Skip to content


# WriteSTL

VTKEx/Java/IO/WriteSTL

### Description

vtkSTLWriter object writes Stereo Lithography (.stl) files in either ASCII or binary form.

An STL file describes a triangulated three-dimensional surface by the unit normal and vertices (ordered by the right-hand rule) of the triangles.

This example saves a 3D geometric data stored in a to an STL file.

Other languages

See (Cxx), (Python)

Question

If you have a simple question about this example contact us at VTKExProject If your question is more complex and may require extended discussion, please use the VTK Discourse Forum

### Code

WriteSTL.java

    import vtk.vtkNativeLibrary;
    import vtk.vtkRenderWindow;
    import vtk.vtkRenderWindowInteractor;
    import vtk.vtkRenderer;
    import vtk.vtkActor;
    import vtk.vtkNamedColors;
    import vtk.vtkPolyDataMapper;
    import vtk.vtkSTLReader;
    import vtk.vtkSTLWriter;
    import vtk.vtkSphereSource;

    public class WriteSTL
    {
      // -----------------------------------------------------------------
      // Load VTK library and print which library was not properly loaded
      static
      {
        if (!vtkNativeLibrary.LoadAllNativeLibraries())
        {
          for (vtkNativeLibrary lib : vtkNativeLibrary.values())
          {
            if (!lib.IsLoaded())
            {
              System.out.println(lib.GetLibraryName() + " not loaded");
            }
          }
        }
        vtkNativeLibrary.DisableOutputWindow(null);
      }
      // -----------------------------------------------------------------

      public static void main(String args[])
      {

        //parse command line arguments
        if (args.length != 1)
        {
          System.err.println("Usage: java -classpath ... Filename(.stl) e.g sphere.stl");
          return;
        }
        String Filename = args[0];

        vtkNamedColors Color = new vtkNamedColors();

        //Renderer Background Color
        double BgColor[] = new double[4];

        //Change Color Name to Use your own Color for Renderer Background
        Color.GetColor("Seagreen",BgColor);

        vtkSphereSource sphereSource = new vtkSphereSource();
        sphereSource.Update();

        vtkSTLWriter stlWriter = new vtkSTLWriter();
        stlWriter.SetFileName(Filename);
        stlWriter.SetInputConnection(sphereSource.GetOutputPort());
        stlWriter.Write();

        //Read and display for verification
        vtkSTLReader reader = new vtkSTLReader();
        reader.SetFileName(Filename);
        reader.Update();

        //Create a mapper and actor
        vtkPolyDataMapper mapper = new vtkPolyDataMapper();
        mapper.SetInputConnection(reader.GetOutputPort());

        vtkActor actor = new vtkActor();
        actor.SetMapper(mapper);

        // Create the renderer, render window and interactor.
        vtkRenderer ren = new vtkRenderer();
        vtkRenderWindow renWin = new vtkRenderWindow();
        renWin.AddRenderer(ren);
        vtkRenderWindowInteractor iren = new vtkRenderWindowInteractor();
        iren.SetRenderWindow(renWin);

        ren.AddActor(actor);
        ren.SetBackground(BgColor);

        renWin.SetSize(300,300);
        renWin.Render();

        iren.Initialize();
        iren.Start();

      }
    }