3D printers.

The Okino STL exporter WEB page provides good graphical tutorial about how to convert CAD file data into STL and also how to clean a 3D model which is 'almost water tight'.