Thanks for the prompt response Tom! I’ll be sharing these details in slack as well for those interested in making digital platforms accessible.

 

I’m sharing this with our TEAM’s Lab, which is our 3D printing prototype lab. We have a construction cost analysis course that is conducted in AR which I would like to export and 3D print for accommodation purposes. This would make it so that blind, low vision, and aphantasia students can interact with course content in other ways.

 

Sincerely,

 

Joshua Hori

Accessible Technology Coordinator

Information Educational Technology

Academic Technology Services

50 Hutchison Dr.

Davis, CA 95616

530-752-2439 

Schedule a meeting via Calendly

 

 

From: Tom Goddard <goddard@sonic.net>
Date: Monday, May 13, 2024 at 1:47
PM
To: Joshua Hori <jhori@ucdavis.edu>
Cc: chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu <chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu>
Subject: Re: [chimerax-users] Questions about ChimeraX

Hi Joshua,

 

  Yes ChimeraX can read PDB and output STL for 3D printing (single color, since STL does not include colors) or for other uses.  For example use ChimeraX commands to open a PDB model and save as STL

 

open 8ja4

save pdb_8ja4.stl

 

ChimeraX also outputs GLTF (.glb files) which includes color information and may be useful for 3D printing.  There are lots choices for styles (spheres, ribbons, surfaces) and coloring of PDB atomic models.  For styles like ribbons that would be too fragile to print you may add struts with the ChimeraX struts command.

 

https://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/struts.html

 

  ChimeraX also directly can use virtual reality headsets, either standalone with Quest 2,3,Pro

 

https://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/data/looksee-mar2023/looksee.html

 

or connected to a Windows PC

 

https://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/vr.html

 

I recommend the standalone use since it can be used with any computer (e.g. Mac laptop) to send molecular models to Quest headsets.

 

Tom

 



On May 13, 2024, at 12:52PM, Joshua Hori via ChimeraX-users <chimerax-users@cgl.ucsf.edu> wrote:

 

Hello ChimeraX, 

 

I wanted to reach out and inquire about the ChimeraX tool. I see that it has the ability to save in multiple different formats, but I have a question about conversion into alternative formats.

 

I found details about this tool looking for a PDB to STL file conversion and came across this page: https://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimerax/ and looking at the filetypes you interact with listed on this page: https://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/chimerax/docs/user/commands/save.html

 

I see that it works with PDB files, which are used for modeling in some VR and AR environments such as Calcflow and Nanome. Would ChimeraX have the ability to import PDB files and export them as STL files for 3D printing? I ask this as I research ways to make AR and VR more accessible to classrooms. 

 

Sincerely, 

 

Joshua Hori

Accessible Technology Coordinator

Information Educational Technology

Academic Technology Services

50 Hutchison Dr.

Davis, CA 95616

530-752-2439 

 

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