<p>Because my research shows that LAS files are point cloud data, you would first have to convert the point cloud to a mesh. Point clouds are just that, data references to points in 3d space. A printing service works with files that represent planar surfaces, properly joined (watertight, aka manifold) to form a solid or solid surface model.</p>

<p>The only resource I was able to find involves using Meshlab. There are two reasonably practical references for this process.</p>

<p>The first is somewhat generic and provides the conceptual information:
<a href="http://meshlabstuff.blogspot.com/2009/09/meshing-point-clouds.html" rel="noreferrer">Point Clouds to Mesh</a></p>

<p>The second appears to be a more step-by-step method:</p>

<p><a href="http://gmv.cast.uark.edu/scanning/point-clouds-to-mesh-in-meshlab/" rel="noreferrer">Point Clouds to Mesh (2)</a></p>

<p>I would expect that if you are successful in creating a mesh from your data, you would then want to use a program suitable to determine (and repair) any non-manifold portions of the model. There are many available, including Meshmixer, although the others have escaped my alleged mind at this moment.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-26T14:52:31.447Z
2016-03-26T14:52:31.447Z
fred_dot_u
<p>I want to print a model that I acquired in the LiDAR file format LAS.</p>

<p>I don't have a printer but I'm planning to send a model to one of those shops who print for you.</p>

<p>What do I need to do beforehand to make it print OK?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-26T17:04:05.610Z
Could you please provide a source for the LAS format you mentioned? Perhaps the name of the program that produces it, so people in the future can understand where a LAS file comes from?
tbm0115
<scanning><file-formats>
How to print LiDAR file format LAS
The dude
# How to print LiDAR file format LAS

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-03-26)

I want to print a model that I acquired in the LiDAR file format LAS.

I don't have a printer but I'm planning to send a model to one of those shops who print for you.

What do I need to do beforehand to make it print OK?

**Tags:** scanning, file-formats
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Could you please provide a source for the LAS format you mentioned? Perhaps the name of the program that produces it, so people in the future can understand where a LAS file comes from?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-03-26. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

Because my research shows that LAS files are point cloud data, you would first have to convert the point cloud to a mesh. Point clouds are just that, data references to points in 3d space. A printing service works with files that represent planar surfaces, properly joined (watertight, aka manifold) to form a solid or solid surface model.

The only resource I was able to find involves using Meshlab. There are two reasonably practical references for this process.

The first is somewhat generic and provides the conceptual information:
[Point Clouds to Mesh](http://meshlabstuff.blogspot.com/2009/09/meshing-point-clouds.html)

The second appears to be a more step-by-step method:

[Point Clouds to Mesh (2)](http://gmv.cast.uark.edu/scanning/point-clouds-to-mesh-in-meshlab/)

I would expect that if you are successful in creating a mesh from your data, you would then want to use a program suitable to determine (and repair) any non-manifold portions of the model. There are many available, including Meshmixer, although the others have escaped my alleged mind at this moment.


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