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      <div class="title_topic3" id="xps10_pagetitle">Overview</div>
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               <p class="para_td">Overview</p>
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               <p class="para_td"><a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('rapidprototyping/pro_prototyping.html');return(false);">How To</a></p>
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               <p class="para_td"><a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('rapidprototyping/rp_menu.html');return(false);">Options</a></p>
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               <p class="para_td"><a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('rapidprototyping/error_mess.html');return(false);">Related Topics</a></p>
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      </table><br><p class="para_topic">The Rapid Prototyping (STL) interface allows you to take a surfaced or solid model designed in NX and output the data to an operating system file, which complies with the 3D Systems Company requirements, as well as other companies in the rapid prototyping industry.</p>
      <p class="para_topic">Before designing a part for use with the Rapid Prototyping (STL) interface, you must first become familiar with the requirements for the adjacency tolerance.</p>
      <p class="para_topic">You access the Rapid Prototyping (STL) interface by choosing the <b class="uiTerm">File&rarr;Export&rarr;STL</b> option from the menu bar.
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      <p class="para_topic">This interface allows you to:</p>
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            <p class="para_item">Specify the operating system file for the Rapid Prototyping output.</p>
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            <p class="para_item">Select the surfaces and solids to be processed.</p>
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            <p class="para_item">Set various tolerances and parameters for the process.</p>
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      <p class="para_topic">In order to convert the data into a format, which can be used by the Rapid Prototyping (STL) application, this interface takes the above information and sends a triangulation of these surfaces and solids to the specified output file.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Triangulation processing</div>
      <p class="para_division">To process the selected surfaces, the system must determine surface adjacencies, triangulate each surface making sure all edge vertices match, and determine normals to the triangles which point toward the outside of the surfaced model. To process the selected solids, the system directly triangulates the solids. The system finally outputs the triangles and normals to the output file for use with the exterior Rapid Prototyping (STL) program. Solids are processed each to a separate segment of the output file; all surfaces are treated as if they represent a single solid.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Specifying tolerances</div>
      <p class="para_division">It is imperative that you understand and set the tolerances used within the Rapid Prototyping (STL) interface correctly. The triangulation tolerance determines how smooth the approximation of the surface/solid will be. The adjacency tolerance determines when two surfaces meet along an edge.</p>
      <p class="para_division">To obtain the best performance possible, use the largest triangulation tolerances possible to meet your needs, as discussed in <a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('rapidprototyping/pro_prototyping.html');return(false);">Using the Rapid Prototyping (STL)</a>.
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      <div class="title_division">Related topics</div>
      <p class="para_division">This topic only describes the interactive procedures used in the Rapid Prototyping (STL) interface, and assumes a working knowledge of the Rapid Prototyping (STL) application, as well as other NX functions. The following online help topics and manuals may also be of use:</p>
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            <p class="para_item">NX <a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.popUpPage('modeling/index.html?goto=modeling/title_page.html&vars=-aux,-home','linkInter','menubar=yes,status=yes,resizable=yes,toolbar=yes,scrollbars=yes,location=no,directories=no');return(false);">Modeling Help</a></p>
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            <p class="para_item">Any appropriate Rapid Prototyping (STL) program manuals.</p>
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