convertSTL.rb

#!/usr/bin/env ruby
# convertSTL.rb - Converts STL files between binary and ASCII encoding
# by Chris Polis
#
# This script detects which encoding the stl file is in and converts it to
#  the opposite encoding and saves the file as *-ascii.stl or *-binary.stl.
#  I wrote this script to save disk space and bandwidth when using stl files. 
# 
# USAGE: 
#  $ ruby convertSTL.rb [filename of .stl to be converted]
#  or 'chmod +x' and run as ./convertSTL.rb
# 


# Helper methods
class Float
  def to_sn # to scientific notation
    "%E" % self
  end

  def self.from_sn str # generate a float from scientific notation
    ("%f" % str).to_f
  end
end

# Pass in filename as only argument
if ARGV.size != 1 
  puts "Usage: ./converSTL.rb [stl filename]"
  exit
end

# Read file
begin
  original = File.new(ARGV[0], "r")
  
  # Read first line - check binary or ASCII
  tempLine = original.gets
  if tempLine.include? "solid"
    outFilename = ARGV[0].sub(/\.stl/i, '-binary.stl')
    puts "#{ARGV[0]} is in ASCII format, converting to BINARY: #{outFilename}"
    outFile = File.new(outFilename, "w")
    outFile.write("\0" * 80) # 80 bit header - ignored
    outFile.write("FFFF")   # 4 bit integer # of triangles - filled later
    triCount = 0

    # ASCII STL format (from Wikipedia):
    # solid name(optional)
    #
    # [foreach triangle]
    # facet normal ni nj nk
    # outer loop
    # vertex v1x v1y v1z
    # vertex v2x v2y v2z
    # vertex v3x v3y v3z
    # endloop
    # endfacet
    # endsolid name(optional)

    while temp = original.gets
      next if temp =~ /^\s*$/ or temp.include? 'endsolid' # ignore whitespace
      temp.sub! /facet normal/, ''
      normal = temp.split(' ').map{ |num| Float.from_sn num }
      triCount += 1
      temp = original.gets # 'outer loop'

      temp = original.gets
      vertexA = temp.sub(/vertex/, '').split(' ').map{ |num| Float.from_sn num }
      temp = original.gets
      vertexB = temp.sub(/vertex/, '').split(' ').map{ |num| Float.from_sn num }
      temp = original.gets
      vertexC = temp.sub(/vertex/, '').split(' ').map{ |num| Float.from_sn num }

      temp = original.gets # 'endsolid'
      temp = original.gets # 'endfacet'

      outFile.write(normal.pack("FFF"))
      outFile.write(vertexA.pack("FFF"))
      outFile.write(vertexB.pack("FFF"))
      outFile.write(vertexC.pack("FFF"))
      outFile.write("\0\0")
    end
    outFile.seek(80, IO::SEEK_SET)
    outFile.write([ triCount ].pack("V"))
    outFile.close

  else
    outFilename = ARGV[0].sub(/\.stl/i, '-ascii.stl')
    puts "#{ARGV[0]} is in BINARY format, converting to ASCII: #{outFilename}"
    outFile = File.new(outFilename, "w")
    outFile.write("solid \n")

    # Binary STL format (from Wikipedia):
    # UINT8[80] – Header
    # UINT32 – Number of triangles
    # 
    # foreach triangle
    # REAL32[3] – Normal vector
    # REAL32[3] – Vertex 1
    # REAL32[3] – Vertex 2
    # REAL32[3] – Vertex 3
    # UINT16 – Attribute byte count
    # end
    original.seek(80, IO::SEEK_SET)
    triCount = original.read(4).unpack('V')[0]
    triCount.times do |triNdx|
      normal = original.read(12).unpack('FFF')
      vertexA = original.read(12).unpack('FFF')
      vertexB = original.read(12).unpack('FFF')
      vertexC = original.read(12).unpack('FFF')
      original.seek(2, IO::SEEK_CUR)

      outFile.write("  facet normal #{normal[0].to_sn} #{normal[1].to_sn} #{normal[2].to_sn}\n")
      outFile.write("    outer loop\n")
      outFile.write("      vertex #{vertexA[0].to_sn} #{vertexA[1].to_sn} #{vertexA[2].to_sn}\n")
      outFile.write("      vertex #{vertexB[0].to_sn} #{vertexB[1].to_sn} #{vertexB[2].to_sn}\n")
      outFile.write("      vertex #{vertexC[0].to_sn} #{vertexC[1].to_sn} #{vertexC[2].to_sn}\n")
      outFile.write("    endloop\n")
      outFile.write("  endfacet\n")
    end

    outFile.write("endsolid \n")
    outFile.close
  end
  original.close
rescue => error
  puts "Error: #{error}"
end