# Deformed mesh export as .stl **URL:** \ **Category:** General Questions\ **Tags:** results\ **Created:** [March 29, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/deformed-mesh-export-as-stl/2591 "2025-03-29T22:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ashinbrot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/ashinbrot/32/4907_2.png) [@ashinbrot](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/ashinbrot)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/deformed-mesh-export-as-stl/2591/1 "2025-03-29T22:53:57Z")
Trying to export a deformed mesh as an .stl file, and I see this error: “Deformed mesh can only be exported while results are drawn.” All due respect to the amazing creator or creators of PrePoMax, but this error message needs a further English translation for me. I have no idea what it is trying to say, and I’d really like to be able to export the deformed mesh. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 8:15am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/deformed-mesh-export-as-stl/2591/2 "2025-03-30T08:15:33Z")
It means that you must have the results open when exporting the deformed mesh (since the deformation is taken from the results). ---
**Author:** ![ashinbrot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/ashinbrot/32/4907_2.png) [@ashinbrot](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/ashinbrot)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/deformed-mesh-export-as-stl/2591/3 "2025-03-30T17:17:29Z")
I wonder if I don’t understand what having the results open means, or else it’s a bug. Because I am viewing the deformed mesh, UAll, when trying to export the mesh to .stl, but I then get the error message. Thank you for responding anyway. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/deformed-mesh-export-as-stl/2591/4 "2025-03-30T17:26:54Z")
Which version of PrePoMax are you using ? It should work from here: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/0/0b4f0d07437e6dba1b7b1177393c233d016905f6.png) If it doesn’t, can you record your screen while trying to export it ? ---
**Author:** ![ashinbrot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/ashinbrot/32/4907_2.png) [@ashinbrot](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/ashinbrot)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/deformed-mesh-export-as-stl/2591/5 "2025-03-30T17:39:39Z")
V2.3.0 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/prepomax/original/2X/3/301b9e6cb239ff6a73cc744001003efe47914ec1.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ashinbrot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/ashinbrot/32/4907_2.png) [@ashinbrot](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/ashinbrot)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/deformed-mesh-export-as-stl/2591/6 "2025-03-30T17:41:13Z")
Ach, you know what? I am being really stupid. I bet the problem is that the model is meshed with wedge elements, not tets. And of course .stl is tets, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/deformed-mesh-export-as-stl/2591/7 "2025-03-30T17:56:09Z")
All element types can be exported to STL, they will be triangulated. I think that you are selecting the “Stereolitography \*. stl” option instead of “Deformed visualization \*.stl”. The latter should work. ---
**Author:** ![ashinbrot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/ashinbrot/32/4907_2.png) [@ashinbrot](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/ashinbrot)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/deformed-mesh-export-as-stl/2591/8 "2025-03-30T18:08:52Z")
Thank you! And this is just to reach 20 characters! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Matej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Matej](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Matej)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/deformed-mesh-export-as-stl/2591/9 "2025-03-30T20:24:15Z")
I see. The error reported by PrePoMax is not the correct one. I will change it to: To export the results use the option Export → Deformed visualization.