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Import STL and Physical Modeling XML Files

CAD models frequently use STL (STereoLithography) format files or Physical Modeling XML files.

You can use the 3D World Editor to import STL and Physical Modeling XML files directly into a VRML virtual scene. You can integrate content from those files into a virtual world, converting the structure into VRML.

Note

You cannot use the 3D World Editor to import STL and Physical Modeling XML files directly into an X3D virtual scene.

To import an STL or Physical Modeling XML file:

  1. In the 3D World Editor, select the Root node or an MFNode node (usually the children node of a Transform or Group node).

  2. From the Nodes > Import From menu item, select either STL File or Physical Modeling XML File.

    Tip

    Alternatively, you can right-click the Root node or an MFNode node and use the Import From menu item. To insert the new node in the middle of a node list, after the selected node, use the Nodes > Import From menu path.

    Note

    To import a Physical Modeling XML file, the target folder must be writable.

Results

Importing an STL file creates a Transform node containing a Shape node with IndexedFaceSet geometry that represents the original STL shape. The new Transform is create in one of these locations:

  • At the main level of the scene hierarchy (at the end of the file)

  • As a child of a selected grouping node

Importing a Physical Modeling XML file creates an individual VRML file for each STL file that the XML file references. The created VRML files are stored in the folder where the edited VRML file is located.

In the edited VRML file, the newly created Transform contains hierarchical structure Transforms that correspond to the structure of objects described in the XML file. Individual VRML shape files in this structure are referenced using Inline nodes.

Note

When importing a Physical Modeling XML file into a new, unsaved VRML model, children VRML files are created in the current working folder. If you save the file into a different folder, move the referenced VRML files to the new location.

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