File Types

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Revision as of 17:35, 20 June 2011 by Bubbapizza (talk | contribs) (AOI)
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This page provides a list of the various file types that are used in the reprap software toolchain.

AOI

AOI filenames with .aoi ???

AOI files are the native file format for Art of Illusion. AoI was never intended to be used as CAD software but you will find a lot of reprap files in this format because AoI is an open source app and is easy to use. In the long run though this app is probably a dead end for designing parts.

Not sure what formats it can export to but it must be able to save parts as STL files.

STL

Files of this type end with .stl

STL files are an open file standard and are widely used in Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and rapid prototyping. The STL file format is good for printing out parts because it describes a part's surface geometry. Unfortunately, STL files are terrible for doing Computer Aided Design (CAD). They can be imported into CAD applications but are difficult to change. CAD applications generally use file formats that describe a part's Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG). Parts saved in a CSG file format are much easier to change and manipulate.

As a rule of thumb, parts should not be designed and saved as STL files. When designing parts, they should be saved in a CSG file format such as:

  1. the CAD application's native format or
  2. a STEP file

STEP

Files of this type normally end with .stp

STEP files are basically the gold standard for translating between different CAD applications. People that do CAD for a living use STEP files because is an ISO Standard

IGES

IGES Files of this type normally end with .igs

This is an older open-format CAD file. It has since been superceded by STEP files as of 1995 or so More detail on IGES files can be found in Wikipedia