14 Replies Latest reply on Jan 13, 2017 12:35 AM by Deepak Gupta

Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?

Peter Cohen Jan 12, 2017 5:37 PM

Hello, I saved my parts with the name of the project included. For example, spaceship_frontpanel, spaceship_engine, etc. If I save the files in STL format using "save as copy and open" and rename the files or just save in STL format using the same name but later rename under Windows, will the original name of the files be somehow embedded in the STL file? For example, spaceship_frontpanel save as A.stl, spaceship_engine save as B.stl. I am sending the STL files to a company for 3D printing but I do not want them to know what I am working on. Can they find out the original name and folder based on the STL files I sent to them?

Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?

Artem Taturevych Jan 12, 2017 5:59 PM (in response to Peter Cohen)

If you are saving in ASCII format there is only triangles data and STL file name. You can simply open the file in the notepad to check:

EDIT: For the binary format there is 80 bytes header (reference: STL (file format) - Wikipedia). The stl file name is inluded in the header (not the original body). Below is a sample header from the binary stl:
solid SampleStl
There is however an issue when you exporting the assembly as it automatically appends the component name into the file name and header. So you can obfuscate the top assembly but not components.

So as the summary just Save As STL and give it a random name for parts (do not save as default and then rename as the original file name will be included as solid body in the header). You still will have component names included in the header for assemblies.

There is however possible to write custom exporter and include whatever information you need (including the random naming).
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- Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?
  
  Peter Cohen Jan 12, 2017 5:56 PM (in response to Artem Taturevych)
  
  Thanks Artem. I will wait for you to check.
  
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  - Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?
    
    Artem Taturevych Jan 12, 2017 6:10 PM (in response to Peter Cohen)
    
    Please read the updated answer above with more details. BTW. If you export as Ascii format you still can use something like Notepad++ to batch rename the solid attribute using the regular expression. Please see the video attatched
    
    obfuscate_stl.mp4 2.6 MB
    
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- Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?
  
  Peter Cohen Jan 12, 2017 8:06 PM (in response to Artem Taturevych)
  
  Thanks. I just used save as to save the part file called ABC in STL format. Not sure what you meant by export as Ascii format. When I opened the STL file using Notepad, I saw:
  
  solid ABC followed by a bunch of strange characters
  
  Does that mean the original file name, path and folder name are no longer available for 3rd party to find out?
  
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  - Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?
    
    Artem Taturevych Jan 12, 2017 8:33 PM (in response to Peter Cohen)
    
    Hi Peter,
    
    You have saved in a binary format. When you select STL format in the Save As dialog you have an Option button. Just click it and you see more options: 2012 SOLIDWORKS Help - STL Export Options
    
    Thanks,
    Artem
    
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    - Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?
      
      Peter Cohen Jan 12, 2017 11:46 PM (in response to Artem Taturevych)
      
      Hi Artem, thanks. In general, when do we choose ASCII and when do we choose Binary?
      
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      - Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?
        
        Artem Taturevych Jan 13, 2017 12:32 AM (in response to Peter Cohen)
        
        I think the main reason to use binary instead of Ascii is a file size (in first case the size of the file is much smaller).
        
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Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?

Chris Saller Jan 12, 2017 5:49 PM (in response to Peter Cohen)

If top secret (or similar), you should have control of the vendor(s).
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- Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?
  
  Peter Cohen Jan 12, 2017 5:58 PM (in response to Chris Saller)
  
  For confidentiality and cost, it may be cheaper to buy my own 3D printer in the long term. What do you guys/girls think?
  
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  - Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?
    
    Chris Saller Jan 12, 2017 6:01 PM (in response to Peter Cohen)
    
    It depends on your usage. If you need to use it almost daily/weekly, it may be worth it.
    Every once in a while, probably not. Maybe a small desktop model.
    
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  - Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?
    
    Rick McDonald Jan 12, 2017 6:16 PM (in response to Peter Cohen)
    
    You would have to check the features that your would want / need and see if the cost justifies it.
    Chris Saller said the key factor.
    They can do a lot, but depending on the size and type they can cost a lot.
    One of our engineers has one and doesn't hardly use it at home so he brought it to the office and we use it a lot (company pays for fillament and replacement heads). We make some interesting things that would be very costly to machine and it's good for prototyping.
    
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Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?

Rick McDonald Jan 12, 2017 5:51 PM (in response to Peter Cohen)

I don't have the answer to that, you will have to wait for Artem's response.
But if it does, you could first save your file with a different name (Doing a SaveAsCopy) (With your assembly closed so there is no chance the reference in the assembly will follow the new saved part).
Then save that file in STL format.
It's an extra step but not hard.
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- Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?
  
  Peter Cohen Jan 12, 2017 5:58 PM (in response to Rick McDonald)
  
  Thanks for the warning Rick.
  
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Re: Can saving in STL format hide the true name automatically?

Deepak Gupta Jan 13, 2017 12:35 AM (in response to Peter Cohen)

I'm not sure if they can find out or not, but you can always save as a different name first and then save that file as STL.
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