How can I convert a 3D .stl file in to a point cloud, or a mesh file?

[arunavanag]

Hello,
How can I convert a CAD .stl file to a mesh file or some other format, or generate a point cloud file out of it?

[daniel]

In fact STL files are not really CAD files. They are already (triangular) mesh files.

You can simply load an STL file in CloudCompare and save it as an OBJ, PLY or FBX file for instance (i.e. other mesh formats).

And you can sample points on a mesh (with http://www.cloudcompare.org/doc/wiki/in ... ple_points) so as to 'convert' it to a point cloud.