Sending your Data

For us to generate a 3D metal part from your CAD design, simply email your data to post@3trpd.co.uk. The .STL file format has become the standard data transmission method for the Rapid Prototyping industry, and is the preferred format for the building of metal parts.

CAD/CAM Systems currently in use at 3T:

SolidWorks	Advice on STL creation available.
PTC Pro/Engineer Wildfire 1
Materialise Magics RP	Rapid Prototyping software.
Materialise Magics Communicator	Internet based STL viewing package allowing customers to share 3D files with 3T RPD via the internet.

File Types read by 3T RPD include:-

.STL	Rapid Prototyping file (Binary with 0.01mm tolerance preferred) *
.IGES	Initial Graphics Exchange Specification universal translator
.STEP	International Standard for Exchange of Product Model Data
.VDA	Surfaced Data Interface V2.0
.SLDPRT	Solidworks model file
.EXP	Catia export file
.MDL	Catia V4
.CATPART	Catia V5
.EPS	Encapsulated PostScript format file**
.DWG	AutoCad drawing file**
.PRT	Pro/Engineer Part file
.PRT	Unigraphics
.BMP	Windows Bitmap image format file**
.JPEG	Joint Photographic Experts Group image file**
.TIFF	Tagged-Image File Format image file**
.WRL	VRML (Virtual Reality Modelling Language)**
.X_T	Parasolid

* Almost all of today's CAD systems are capable of producing .STL files and the process is often as simple as selecting file, Save As, STL. To find out how to generate a good .STL file, click here.

** While we can read these file formats, they are only 2D and hence do not include sufficient information to drive the modelling process. 2D-3D conversion is required.

File Size: It is important that your data files are compacted to allow them to be successfully e-mailed and quickly downloaded through our server. Files should be zipped before sending - various compression software packages are available.

Alternatively, you can upload your files to our FTP site - please telephone us to obtain instructions on how to do this.