Mesh Import

Export

Mesh

Description

The Mesh Import command imports geometry from a mesh file format into the active document. Several file formats are supported. The command creates a non-parametric mesh object, a Mesh Feature.

Usage

1. There are several ways to invoke the command:
   • Press the Import mesh... button.
   • Select the Meshes → Import mesh... option from the menu.
   • Select the Import mesh... option from the Tree view context menu or 3D view context menu. This option is only available if an existing mesh object has been selected. Note that the selected object is actually not used or modified by the command.
2. Optionally select the correct file format in the dialog box.
3. Select a file.
4. Press the Open button.

Supported file formats

The command supports: stl, ast, bms, obj, off, iv, ply, nas and bdf files. For the NASTRAN (nas/bdf) file format, only GRID, CTRIA3 and CQUAD4 cards are supported.

Preferences

• The last used file location is stored: Tools → Edit parameters... → BaseApp → Preferences → General → FileOpenSavePath.

Properties

See: Mesh Feature.

Scripting

See also: FreeCAD Scripting Basics.

To import a mesh file use the insert method of the Mesh module.

import Mesh
Mesh.insert('D:/testfiles/cylinder.stl')

Export

Mesh

Mesh

• Miscellaneous: Import mesh, Export mesh, Create mesh from shape, Regular solid, Unwrap Mesh, Unwrap Face
• Modifying: Harmonize normals, Flip normals, Fill holes, Close hole, Add triangle, Remove components, Remove components by hand, Smooth, Refinement, Decimation, Scale

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• Boolean: Union, Intersection, Difference
• Cutting: Cut mesh, Trim mesh, Trim mesh with a plane, Create section from mesh and plane, Cross-sections
• Components and segments: Merge, Split by components, Create mesh segments, Create mesh segments from best-fit surfaces

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• Analyze: Evaluate and repair mesh, Face info, Curvature plot, Curvature info, Check solid mesh, Boundings info
• Additional: Import Export Preferences, OpenSCAD Workbench, Mesh Scripting

User documentation

• Getting started
• Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
• Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate

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• Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
• Workbenches: Std Base, Assembly, BIM, CAM, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Material, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework

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• Addons: Addon Manager, External workbenches, Scripting and macros

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• Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub