How to Get a Feature Tree from an STL File
Yes. Paramesh AI's feature recognition pipeline extracts a full feature tree from STL files: base extrusion, through-holes, blind holes, chamfers, fillets, pockets, and slots. Each feature includes its type, dimensions, position, and dependencies. The tree is ordered for sequential CAD reconstruction.
What is a feature tree?
A feature tree is the ordered list of operations that built a part — like a recipe. "Extrude this profile 12mm, then cut a 5mm hole here, then chamfer these edges." CAD software uses this tree to let you edit individual features without redoing the whole part.
Why STL files don't have feature trees
STL files store only triangles — the final shape as a mesh. All design history is lost. There's no way to "undo" a hole or change a chamfer radius because the file doesn't know those features exist.
How Paramesh AI recovers the tree
The pipeline works backwards from the mesh:
- Cluster faces into surface groups (segmentation)
- Identify what type of surface each group is (plane, cylinder, cone)
- Map adjacency between surfaces (topology)
- Match patterns to known feature types (recognition)
- Build a dependency DAG and topologically sort
The result: a feature tree with the base extrusion first, then subtractive features (holes, pockets), then finish features (chamfers, fillets).