Name | Initial Graphics Exchange Specification | STereoLithography |
File extension | .igs, .iges | .stl |
Original software | ||
Binary | ■ | |
ASCII | ■ | ■ |
Polygonal | ■ | |
NURBS | ■ | |
Solids | ||
Smoothing groups | ■ | |
Textures, materials | ||
Developer/Owner | U.S. National Bureau of Standards | |
Description | ||
Specification | Download PDF | The StL Format |
Format features | Universal open interchange NURBS-surfaces format. Along with STEP - one of the most popular | One of the most ubiquitous exchange formats polygonal geometry between CAD-systems. Can have both binary and ASCII-structure, which is why the same file can vary in size tenfold. See also PLY |
Viewing software | Delcam Exchange 2012 (free), eDrawings (free) | GLC_Player (free), MeshLab (free) |