How to Automatically Create STL Files with CATIA Macro?

What is CATIA V5 Macro?

CATIA V5 Macro Programming with Visual Basic Script shows you, step by step, how to create your own macros that automate repetitive tasks, accelerate design procedures, and automatically generate complex geometries.

Mako GmbH shares this CATIA macro which automatically creates STL files and saves them in the same folder as the origin file. Here are the steps the program follows:

1) Exports STEP file

2) Opens STEP file

3) Deletes Geometrical Set

4) Exports Step to STL

5) Closes STEP file

6) Deletes STEP file

7) Closes CATPart

Following is the code:

Sub CATMain()

‘ Loop as long as there is an open document

‘ Active document must be a CATPart of CATProduct

On Error Resume Next

Dim fullname As String

Dim oDoc As Document

Dim oSTPDoc As Document

Dim oPartDoc As PartDocument

Dim oSel As Selection

Dim oPart As Part

Set oDoc = CATIA.ActiveDocument

Do While CATIA.Documents.Count > 0

fullname = oDoc.fullname

‘remove extension .CATPart or .CATProduct

If Right(fullname, 8) = “.CATPart” Then

fullname = Left(fullname, Len(fullname) – 8)

ElseIf Right(fullname, 11) = “.CATProduct” Then

Else: MsgBox “No valid Part or Product active”

Exit Sub

End If

‘Export STEP file – change the CATPart or CATproduct to STEP

CATIA.ActiveDocument.ExportData fullname & “.stp”, “stp”

‘Open STEP file

Set oSTPDoc = CATIA.Documents.Open(fullname & “.stp”)

oSTPDoc.Activate

‘Delete Geometrical Set

Set oSel = oSTPDoc.Selection

oSel.Clear

Set oPartDoc = CATIA.ActiveDocument

Set oPart = oPartDoc.Part

oSel.Add oPart.HybridBodies.Item(“Geometrical Set.1”)

oSel.Delete

‘Save as STL file

CATIA.ActiveDocument.ExportData fullname & “.stl”, “stl”

‘Close STEP file

CATIA.ActiveDocument.Close

‘Delete STEP file

CATIA.FileSystem.DeleteFile (fullname & “.stp”)

‘Close CATPart

CATIA.ActiveDocument.Close

Set oDoc = CATIA.ActiveDocument

Loop

MsgBox “Program Completed!”, , “STL Export Utility”

End Sub

There you have it! What is STL file used for? This file format is supported by many other software packages, such as SolidWorks. It’s also commonly used for Reverse Engineering, 3D printing, and is the standard for various rapid prototyping processes and computer-aided manufacturing. STL files describe only the surface geometry of a three-dimensional object without any representation of color, texture or other common CAD model attributes. STL has several after-the-fact backronyms such as “Standard Triangle Language” and “Standard Tessellation Language.”

So, this above CATIA Macro would be really helpful if you want to convert or save the files in STL format. Please let us know if you find this code useful in the comments section below!

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