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How to convert STL (StereoLithography) to Softimage|XSI (.xsi)?

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.

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'.

Softimage|XSI

Softimage|3D and Softimage|XSI were two well known 3D animation systems written by Softimage Inc. of Montreal Canada. Autodesk eventually came to buy the company in 2008 and then kill off the software in 2014.

Okino had a very long standing relationship with Softimage and its software, having written the main import/export converters for both Softimage|3D and Softimage|XSI in the 1990s.

Conversion to/from Softimage|3D was done with the .hrc and .dsc file formats which are now considered obsolete. In simple terms, you would need to get a running version of Softimage|XSI v7.x on your Windows machine in order to read in older .hrc and .dsc files.

Conversion to/from Softimage|XSI was done with the .xsi v3 and v5 file formats which are still supported in Okino software.

How to Convert CAD to STL

STL import converter's overview

Softimage|XSI export converter's overview