Export to STEP problem...

[bradley82]

I'm not sure what's going on here.  I'm trying to export my solid model to .STEP for 3d printing, but when I export the model, the center cavity gets filled for some reason by a solid that I didn't create!?!?!

I've exported another file to STEP for this project, and it worked fine...

Can anyone shed some light on this please?

Bradley

SCREENSHOT OF THE "PHANTOM SOLID"...

WORKED FINE BELOW ON ANOTHER PART...

[blair]

Odd indeed, try a rebuild of the part and see if that helps. Not sure why, I might make another copy and then break the link since it's a dreived part and then export to see if there is something with the "Derive"

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Bradley,

The behavior does not make sense. It seems to be geometry specific. Could you post the files here or send them to me directly (johnson.shiue@autodesk.com)? I would like to understand the behavior better.

Many thanks!

[bradley82]

Here is the pre-export .ipt file (non-derived).

[JDMather]

Have you installed all Service Packs for your version of Inventor?

Did you intend for this model to be 3 separate solid bodies?

I suspect you might have some sort of manifold solid problem because of this very tiny cross-section area.  (especially on a helix)

I would also question these stepped areas (zoom way way in and examine).

[bradley82]

I combined the bodies before deriving the part... I see what you're saying though... Suggestions on how to fix this without screwing up the physical dimensions of the thread?

[bradley82]

I know that the issue is with the coil/helx, because If I export the part with just an "inventor virutal thread feature" instead of the physical coil, it exports fine.  Suggestions?

[JDMather]

I noticed that several of your sketches were unconstrained.

If it were my part -

I would start over cutting the helix from cylinder (larger) as second feature.

Then model the rest of the part.

Unfortunately - I am using a later version - so you would not be able to examine my solution.

Install the Service Packs for 2013.

[blair · Accepted solution]

I changed the Options in the Export and had no problems with the export. I did import the model back into Inventor without the center block showing as in your post.

[blair]

Here is my export file as well.

[bradley82]

Just saw the jpg w/ settings! Thanks!.  I'll try shortly myself.

[blair]

I also attached the STP file in the Zip attachment

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Bradley,

Just like JD has pointed out, the near tangency condition causes the Boolean operation to fail. Inventor is relatively sensitive to this type of condition. It is better to keep the faces as continuous and clean as possible. Attached is the version I cleaned up a bit. It should export and derive without any issue. The revolve feature does not yield a result so it has a warning sign next to the feature. You may want to take a look and see what else to change. Let me know if you see a problem.

It looks like you are doing industrial 3D printing. I have some additional questions. If you don't mind answering, could you send me an email directly (johnson.shiue@autodesk.com)?

Many thanks!

[bradley82]

Exporting via the "Configuration Controlled Design" with the .001 tolerance eliminated the issue. Thanks very much!

[bradley82]

Yes, the part I attached was a previous version in which I was testing (and so the model housekeeping was a bit 'loose')... the final version is much cleaner.  I typically build an entire part using only the necessary constraints to get a visual, then once I'm happy with the result, I begin from scratch.  I do this because inevitably, the original model isn't very efficient in terms of the steps used to achieve the final result.  By building out, then restarting, I'm usually able to eliminate about 40-50% of the necessary modelling processes to get to the same end-point.  This works well for my typical workflow, because many times - I have only a vague idea what the final end-result is going to look like before I begin.

Thanks for the tip though!

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I noticed that several of your sketches were unconstrained.

If it were my part -

I would start over cutting the helix from cylinder (larger) as second feature.

Then model the rest of the part.

Unfortunately - I am using a later version - so you would not be able to examine my solution.

Install the Service Packs for 2013.

[bradley82]

Could you provide the settings that you used please?