On 30/09/2025 15:04, Kenneth wrote:
> That is really a fabulous service, yesbird! I just used it to convert two
> binary-file STL models (from Thingiverse) that I have been wanting to see in
> POV-ray for a long time.
> ...
Many thanks, I am glad that you find it useful.

> 
> Your site works beautifully, and the upload/download speeds for me are VERY
> fast. I am amazed at how quickly you wrote code to accomplish this task. Thank
> you!
The reason is a set of tools I am using: HTML5/JS/Three.js.
After a long time working with C++/Linux I feel like playing Lego toys
comparing to complicated real-world mechanics :).

> 
> I know that you are busy with other things, but I have several small(?)
> suggestions:
This is very much in time. It will help me to make this service better,
thanks for detailed feedback, please share your ideas about possible
improvements and additional features. For example, I am thinking about
extending the list of materials and adding a reference grid(s).

> 
> One of the models I uploaded (see my attached POV-ray render of your conversion)
> is a very high-triangle-count model, and very smooth when 3D-printed-- and it
> actually looked better on your webpage when I checked 'flat shading' there. As
> you can see here, the 'smooth triangles' of the converted mesh2 are causing the
> sharp edges to 'crinkle'...similar to what I saw when the model was 'smoothed'
> on your page.
> 
> My suggestion would be to allow a *choice* of downloading the mesh2 model as
> 'smooth triangles' or as just flat un-smoothed ones. My guess is that there are
> plenty of STL models available that don't really need such smoothing, because of
> their high triangle count.
> 
Agree with you and this is already works right "out of the box": just
select the "Flat shading" checkbox and _then_ download a model - you
will get exactly what you see :). The same approach works also for
"Vertex colors". I will write detailed help after some code polishing.

> My 2nd suggestion: Currently, your mesh2 downloads are named 'model' (as is the
> mesh2 itself.) They show up in my 'downloads' file...which, sadly, I don't
> immediately check or look at when I am busy with other things. So my second
> suggestion would be to *number* your converted files in some way, so that every
> file we convert has a unique number-- like model6374, similar to what
> Thingiverse does. The reason is that we could be uploading/downloading several
> models in quick succession...and new downloads could overwrite the previous ones
> if we are lazy :-O
Interesting idea, I will think about it. Implementation is trivial,
just need to be sure that this will be really convenient.

> 
> Thanks again for taking the time to create your site.
Always welcome !
Btw, you mentioned 3D printing - what model do you have and what
software do you prefer ? Mine is CREALITY3D ENDER-3 Pro / Simplify3d.

> 
> ----------------
> Over the last several days, I have been working on my own ascii-STL-to-mesh
> converter scheme, totally within POV-ray as SDL code (well, along with some
> 'manual/automated' editing of the STL file to get it into a form that POV-ray
> can #read.) But it's all accomplished within the program, no external editor
> required. Anyway, I finished it last night, and it works quite nicely. But THEN
> I saw that you had created your online converter! Which of course works better
> and faster than my DIY scheme. Mine only works with ascii files anyway.
> 
> I think I will still post it though, for those hardy souls who like doing things
> themselves. ;-)
No doubt - publish it !
Someone can use your code as an example for similar projects.

Wishing well.
-- 
YB

Post a reply to this message