<p>there is a nice software to do it, a brazilian one, called Invesalius (<a href="http://svn.softwarepublico.gov.br/trac/invesalius" rel="nofollow">http://svn.softwarepublico.gov.br/trac/invesalius</a>). Itksnap is probably a better initial choise, since it is more intuitive (<a href="http://www.itksnap.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.itksnap.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php</a>).</p>

<p>But anymways, it is not a easy job to do, and probably you will need other softwares to help you clean the mesh, like meshlab or Geomagic.</p>

<p>Good luck</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-05T22:31:55.127Z
2016-09-05T22:31:55.127Z
MVBighouse
<p>Yes, invesalius (free software) is the way to go. I was able to export a CT scan a few months back using invesalius to either OBJ or STL format for 3d printing (can't remember which). But i do remember i was then able to open it in Lulzbot's version of Cura (a free 3d printing slicing software). But there are 2 things to keep in mind.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The image i was able to export was a huge file.</p></li>
<li><p>The image i exported had lots of extra junk that i did not want to 3d print, so another software like meshmixer or some other mesh editing software would probably be needed. It's not an easy process, but it can be done for those willing to do it.</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-11T07:09:41.250Z
2016-09-11T07:09:41.250Z
Andrew
<p>There is this software that should work: <a href="https://www.slicer.org/" rel="nofollow">https://www.slicer.org/</a></p>

<p>If that doesn't cut it, I use this site to convert images to STL: <a href="http://www.online-convert.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.online-convert.com/</a></p>

<p>They do have DICOM listed as a supported format, but whether it would convert correctly or not I can't say for sure. I've had varied results. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-09T23:05:29.033Z
2016-09-09T23:05:29.033Z
SchwiftyPython
<p>This software <em>may</em> be of some use to you.</p>
<p>Whilst looking into <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/18141/4762">software/firmware for a Frankensbox FX-800</a>, I came across this document <a href="http://dedibot.com/file/download/3926bbd3566247d6a80d79dfbff45196" rel="nofollow noreferrer">For medical use - Dedicated series 3D printer</a>, on the Dedibot website, which on page 4 states the following:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Mqkw9.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="MIR - scanned text"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Mqkw9.png" alt="MIR - scanned text" title="MIR - scanned text" /></a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The relevant part (in text form) is this:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It can be used to read DICOM format CT/MRI/Micro CT/Micro MRI/Industrial CT images and non-DICOM common image formats BMP/TIFF and so on.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-29T19:51:21.290Z
2021-09-29T19:58:42.683Z
2021-09-29T19:58:42.683Z
Greenonline
<p>The marching cubes algorithm can convert voxel data into a surface mesh. A global threshold to determine the surface in the greyvalues is used. 
This <a href="https://pyscience.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/surface-extraction-creating-a-mesh-from-pixel-data-using-python-and-vtk/" rel="nofollow">article</a> might be helpful. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-08T08:36:16.357Z
2016-09-08T08:36:16.357Z
CT-Metrology
<p>Good morning everyone,</p>

<p>I am developing a consulting job in a clinic of dental CT scans.</p>

<p>This work involves the development of administrative software, and preparing a routine for conversion of tomographic files in DICOM format to STL format. The files in STL format will be used for both visualization and analysis of 3D models, such as printing in 3D printers.</p>

<p>Our problem is just the conversion DICOM to STL.</p>

<p>Has anyone come across this kind of situation? We did not find any documentation or tool for this purpose in our searches and we are really with a gande urgency in the solution.</p>

<p>Advance grateful for any assistance.</p>

<3d-models><file-formats>
Conversion of DICOM files to STL files
Electivo Zanotto Junior
# Conversion of DICOM files to STL files

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-05)

Good morning everyone,

I am developing a consulting job in a clinic of dental CT scans.

This work involves the development of administrative software, and preparing a routine for conversion of tomographic files in DICOM format to STL format. The files in STL format will be used for both visualization and analysis of 3D models, such as printing in 3D printers.

Our problem is just the conversion DICOM to STL.

Has anyone come across this kind of situation? We did not find any documentation or tool for this purpose in our searches and we are really with a gande urgency in the solution.

Advance grateful for any assistance.

**Tags:** 3d-models, file-formats

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-09-08. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The marching cubes algorithm can convert voxel data into a surface mesh. A global threshold to determine the surface in the greyvalues is used.
This [article](https://pyscience.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/surface-extraction-creating-a-mesh-from-pixel-data-using-python-and-vtk/) might be helpful.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-09-05. Score: 2

there is a nice software to do it, a brazilian one, called Invesalius (<http://svn.softwarepublico.gov.br/trac/invesalius>). Itksnap is probably a better initial choise, since it is more intuitive (<http://www.itksnap.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php>).

But anymways, it is not a easy job to do, and probably you will need other softwares to help you clean the mesh, like meshlab or Geomagic.

Good luck


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-09-11. Score: 2

Yes, invesalius (free software) is the way to go. I was able to export a CT scan a few months back using invesalius to either OBJ or STL format for 3d printing (can't remember which). But i do remember i was then able to open it in Lulzbot's version of Cura (a free 3d printing slicing software). But there are 2 things to keep in mind.

1. The image i was able to export was a huge file.
2. The image i exported had lots of extra junk that i did not want to 3d print, so another software like meshmixer or some other mesh editing software would probably be needed. It's not an easy process, but it can be done for those willing to do it.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-09-09. Score: 0

There is this software that should work: <https://www.slicer.org/>

If that doesn't cut it, I use this site to convert images to STL: <http://www.online-convert.com/>

They do have DICOM listed as a supported format, but whether it would convert correctly or not I can't say for sure. I've had varied results.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-09-29. Score: 0

This software *may* be of some use to you.

Whilst looking into [software/firmware for a Frankensbox FX-800](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/q/18141/4762), I came across this document [For medical use - Dedicated series 3D printer](http://dedibot.com/file/download/3926bbd3566247d6a80d79dfbff45196), on the Dedibot website, which on page 4 states the following:

> [![MIR - scanned text](https://i.sstatic.net/Mqkw9.png "MIR - scanned text")](https://i.sstatic.net/Mqkw9.png "MIR - scanned text")

The relevant part (in text form) is this:

> It can be used to read DICOM format CT/MRI/Micro CT/Micro MRI/Industrial CT images and non-DICOM common image formats BMP/TIFF and so on.


---

