Cross section - STL

[halwaa]

Win 8.1, Inventor 2015 SP1.

I was working on reverse engineering project which involves use of 3D scanned data (STL). Although I could open / import STL data into Inventor - I would like to slice through / section the STL data to draw closely to the scanned data ( which I could do it on other CAD applications). All my attempts & options to section the STL were in vain in Inv 2015 SP1.

I identified Inv does not recongnise the imported STL as an entity / data.

Any lead would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Vijay

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

Mesh Enabler

[halwaa]

Many thanks for the lead.

[halwaa]

Hello JDMather,

Installed "Mesh Enabler" still I could not slice through the STL.

Your thoughts ?

[JDMather]

Did you get the mesh converted to a solid?

Screen shots?

Original stl file?

*.ipt file?

More information is needed.

[halwaa]

Did you get the mesh converted to a solid? NO

As shown, I could slice the solid model but the STL was NOT sectioned (grey). Any lead would be appreciable.

[JDMather]

Now you are confusing me.

Solid model of what?  Geometry other than the stl?

If you have other geometry - forget it - need to isolate the stl problem first.

You open the stl file.

You right click on the mesh node in the browser and select the option to convert to solid.

You right click and hide (or delete) the mesh.

Work on your converted solid body.

(I am going from memory - if you still can't figure it out, post back and I will create an stl (since you have attached one) and post some screenshots of the process.)

Are you aware of the nature of stl files?

Generally of little use other than for reference in an engineering software as they are composed of thousands of planar facets rather than smooth geometry.