Exporting an STL from Matlab

In this tutorial, you will learn a simple way to export a 3D image as an STL by using Matlab. The functions you'll need to make the STL file in Matlab can be found in the 1st and 2nd link below, while a more in depth tutorial can be found in the 3rd link.

LINKS:

1. To get the file for solidifying your 3D file, click here.

2. The file for exporting your STL can be found here.

3. To see a more in depth tutorial, go here.

Okay: so let's get to it.

1. Save the above two functions into Matlab.

2. Make a 3D surface plot in Matlab.

For example, type in:

    >>  [X,Y] = meshgrid(-8,0.1:8); 

    >>  R = sqrt(X.^2+Y.^2) + eps;

    >>  Z = sin(R)./R;                  

    >>  surf(X,Y,Z)                      

3. Use the surf2solid function which you downloaded earlier:

    >> VariableName = surf2solid(X,Y,Z);

4. Use the stlwrite function that you downloaded:

    >> stlwrite('FileName.stl',VariableName)  

*FileName is to be replaced with what you want to name your file

And there you have it, a nice simple way of exporting a 3D file from Matlab.