Convert STL to PLY via Python

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

How to Convert STL to PLY Using Python

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

Aspose.3D for Python via .NET

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

NuGet

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

Command line
pip install aspose-3d

Steps to Convert STL to PLY via Python

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

Load STL file via the from_file of Scene class
Create an instance of PlySaveOptions
Set PLY specific properties for advanced conversion
Call the Scene.save method
Pass the output path with PLY file extension & object of PlySaveOptions
Check resultant PLY file at specified path

System Requirements

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

Microsoft Windows or Linux based OS.
Python 3.5 or later.
Aspose.3D for Python 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.

ply What is ply File Format?

PLY, Polygon File Format, represents 3D file format that stores graphical objects described as a collection of polygons. The purpose of this file format was to establish a simple and easy file type that is general enough to be useful for a wide range of models. PLY file format comes as ASCII as well as Binary format for compact storage and for rapid saving and loading. The file format is used by different applications that provide support for 3D files reading.

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 PDF (Portable Document Format)

STL TO RVM (AVEVA Plant Design Model)

STL TO U3D (Universal 3D)