Triangulation of 3D Surfaces Recovered from STL Grids
Daniel Rypl, Zdeněk Bittnar
Department of Structural Mechanics
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Czech Technical University in Prague
Thákurova 7, 166 29 Prague, Czech Republic
Abstract:
In the present paper, an algorithm for the discretization of
parametric 3D surfaces has been extended to the family of discrete
surfaces represented by stereolithography (STL) grids. The STL file
format, developed for rapid prototyping industry, became an attractive
alternative for surface representation in solid modeling. Initially,
a boundary representation is constructed from the STL file
using feature recognition. Then a smooth surface is recovered over the
original STL grid using an interpolating subdivision procedure. And
finally, the reconstructed surface is subjected to the triangulation
accomplished using the advancing front technique operating directly on
the surface. The capability of the proposed methodology
is illustrated on an example.