How to convert STL to G-code (Step by step guide)

Have you just bought a 3D printer, you are beginner in 3D printing and need some quick directions on how to get started? Follow 6 easy steps for converting STL files to G-code format and read some basic terms below which you need to understand about the 3D printing technology whether you are a hobbyist or want to create prototypes for manufacturing.

Here are the steps on how to convert your first STL file into G-code file that your 3D printer can understand.

Click the video to see a 2 mins tutorial on how you convert STL file format into G-code format.

1. Choose your printer

For many slicer software tools, you first need to download and install the software, but since REALvision Online is a browser based slicer software, you can jump right in.

Go to realvisiononline.com and click any of the “get started” buttons. You will first be asked to choose your printer. If your machine is not on the list, you can request it on the link below the printers. We are constantly adding more 3D printers, so it is definitely worth it.

2. Sign up to REALvision Online

The next step is to create a profile. If you have a Google account, you can sign in fast. Otherwise, choose email sign-up.

3. Start a new print

You will enter to your dashboard, where you can start a new print. When you have made your first print, it is automatically saved and visible as your last printed option.

4. Place your model in the workspace

When starting a new print, you will begin at the workspace area. Here you can see the print bed. You click on the bed or drag your file to upload it. Once your 3D model is on the plate you can easily rotate and scale it by double clicking on the object.

5. Set your printer settings

In most cases, you don’t need to set any settings, as the recommended setting will be the best suited. However, if you need support or change in some of the other parameters, you click the settings tab to the right to see the options for your printer.

6. Slice your object into G-code

When you are happy with the settings, you click the print button in the right corner. You will see that your file is being sliced. After a few seconds, you can see the print time and the amount of filament you need to finish the print.

Just below, you find the download button, click for exporting your G-code file. Once your file is exported it is time to put it on an SD card and insert it into your 3D printer and let the magic happen.

What are STL and G-code files?

STL file format is a file type used to describe a 3D model of an object. It is an abbreviation of “Standard Triangle Language”, aka “Stereolithography” and it consists of mathematical terms expressing a 3D object. They are usually created and can be read by a CAD software. 3D printers cannot read this language, therefore STL files need to be turned into G-code format. G-code files describe the 3D design of an object sliced into layers. 3D printers read this file and use this information to print the objects layer by layer.

What is a slicer software?

To convert an STL file to G-code format, you need to use a 3D printing software which is called a slicer software. It is a CAM software that defines the instructions your 3D printer needs to follow to print the object. That is why you will get a different outcome depending on which slicer you use.

REALvision Online is a browser-based easy-to-use slicer software that turns STL files into G-code files on any device for several types of 3D printers to give you the best possible result.

What is the difference between a good and a lousy STL to the G-code converter?

The obvious answer would depend on whether you get a good print in the end. There are many good slicers out there. However, you should avoid slicers where you cannot choose your printer and material.

The reason for this is that all 3D printers are built differently. Therefore, your slicer needs to know which printer you have and whether you are printing in PLA, ABS, or other material to communicate correctly with your printer and optimize the result. So if you can’t choose your printer and profile, you shall use another STL to G-code converter.

Just looking at the different features it can be hard to see the difference among the different slicers. However, if you try a few of them you will find that there is a difference in print speed and quality of your print. This is due to the calculations running in the background. At REALvision Online we had a high focus on improving the print speed, therefore REALvision Online is twice as fast as most other slicers.

What to print next?

First of all, as an inspiration, you can see our “Popular last 30 days” section. If you feel adventurous you can also try the “I´m feeling lucky” option. You can also print from my 5 favorite print ideas for starters.

You can also find a great variety of free 3D models on marketplaces such as Makerbot Thingiverse. If you can`t find what you are looking for you can of course also design your own 3D model.
However, as a beginner, you might not be familiar with the different CAD softwares and it can be a nice piece of cake to learn them from the basics. But it doesn’t mean that you cannot make your ideas real. With intuitive modeling programs like Tinkercad or FreeCAD you can create your 3D models from scratch without any designing experience for free, and you are ready to print your 3D objects! In this article, you can find a complete guide on how to get started with designing, including tips and tools you can use to make your visualization real.
Do you have a picture of what you would like to create? You can transform 2D images to 3D STL files with easy importing with Selva3D. You can find more 3D modeling software like it in this article.

If you would like to read more about additive manufacturing and all the different 3D printing technologies such as FDM, SLA, MSLA, DLP, SLS, DMLS, SLM, EBM, material jetting, DOD, binder jetting, and more, I recommend this article which gives you a very good overview of the different processes and materials available.

Read the article about G-codes

Good to know – General terms related to 3d printing