Opening STL files
Launch the MeshInspector program, open your source model. Click ‘Open Files’ on the Home tab and choose the .stl file you are going to work on.
Browsing STL files
In the file dialog, locate an STL. You can either click ‘Browse’ and select it or simply drag and drop into the workspace. We will be quick to load and visualize it.
Viewing STL files
Your STL will be rendered as a triangulated surface mesh. Keep in mind that STL files store geometry only. It will be immediately ready for export.
Exporting the STL
Your next destination point is the ‘Export’ button under the ‘Home’ tab. With your STL model chosen in MeshInspector’s scene tree, click on it.
Setting PLY Format
After clicking ’Export,’ a ’Save File’ dialog will appear. You can rename your file if needed and open the ’Extension’ dropdown to pick the correct output format. Choose .ply from the list, then press ’Save.’ MeshInspector will generate a single PLY file from your GLTF model.
Inspecting the PLY
Reopen your freshly generated .ply file in MeshInspector. Go to the ‘Inspect’ tab and click ‘Bounding Box.’ This is how you confirm the model’s physical dimensions and ensure scale consistency.
Adjusting the PLY Size
If necessary, adjust your model’s size. In the Scene Tree, find the ‘Transform’ section below 'Information'. Move the scaling slider or type in custom values. Confirm by clicking the checkmark.
