[brlcad-users] What is the general functional stability of g-stl?

[O. B. <kof...@gm...>]

Hello,

I find BRL-CAD to be just the tool I need for my 3D modelling. But I
need to export my models to STL and for that I am using the g-stl
utility.

I am on Windows XP with version 7.12.6.

I have a question with regards to the g-stl and its functional stability.

I have had some problems with it myself:

  1. I takes way too long with small relative and absolute tolerances
(parameters -r, -a, and -n).
  2. It can suddenly crash in the middle of exporting. This usually
happens if tolerences are low (0.001, 0.0001).

What is the best way to use g-stl? I need som good SLS/SLA prints of my model.

- Should one use combinations only, or should one use regions only?
Does it matter?
- Any other good ideas for the boolean-structure of the models in the
.g file? Is there some configurations that always will slow it down?
- Can such combinations/regions contain other regions (would it
represent a possible exporting issue if they do)?
- Can somebody explain or recommend on the use of the arguments -D,
-r, -a, and -n?

The extra arguments for setting tolerances seem necessary, since too
few triangles will be created otherwise.

- What is the functional stability of g-stl? Is it working, is it
buggy, should and can I rely on it for exporting my MGED database
files?
- Is there anything to be gained by using BRL-CAD+g-stl on linux
instead on windows?

Regards,
Ole Buus