The Translation: An STL file is the standard digital file format for 3D models. Think of it as the PDF or JPEG of the 3D printing world.
Use It In a Sentence: “That Batman helmet looks awesome! Do you have the link to the STL file so I can print it?”
Why You Care: You can’t just send a picture or a regular computer graphic to a 3D printer. You need an STL file, which is a 3D shape made entirely of tiny triangles. You download this file from sites like Thingiverse, and then use your software to prepare it for printing.
Hobby Lingo 