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Home > Supported File Formats > PLM XML to STL


How to convert PLM XML (Siemens) 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.

     

PLM XML

PLM XML is a format created by UGS for facilitating product lifecycle interoperability using XML. Representing a variety of product data both explicitly and via references, PLM XML provides a lightweight, flexible mechanism for transporting high-content product data over the internet.

Related to PLM XML, Okino was one of the very first members of the Siemens 'JT Open' initiative and hence we provide excellent support for the import and export of JT files. "JT" is the predominant and lightweight 3D visualization file format for PLM. Due to the overlap in functionality between JT files and PLM XML files, we do support PLM XML directly but rather we rely upon JT for our PLM coverage.

     

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'.