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How to use .stl and other mesh files in Inventor?

9 REPLIES 9
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Message 1 of 10
J0mppe
4699 Views, 9 Replies

How to use .stl and other mesh files in Inventor?

We are trying to use 3d scanned data in Inventor to help our design process. We don't need perfect and good looking 3d scanned models ready to produce, but we need some accurate measurements from holes and faces that we can use to design our own products.

 

So mine problem is: How I can get those scanned meshes to Inventor that I can get some dimensions from it, project some geometry to my sketches, add some constraints between scanned surface and mine designs, etc...?

 

I have tried some Add-Ins like Sycode's STLImport and Sycode's software called Mesh To Solid to get those mesh files open and I can open those "converted" files in Inventor, but those are only some kind of surfaces called Composite or Surface which consist of tiny triangles.

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9 REPLIES 9
Message 2 of 10
mflayler2
in reply to: J0mppe

...and that is about the quality you will get from any translator considering stl files are HIGHLY faceted surfaces and not quite the same as what the Inventor kernal uses.  I have a free add in I have been using for some time for this visual representation, but if you want true scanned and usable geometry you will probably have to go through an intermediatary like Geomagic first.

 

Here is a good look at the process:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7sMf7eDC_w

Did you find this reply helpful ? If so please use the Accept as Solution or Kudos button below.

Mark Flayler - Engagement Engineer

IMAGINiT Manufacturing Solutions Blog: https://resources.imaginit.com/manufacturing-solutions-blog

Message 3 of 10
J0mppe
in reply to: mflayler2

So there is no way to do solid models or "simpler surfaces" from mesh file in Inventor? Geomagic would be a nice software, but I think it's too expensive... So I'm looking for cheaper and simpler way to do this job.

 

Mark: Where did you get that free Add-In and what's the name of it?

Message 4 of 10
KevinLi-Autodesk
in reply to: J0mppe

Hi joni,

 

Very appreciate for your report about this, unfortunately this is a known limitation with the Inventor at the moment and we have already noticed this requirement and will do some enhancements in future release. I will log your issue into our tracking database and it will increase the possibility of this issue being enhanced in the future.

 

 

Regards,

Kevin Li

SQA Engineer

Autodesk, Inc.

Kevin-Hongyuan Li
Software Quality Assurance Engineer
Design, Lifecycle and Simulation Product Group
Direct: +86 21 2039 6025
Email: Hongyuan.Li@autodesk.com
Autodesk, Inc.
NO. 130, Lane 91, E Shan Rd
Building 12, Floor 6,
Shanghai 200127, PRC
www.autodesk.com
Message 5 of 10
mflayler2
in reply to: J0mppe

http://modthemachine.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/working-with-stl-and-obj-files.html

Did you find this reply helpful ? If so please use the Accept as Solution or Kudos button below.

Mark Flayler - Engagement Engineer

IMAGINiT Manufacturing Solutions Blog: https://resources.imaginit.com/manufacturing-solutions-blog

Message 6 of 10
J0mppe
in reply to: mflayler2

I have tried that Add-In too, but I didn't get it to work. When I pressed import button, picked up the .stl file and tried to import it nothing just happened and I don't know why?

Message 7 of 10
knattagh
in reply to: J0mppe

The link below can tell you exactly how to go froma  mesh to a solid in ivnentor.

Let me know if it works and/or if you have any other questions

 

-Khash

Message 8 of 10
knattagh
in reply to: knattagh
Message 9 of 10
edwardneumann
in reply to: J0mppe

Is there a way to import an STL file into Inventor 2014?  I need it to be a solid model, to add or subtract profiles to it. 

I checked out the mesh converter; I downloaded it but it says it needs Inventor 2013.

Any help would be appreicated.

 

Thank You.

Message 10 of 10
JDMather
in reply to: edwardneumann

There is a 2014 version available for subscription customers here

http://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/INVNTOR/en/Detail/Index?id=appstore.exchange.autodesk.com%3ameshen...

 


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