What software should I install for opening .stl files?

Question

I use Ubuntu 12.10. What software can I install that can open Physible .stl files? And what are the differences between these softwares?

score 53 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 26 '19 at 14:17

53

Meshlab reads all kind of 3D meshes, also STL

sudo apt-get install meshlab
meshlab file.stl

Example with this file:

edited Oct 26 '19 at 14:17

Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com

31,462

answered Jul 14 '13 at 09:03

byteborg

1,805

1

Just a warning: meshlab is terrible for doing any per vertex or per surface rendering. I.e. you can't easily select faces and move them around. – Catskul Jun 04 '14 at 22:51

score 11 · Answer 2 · edited Jan 05 '22 at 13:19

11

You can use F3D for this task.

f3d yourFile.stl

edited Jan 05 '22 at 13:19

jp48

105
3

answered Jun 15 '20 at 04:05

Mathieu Westphal

211

score 10 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 24 '14 at 18:27

10

Blender is the best, just import the file.

answered Jan 24 '14 at 18:27

user239465

109

To clarify: apt install blender, run it, select File→Import→Stl… and navigate to the directory with the *.stl files. (It's apparently not possible to paste the path into the File dialogue. ☹) – Michael Scheper Sep 21 '23 at 20:19

score 6 · Answer 4 · edited Oct 26 '19 at 14:32

6

From OpenSCAD's online User Manual

STL Import - http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/OpenSCAD_User_Manual/STL_Import

import_stl("filename.stl", convexity = <val>)

As of version 2019.01, if you do from the command line:

openscad file.stdl

it automatically opens the GUI with the right command to view the file e.g.:

import("/home/ciro/git/OSP/Hardware/CAD Files/P1 - X-Axis Motor Holder/P1 - X-Axis Motor Holder.STL");

Then you can click Design > Render, and it gives for this sample file:

edited Oct 26 '19 at 14:32

Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com

31,462

answered Aug 29 '13 at 07:21

Hall

373
2
4

1

That doesn't seem to work very well. And technically, that doesn't let you edit the STL file. It just converts the STL file to OpenSCAD's internal format using raytracing, which takes forever. – Cerin Dec 25 '14 at 02:57

score 3 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 25 '13 at 10:46

3

You could try OpenSCAD. It is free and is available for Ubuntu.

answered Jan 25 '13 at 10:46

Rodrigo Guedes

141

3

but it couldn't open the .stl file i had.. – AmirRazoR Jan 25 '13 at 12:32
That's strange. The site says it opens and create stl files. Are you sure you're file is not damaged in some way? – Rodrigo Guedes Jan 25 '13 at 12:36
yes i am absolutely sure my file is fine. – AmirRazoR Jan 25 '13 at 12:42
Very odd, my friend. I will make some research and return if I find a solution. – Rodrigo Guedes Jan 25 '13 at 12:47
2

It won't open .stl files indeed. – Dr_Bunsen May 10 '13 at 07:40
It might be a newer feature. The current version is 2014.03, but the version in the repo is 2013.02.28. – Cerin Dec 25 '14 at 02:48
I think it is only meant to export to STL files, it is not a mesh viewer. At least, that is what my 5 minutes of tinkering with an scad file from thingiverse taught me. I used meshlab to view STL files exported from scad. – NeilenMarais Aug 13 '16 at 20:50
2

you can import STL files using the import function: import("file.stl", convexity=3);. You will then be able to see the model in the preview window. – s-ol Sep 22 '19 at 12:26

score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Jun 08 '21 at 10:24

2

FreeCAD https://www.freecadweb.org/ also can import *.stl files

answered Jun 08 '21 at 10:24

Mixaz

121
3

score 0 · Answer 7 · edited Oct 26 '19 at 15:04

Since OpenSCAD version 2015.03-1, it should work also to import .stl files. Please use a command like this:

import("/home/documents/Screw.stl", convexity=3);

and push the preview button, as suggested by Hall above.

This should work!

To edit the .stl as an object in OpenSCAD, create a module like:

module Screw(){
      import("/home/documents/Screw.stl", convexity=3);
}

Now you are able to recall it with Screw() for further actions.

score -2 · Answer 8 · answered Nov 19 '19 at 10:02

-2

I use ChiTuBox on Ubuntu 18.04 (I know you were asking about 12.04 but that was 6 years ago!).

https://www.chitubox.com/download.html

answered Nov 19 '19 at 10:02

Snowcrash

373
1
4
16

What software should I install for opening .stl files?

8 Answers8