Greyscale bitmap to DXF or STL

[rweatherly]

Are there any freeware packages that can convert a greyscale bitmap to either DXF or STL? (The value of the pixel will be the third axis)

Thanks,

Richard

[ger21]

BMP Bender FREE 3D software

[dertsap]

unfortunately its not available for download right now , I tracked em down and he told me that he is working on the website , so I think he'll be updating us soon enough , so far it is the outright best software for creating models from images that i have ever tried , it will be worth keeping an eye on that thread because it is well worth the download
take a look at cnc4free http://cnc4free.org/ , he's got a $20 tutorial on how to use gmax and other free software s for creating models with images , its pretty easy stuff to pick up on and once you've got it down then you can create models quite quickly . the price of the tutorial will be payed off within the first project

[rweatherly]

I downloaded gmax, but have to work through the tutorials.

Meanwhile I programmed it myself (.bmp to .stl)

It was not too hard, but the file size is huge since the .stl file is made up of facets, and common points and lines have to be repeated for each facet.

[rweatherly]

The attached image is a lithopane stereolithography file I made, viewed with MeshLab, a great open source viewer.

[mcphill]

Is this a one-off or something you want to do often? BobART (part of BobCAD) will create emboss surfaces from BMPs, and you can then create toolpaths off that emboss surface. If it is a one-off, send me the file and I can show you want the output would look like.

[rweatherly]

I did this for a client/friend who want to get a stereolithography done.

I do lithopanes, and have written my own software to machine from bitmaps, so I have that covered (too).

Thanks,

Richard