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IndustryArena Forum > Other Machines > Machine Created Art > stl to grayscale converter
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    201

    stl to grayscale converter

    Does anyone know of a software application that will convert a 3D stl file to a grayscale image for the purposes of 3d engraving. I know there are a lot of "heightfield from bitmap" but I essentially want to do the reverse, create a top view grayscale image of a solid with color corresponding to the objects' distance from the z plane.
    it would also be neat if I could find a camera that would do this. essentially create an image with a rangefinder, closest objects being white and furthest objects fade to black.
    thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    Don't quite follow you? Why can't you just carve the .stl? or do you want to carve a negative, like a mold? Look at Vectric's Aspire. It can do both with an .stl. Here's a simulation. Both are the same .stl file.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Aspire4.jpg  
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

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    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    214
    ?

    You could render the .stl I suppose in any rendering package or just screen shot it. Not sure what you're needing this functionality for either. Just mill the .stl.
    www.harryhamilldesigns.com
    CAD sculpting and services

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    3498
    May be he is talking of 3D glass LASER engraving.... and for Laser engraving u surely need Grey scale height maps

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    201

    you figured it out

    yes this is for laser engraving, which the stl. does me no good.
    I have looked at aspire and I plan to call them and see if they have this feature, it looks like the whole thing is based on greyscale.
    thanks

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    3498
    Aspire will show only one side of the model in 3D grey scale as far as i know...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    18

    3ds MAX is the answer.

    3dsMAX can do that.
    İts a little complicated but it does it.
    You have to play around with camera clipping and so...

    Look her for a tutorial
    http://www.evermotion.org/index.php?...fold=exclusive

    And also here similar thing.
    http://www.david-laserscanner.com/fo...pic.php?p=3779

    Btw: search google for "Bump Map" creation

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    35538
    Quote Originally Posted by 1ctoolfool View Post
    yes this is for laser engraving, which the stl. does me no good.
    I have looked at aspire and I plan to call them and see if they have this feature, it looks like the whole thing is based on greyscale.
    thanks

    AFAIK there is no way to export a greyscale from Aspire. I believe someone asked on Vectric's forum.

    http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=4305
    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    201

    rhino showzbuffer

    ok, bdahmet.... you posted a link that totally helped for now, much appreciated!

    If I play with an stl in rhino i can get a pretty good result using showzbuffer which renders the viewport model as a height-sensitive grayscale.

    then if I max out my screen resolution and export the viewport as a tiff, i can get a pretty decent grayscale with only a few pixels to fix manually.

    what puzzles me about rhino is there is no reference at all or any info about the showzbuffer command or any info about how to manipulate it. also the viewport image file export seems to be limited to 72dpi.

    can anyone add to this kind of cobbled up technique in Rhino????

    I don't have 3dsmax so I can't try this yet, going to try Blender when I get a chance, thanks

    Thanks for the help
    joev

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Posts
    11
    Quote Originally Posted by ger21 View Post
    AFAIK there is no way to export a greyscale from Aspire. I believe someone asked on Vectric's forum.

    Vectric Forum ? View topic - Export Grayscale
    You can now with a single click, just saying

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