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Format

STL (Standard Tessellation Language) ASCII

Summary

Name
STL (Standard Tessellation Language) ASCII
Identifiers
PUID: x-fmt/108
Format type
Model
Description
STL is a 3D modelling file format created by 3D Systems. An STL file is a triangular representation of a 3-dimensional surface geometry. The surface is tessellated or broken down logically into a series of small triangles (facets). Each facet is described by a perpendicular direction and three points representing the vertices (corners) of the triangle. These data are used by a slicing algorithm to determine the cross sections of the 3-dimensional shape to be built by the fabricator.
File extensions
stl
Source
Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives

Internal signatures

STL

Note
<optional blank>solid + … + “facet normal” + … + “outer loop” + … + vertex

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
None
Byte Sequence
(73|2073)6F6C696420*6661636574206E6F726D616C20{0-200}6F75746572206C6F6F70{0-20}76657274657820
Endianness
None

Changelog

  • Updated in V84

    Release date
    21 January 2016

    STL (Standard Tessellation Language) ASCII: Added description, alternate name of Stereolithography File, and set format type to 'Model'.

  • Added in V58

    Release date
    21 March 2012

    STL (Standard Tessellation Language) ASCII: Format name changed for greater accuracy and consistency.

    STL (Standard Tessellation Language) ASCII: Signature submitted by Georgia Tech Research Institute, USA.