A customer has supplied me an STL file. It opens in Inventor but I can't measure it or place it into an IDW to dimension it. Anybody know how to fix fix this?
Solved! Go to Solution.
Solved by JamesLovell. Go to Solution.
It appears to only be a mesh item. Can you post the part.
Thanks Blair. Here is the STL file. I had to zip it as the Forum complains about incorrect file extensions. Really?
Thought to try the mesh enabler from labs? not tried it myself but it sounds like it may work for you 🙂
'In addition to Catia files, Inventor 2013 can import mesh data from STL files and from JT files. The Mesh Enabler for 2013 adds the ability to post process the imported mesh data to convert the mesh features to Inventor Base features.'
http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/inventor_mesh
Here you go, assuming the STL was in mm's.
Fairly simple to remodel in Rhino using the mesh.
You beat me to it, I guess that's what happens when one is on the west coast.
Hi Brendan,
Did the mesh enabler plugin that James mentioned work for you?
Best,
Indy
Thanks James. That add-in worked although the output is ugly (lots of mesh faces). But at least I can measure it.
Many thanks rdyson. Rhino did a better job than the Inventor mesh add-in, which also worked but created a lot of faces.
Yes Indy, it worked, although the output created a lot of faces. But as these don't appear on an IDW it's okay. Thanks.
Hi Brendan,
Thanks for the update - the intention of the Labs plugin is to be a technology preview so if you have any feature requests or specific feedback then I'm sure the Mesh Enabler team would be happy to hear about them!
The links on the right of their page provide ways to get in touch:
http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/inventor_mesh
Best wishes,
Indy
@Anonymous wrote:Yes Indy, it worked, although the output created a lot of faces.
I didn't try on your model, but you might be able to use Delete Face with Heal option to simplify faces (especially the planar faces. Looks like Rhino does a much better job.
It would also be nice if Inventor recognized cylindrical faces - it doesn't look like Rhino did (try measure radius).
JD, Delete Face with Heal cleaned up the large flat faces but touching any of the curves/fillets resulted in very odd and unusable results. Thanks for your input.
Hi Brendan,
Could you clarify what you mean by odd/unusable results?
The nature of a mesh means that this model is made of planar faces, so if you zoom in far enough you'll find that everything is actually a straight edge.
Hope this helps,
Indy
Indy, if I do the Delete Face with Heal on the outward rounded corners they turn into triangules or square (see picture). Similar with trying to turn the internal holes in rounds.
Hi Brendan,
Sorry that this doesn't meet your expectations but I'd like to clarify what I meant above by 'everything is actually a straight edge'.
If you take a look at the snapshot below, I've zoomed in to an area of the model that looks like it may be round but this isn't the case upon inspection - you'll notice that it is a series of planar faces and this is typical of this type of file. I don't think that Delete Face can be expected to give the 'round' result you'd like to see.
The only method that I am aware of to make features from this kind of file is to remodel, but if anyone else knows of a way to 'convert' these shapes then please share.
I hope this makes sense but please feel free to follow up and I'll do my best to help.
Thanks,
Indy
Hi nenaddj,
Paul Munford has written a detailed guide here.
You may also find the Mesh Enabler forum useful.
Hope this helps!
Indy
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