Converting from .dxf to .stl

[evanb493]

I'm using "Processing" to create a data visualization using lots of spheres. Processing will automatically produce a .dxf file of my results. All I want to do now is convert this dfx file into something I can print, presumably an .stl file. Though I'm a total n00b, my impression is that this should be fairly straightforward?

Some praise: So far Cloud Compare is awesome. Unlike other programs I've tried (fusion 360, blender), CC manages to open my small test file without any problem at all, and I can happily view my sphere structure. The UI seems fairly intuitive, even for someone like me (who has very little experience with 3D). So, great work!

So now all I want to do is simply export the object as an .stl file. However, I've not found any "export" or "save as" or any such thing? I realize that this was not why CC was created, but if it can do this too it would sure be great!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! (I tried to attach a small sample .dxf file, but I get an "invalid file extension" error

[evanb493]

Sorry for the unnecessary post. I didn't notice that "Save" actually functioned as "Save As", and I could select a format there. So problem solved! My only problem now is figuring out the maximum amount of data CC (and perhaps my computer) can handle. It failed to open a much more complex dxf file even after 15 minutes or so...

At any rate - impressive app! Great work! Thanks!

[daniel]

DXF is definitely not a smart format, and it's definitely a rather bad option to save triangular meshes. Files are huge and very slow to save or to load. If you have other choices, you should definitely opt for them ;)