Export STL Skill

Convert OpenSCAD files to STL format for 3D printing with automatic geometry validation.

When to Use

Use this skill after:

1. The design has been iterated and looks correct in PNG previews
2. You're ready to export for 3D printing

Usage

.claude/skills/export-stl/scripts/export-stl.sh <input.scad> [options]

Options

• --output <path> - Custom output path (default: <input>.stl)
• --binary - Export binary STL (smaller file, default)
• --ascii - Export ASCII STL (human-readable)

Geometry Validation

During export, the script checks for common printability issues:

• Non-manifold geometry - Mesh has holes or edges shared by more than 2 faces
• Self-intersecting geometry - Parts of the model overlap incorrectly
• Degenerate faces - Zero-area triangles that can cause slicer issues

If issues are detected, the export still completes but warnings are shown with guidance on how to fix them.

Example

After phonestand003.scad looks good in preview:

.claude/skills/export-stl/scripts/export-stl.sh phone_stand_003.scad

Output:

--- Geometry Validation ---
STATUS: PASSED - No geometry issues detected
- Mesh appears manifold (watertight)
- No self-intersections found
- Ready for slicing

Workflow Integration

/openscad → /preview-scad → /export-stl
                              ↓
                     Geometry validation
                              ↓
                     Ready for slicer

Fixing Common Issues

If validation reports problems:

• Non-manifold: Ensure all shapes are closed solids, avoid 2D shapes in 3D context
• Self-intersect: Use union() to properly combine overlapping shapes
• Degenerate: Check for very thin features, increase $fn for curves

Notes

• Binary STL is recommended (smaller files, faster to process)
• The export performs a full render, so complex models may take time
• Triangle count is reported for estimating slice complexity