<p>The most common file format in 3D printing is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)" rel="nofollow">STL</a>. This file format is using triangles only so when you export an object from your CAD application to STL then exporter has to transform all n-gon faces into triangles.</p>

<p>Once the file is created then it is usually imported by slicer application (or module) which performs slicing using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polynomial_interpolation" rel="nofollow">polynomial calculation</a> to find intersection with next surfaces. Here is <a href="https://sourceforge.net/projects/jsclipper/" rel="nofollow">good example</a> of such intersection finding in javascript.</p>

<p>So answering your question:</p>

<ul>
<li>no - it doesn't matter as you usually use file format in which faces are triangles but</li>
<li>yes - it matters as all your n-gon faces needs to be transformed into triangles</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-16T05:09:03.960Z
2016-05-16T05:09:03.960Z
darth pixel
<p>Do 3D printers prefer particular topology?  In case I'm not using the word quite right, I'm specifically wondering if I should make the faces in my models:</p>

<ol>
<li>triangles</li>
<li>quads</li>
<li>n-gons.. </li>
</ol>

<3d-models>
Do 3D Printers Prefer Particular Topology?
ajwood
# Do 3D Printers Prefer Particular Topology?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-16)

Do 3D printers prefer particular topology? In case I'm not using the word quite right, I'm specifically wondering if I should make the faces in my models:

1. triangles
2. quads
3. n-gons..

**Tags:** 3d-models

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-05-16. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The most common file format in 3D printing is [STL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)). This file format is using triangles only so when you export an object from your CAD application to STL then exporter has to transform all n-gon faces into triangles.

Once the file is created then it is usually imported by slicer application (or module) which performs slicing using [polynomial calculation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polynomial_interpolation) to find intersection with next surfaces. Here is [good example](https://sourceforge.net/projects/jsclipper/) of such intersection finding in javascript.

So answering your question:

* no - it doesn't matter as you usually use file format in which faces are triangles but
* yes - it matters as all your n-gon faces needs to be transformed into triangles


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