Laser Generator Studio

3D Terrain · Laser Generator Studio

3D Terrain Generator: Real Mountains as STL for CNC and 3D Print

Carve or 3D-print real mountains. Pick a place and get a watertight relief mesh with vertical exaggeration, a base, sea flattening and mould inversion, plus a heightmap and contours.

Make a 3D terrain Free to try, no card needed
3D Terrain example design, previewed on real material
The 3D Terrain studio’s own example design, shown in the app’s real-material preview.
Exports
STL, OBJ, heightmap PNG, contour SVG
Works with
CNC CAM software, Cura, PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio, LightBurn
Materials
Hardwood, MDF, HDPE, PLA, casting resin

What it makes

The 3D Terrain studio turns real elevation data into a 3D model. Pick an area, set the model size, and it builds a watertight relief mesh you can carve on a CNC router or 3D print. Adjust the exaggeration so the hills read well, add a base, flatten the sea for clean coastlines, or invert it to make a casting mould.

Settings

SettingWhat it does
Model sizeWidth and depth of the model
Mesh resolutionMore detail, bigger file
Vertical exaggerationStretches heights, or fits the relief to a set height
Base thicknessA solid base under the terrain
SmoothingSoftens noisy data
Flatten seaClean coastlines at 0 m
InvertA negative mould for casting

How it works

  1. Choose the area on the map.
  2. Set the size, exaggeration and base.
  3. Check the 3D preview.
  4. Export STL or OBJ, a heightmap PNG, or 2D contour lines.

Tips

  • Exaggerate flat places more. Gentle hills may need 3 times; big mountains look right at 1.5.
  • Carve in hardwood or MDF with a ball-nose bit. Get the settings from the CNC calculator.
  • Want layered wood instead? The topographic map generator makes stacked laser-cut layers.

Map data comes from public elevation sources. Fine detail depends on what is mapped for the area you choose.

Export

STL and OBJ meshes for 3D printing and CAM, a heightmap PNG, and contour lines or outlines as 2D files.

Questions

What is vertical exaggeration?

It stretches the heights so hills stand out. Real terrain looks flat at model scale; 1.5 to 3 times is a good range for most places.

What does Flatten sea do?

It sets everything at or below sea level to 0 m, so coastlines come out clean and the water is a flat surface.

What is Invert for?

Invert makes a negative mould of the terrain. Pour resin or plaster into it to cast the landscape.

Can I use it on a laser?

A laser engraves the heightmap PNG as shallow 3D relief, or cuts the contour lines as stacked layers. For deep relief, use a CNC router or a 3D printer with the STL.

Is the mesh ready to print?

Yes. The mesh is watertight with a solid base, so slicers and CAM software accept it without repair.

Materials and guides

Laser Cutting and Engraving WoodHow to laser cut and engrave basswood and birch plywood, MDF, hardwoods, pine and bamboo: choosing sheets, charring, smoke, grain, masking and finishing.Laser File FormatsWhich file format to use for laser cutting and engraving: SVG, DXF, PDF, EPS, PNG and G-code compared, with what each one is for and which software reads it.

Related laser tools

Topographic Map Generator for Laser CuttingStack laser-cut layers of real terrain (topographic) or water depth (bathymetric). Frames, scored titles, registration pin holes and alignment guides are included, and every layer is numbered.Depth Map Generator: Photo to 3D Laser Engraving and STLAI turns any photo, or text, into a grey depth map for 3D laser engraving, raised UV printing on the xTool O1 Omni and CNC relief carving, with an STL heightfield.CNC Feeds and Speeds Calculator for Hobby RoutersFree feeds and speeds for Shapeoko, X-Carve, Onefinity, LongMill, Genmitsu, Carvera and more: RPM and router dial, feed, plunge, depth per pass and stepover for every bit and material.

LightBurn is a trademark of its owner. Laser Generator Studio is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by it.