9

Import ing STL Files 587
model. Other STL machines use metal powder to
create a model in steel. St il l other machines use
aspecialwax.
You can import and export STL files. See Exporting
to STL (page 3–588).
Inter face
Name—Enteranameforthe3DStudioobject
created f rom the STL file. Default is the file name
(withoutextension)orthenamesavedinternally
in the STL file.
Weld Vertices group
Welds coincident vertices in the STL file into single
vertices in the 3D Studio mesh.
Weld Thre shold—Determines the size of the area
which vertices must occupy to be welded. Vertices
w ith distances equal to or less than this value are
welded into a sing le vertex.
Weld—Tu r ns on t he Weld Ver t ices function. I n
most cases, you should leave this box turned on
because unwelded objects can’t b e unified or
smoothed.
Use Thr eshold—If on, STL import uses the
standard 3D Studio welding method. This can be
a very slow process.
Quick Weld—If on, STL import uses a welding
algorithm optimized for the STL format. This is
up to thirty times faster than standard 3D Studio
welding, and is high ly recommended.
Auto-Smooth group
Auto-Smooth—Applies smoothing groups (page
3–1013) to the geometry based on the smoothing
anglesetbythesmoothanglespinner. Edges
between faces that have an a ngle between them
that is greater than the specified s moothing angle
wi ll appear faceted in the rendered image. Edges
between faces that are below the specified ang le
are smoothed
Smooth Angle—Determinesthesizeofthe
smoothing angle.
Auto-Smooth—Tur ns on t he Auto- Sm o ot h
function.
Miscellaneous group
Remove Double Faces—Removes one of the pair
wherever two faces are occupying the same
location. Recommended.
Unify Normals—Forces the normals (page 3–980)
of all faces on each object to face the same way
(usually out). If, when you render your scene, the
face normals are pointing in the wrong direction,