Import *.STL files at their true scale size in BLENDER

3D Comparison

11 Sep, 2023 05:44 AM

Blender imports STL files at a 0.001 scale because the STL file format does not specify units. This means that the size of an object in an STL file is arbitrary, and it is up to the software that is importing the file to determine the scale. Blender, by default, imports STL files as if they are in meters, which means that a 1 unit cube in an STL file will be imported into Blender as a 1 meter cube. To import an STL file at a different scale, you can use the "Scale" option in the import dialog.

1. Step 1: Import the STL

   Here are the steps on how to import STL scales into Blender:

   • Open Blender.
   • Go to File - Import - STL.
   • In the Import STL dialog, select the STL file that you want to import.
   • In the Scale section, enter the scale factor that you want to use. For example, to import the STL file at a scale of 1 millimeter, enter 0.001.
   • Click Import.
   • The STL file will be imported into Blender at the specified scale.

   
   

   Here are some additional things to keep in mind when importing STL files into Blender:

   The units that you use in Blender will affect the scale of the imported STL file. If you have set the units in Blender to millimeters, then the imported STL file will be scaled by a factor of 1000.

   If you are importing an STL file for 3D printing, you will need to make sure that the scale is correct. Most 3D printers use millimeters, so you will need to scale the STL file by a factor of 1000 if you have set the units in Blender to meters.

   You can also use the "Transform" tool in Blender to scale the imported STL file after it has been imported.

   3D model used for the case study available at:

   https://www.artec3d.com/3d-models/copper-key