Convert STL to PDF via C#

Render STL as PDF without any 3D modeling and rendering software.

How to Convert STL to PDF Using C#

In order to convert STL to PDF, we’ll use

Aspose.3D for .NET

API which is a feature-rich, powerful and easy to use document manipulation and conversion API for C# platform. Open

NuGet

package manager, search for Aspose.3D and install. You may also use the following command from the Package Manager Console.

Package Manager Console Command
PM> Install-Package Aspose.3D

Steps to Convert STL to PDF via C#

.NET programmers can easily load & convert STL files to PDF in just a few lines of code.

Load STL file via the constructor of Scene class
Create an instance of PdfSaveOptions
Set PDF specific properties for advanced conversion
Call the Scene.Save method
Pass the output path with PDF file extension & object of PdfSaveOptions
Check resultant PDF file at specified path

System Requirements

Before running the .NET conversion code, make sure that you have the following prerequisites.

Microsoft Windows or a compatible OS with .NET Framework, .NET Core, Mono.
Development environment like Microsoft Visual Studio.
Aspose.3D for .NET DLL referenced in your project.

A 3D File Processing Library to manipulate 3D files without any modeling and rendering software. The 3D API supports Discreet3DS, WavefrontOBJ, FBX (ASCII, Binary), STL (ASCII, Binary), Universal3D, Collada, glTF, GLB, PLY, DirectX, Google Draco file formats and more. Developers can create, read, convert, modify and control the substance of 3D document formats easily.

STL What is STL File Format?

STL, abbreviation for stereolithrography, is an interchangeable file format that represents 3-dimensional surface geometry. The file format finds its usage in several fields such as rapid prototyping, 3D printing and computer-aided manufacturing. It represents a surface as a series of small triangles, known as facets, where each facet is described by a perpendicular direction and three points representing the vertices of the triangle. Resultant data is used by applications to determine the cross section of the 3D shape to be built by the fabber. There is no information available in the STL file format for representation of colour, texture or other common CAD model attributes.

pdf What is pdf File Format?

Portable Document Format (PDF) is a type of document created by Adobe back in 1990s. The purpose of this file format was to introduce a standard for representation of documents and other reference material in a format that is independent of application software, hardware as well as Operating System. PDF files can be opened in Adobe Acrobat Reader/Writer as well in most modern browsers like Chrome, Safari, Firefox via extensions/plug-ins. Most of the commercially available software suites also offer conversion of their documents to PDF file format without the requirement of any additional software component. Thus, PDF file format has full capability to contain information like text, images, hyperlinks, form-fields, rich media, digital signatures, attachments, metadata, Geospatial features and 3D objects in it that can become as part of source document.

Other Supported Conversions

You can also convert STL into many other file formats including few listed below.

STL TO 3DS (3D Studio DOS Mesh)

STL TO AMF (Additive Manufacturing Format)

STL TO DAE (Digital Asset Exchange)

STL TO FBX (3D Format)

STL TO HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)

STL TO OBJ (3D File Format)

STL TO PLY (Polygon File Format)

STL TO RVM (AVEVA Plant Design Model)

STL TO U3D (Universal 3D)