readSurfaceMesh

Read 3-D surface mesh data from STL or PLY file

Since R2022b

Syntax

mesh = readSurfaceMesh(fileName)

Description

mesh = readSurfaceMesh(fileName) reads surface mesh data from an STL or a PLY file with the specified filename and returns it as a surfaceMesh object.

Examples

Read Surface Mesh from PLY File

Specify a PLY file from which to read surface mesh data.

fileName = fullfile(toolboxdir("lidar"),"lidardata", ...
"surfaceMesh","sphere.ply");

Read surface mesh data from the PLY file into the workspace.

mesh = readSurfaceMesh(fileName)

mesh = 
  surfaceMesh with properties:

         Vertices: [482x3 double]
            Faces: [956x3 int32]
    VertexNormals: [482x3 double]
     VertexColors: []
      FaceNormals: []
       FaceColors: []
      NumVertices: 482
         NumFaces: 956

Dispaly the surface mesh.

surfaceMeshShow(mesh)

Read Surface Mesh from STL file

Specify an STL file from which to read surface mesh data.

fileName = fullfile(toolboxdir("lidar"),"lidardata", ...
"surfaceMesh","mobius.stl");

Read surface mesh data from the STL file into the workspace.

mesh = readSurfaceMesh(fileName)

mesh = 
  surfaceMesh with properties:

         Vertices: [1050x3 double]
            Faces: [1960x3 int32]
    VertexNormals: []
     VertexColors: []
      FaceNormals: [1960x3 double]
       FaceColors: []
      NumVertices: 1050
         NumFaces: 1960

Dispaly the surface mesh.

surfaceMeshShow(mesh)

Input Arguments

fileName — Filename to read surface mesh data

character vector | string scalar

Filename to read surface mesh data, specified as a character vector or string scalar. You must specify the file extension .stl or .ply with the filename. If the file is not in your working folder you must specify the full file path.

Data Types: char | string

Output Arguments

mesh — Surface mesh data from STL or PLY file

surfaceMesh object

Surface mesh data from an STL or a PLY file, returned as a surfaceMesh object.

Limitations

You cannot read these attributes from an STL file.

• Vertex normals

• Vertex colors

• Face colors

You cannot read face colors from a PLY file.

Version History

Introduced in R2022b