What is the Difference between STL and STEP files?

Do you know the difference between STL and STEP files? Is there a difference?
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[@TheRealClutch1010]

I think an easier explanation is that a STEP file describes the geometries; planes, arcs, points of an object, etc, whereas an STL file is an approximation of the object that results in a mesh that is only vertices and triangles. A STEP file allows for future editing in a parametric sense whereas a mesh will need geometries recreated to make it parametric.

[@swamihuman9395]

- This comment went long, but there was quite a bit to cover. - Hopefully you (and your viewers) will find some value in this. But, take it or leave it, just thought I'd share, "in case". - So, if you are interested in the finer details of the test/comparison presented in the video, read on... - I respectfully suggest you revisit/reassess your test/analysis... - Allow me to share some things not realized, and not apparent, to many users. - "MESH": surface approximation: edge-connected polygons (triangles for STL). - "3D SOLID": exact representation: 'Boundary Representation' (BRep): '3D surfaces' "stitched" into a "watertight", closed surface (i.e. volume/solid). --- Similar to a "2D vector file" in that "resolution" is not fixed - at least not before "tessellation", after which it is fixed, albeit at a potentially quite high resolution. But keep in mind, ultimately, slicer must have a mesh to "slice". - From F360, you did... - 'Save as Mesh': 'Format': 'STL(ASCII)'. --- 'ASCII' is bigger than 'Binary'. --- 'ASCII' is human-readable; 'Binary' is not. --- Use 'ASCII' if intending to manually edit text. --- Also, 3MF is typically smaller than STL, and can be considerably smaller in certain cases. Thus, a more thorough test is required to make proper comparison to other files. - 'Save as Mesh': 'Refinement': 'Low'/'MEDIUM'/'High'. --- 'Number of Triangles' for 'Medium' is not highest possible. - Upon 'Import' into 'Bambu Studio', STEP is "tessellated" (converted to 'triangular mesh' from '3D solid'), and at highest triangle count supported. --- Rclick object: 'Simplify Model': 'Decimate ratio':0.00% is default: highest triangle count supported. --- Use 'Simplify Model': 'Show wireframe' to visualize the triangles; drag slider to see triangle count change. --- Once out of 'Simplify Model', select object, triangle count is display in data at lower-right of UI. --- So, again, test performed needs modification to get accurate/valid comparison of file sizes, and print quality. --- All that said, STEP is a good option in Bambu Studio, and for a couple reasons (including ease of filament assignment for multi-material prints, provided bodies of a given filament are collected into respective components in F360); AND, for the reason you are seeing better print results w/ STEP due to the higher relative triangle count (as discussed above) - so, NOT because of the STEP per se. - And finally, yes, this matter is a bit "involved", and requires a deep understanding of things. Fortunately, I started in 3D 30+ years ago.

[@ernestofigueroa9278]

Thanks for the vid. Although it didn't give a good explenation of the difference of the files but clearly the result. The comments gave a better explenation.

[@logicalfundy]

STL files are also more difficult to work with in many CAD packages. It ends up being a shape without much ability to edit. For my own creations, I've been moving away from using STL files.

[@calmarcalmar]

thanks a lot

[@aware2action]

Almost all 3d print slicers handle STL, much better than any other format, in the sense, they can be fixed readily for water tightness without any additional steps most of the time, just following prompts from slicer. In simple terms, it is the native supported format. That said, not all software used for CAD design export a high precision, high accuracy STL. This is where the issue is. A high polygon count STL works perfectly all the time, however different the relative dimensions of the print models are. Just some 💭