topic Re: Edit .stl file in AutoCAD Forum

Edit .stl file

GianniSorrentino — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 13:47:31 GMT

Hello forum, I'm new in chief of CAD and 3D printers.
I download a .stl file from thingiverse.com, that have some wrong size. Which program is best suited for editing .stl files? Tinkercad and 123DCAD unfortunately are not precise enough for editing.

(I apologize if I post in wrong category, I don't know where put the question)

Re: Edit .stl file

Alfred.NESWADBA — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 13:54:57 GMT

Hi,

>> I download a .stl file from thingiverse.com, that have some wrong size

Every slicer application has the option to scale the object (the imported STL) ... fastest way you could do.

- alfred -

Re: Edit .stl file

GianniSorrentino — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 14:00:19 GMT

Thanks for the fast response!

This is the file in question: www.thingiverse.com/thing:1979370
I tried to scale it, but it's too small. I have to reduce only the diameter of the circles from 22mm to 19mm.

Re: Edit .stl file

Alfred.NESWADBA — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 14:12:39 GMT

Hi,

>> I have to reduce only the diameter of the circles from 22mm to 19mm

Then reconstruct it, should be the fastest way.

Reason for that is that STL-files are just faces, so boolean operation (if possible) are critical.

- alfred -

Re: Edit .stl file

GianniSorrentino — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 14:24:30 GMT

I did it with "Mesh Enabler" for Inventor, I've imported into AutoCAD the .dwg file, I drew the four-cylinder 19mm but now I'm stuck with the modified .dwg file that I doesn't know how to reconvert to .stl!

Re: Edit .stl file

Alfred.NESWADBA — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 14:28:28 GMT

Hi,

>> but now I'm stuck with the modified .dwg file that I doesn't know how to reconvert to .stl!

Command _EXPORT and select filetype STL.

- alfred -

Re: Edit .stl file

GianniSorrentino — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 15:06:26 GMT

Something went wrong.

Re: Edit .stl file

Alfred.NESWADBA — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 15:11:59 GMT

Hi,

>> Something went wrong.

Show your DWG file.

- alfred -

Re: Edit .stl file

GianniSorrentino — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 15:15:34 GMT

Thanks for the help 🙂

Re: Edit .stl file

beyoungjr — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 15:22:11 GMT

You have 4 individual solids. I exported the complex solid to stl and it worked fine. I just typed "stlout, then selected the solid, then accepte "Y" fro create binary, then named it to a location.

Re: Edit .stl file

GianniSorrentino — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 15:28:44 GMT

You have eliminated the four-cylinder, thus returning to the initial situation (see the Thingiverse file). I have to export the stl like the inner part of the cylinder is hollow, while the external part of the cylinder has to join with the rest of the structure.

Re: Edit .stl file

Alfred.NESWADBA — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 16:11:36 GMT

Hi,

hope that is what you wanted?
It's not very exact as the previous whole was faceted, but I guess close enough for the accuracy of a 3D-printer.

- alfred -

Re: Edit .stl file

GianniSorrentino — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 16:38:35 GMT

It is just what I wanted, thanks a lot. Can you explain me how you did it? Because the next time I won't address the forum but do by myself 🙂

Re: Edit .stl file

beyoungjr — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 17:20:02 GMT

Sorry to have eliminated the cylinders. They were objects separated from the chassis so I only did STLOUT on the chassis. If you wanted the chassis to fill in the space between the cylinder, then remove the cylinder I could have shown that as Alfred has.

Here's how I would have done it...

Move your cylinders away from the chassis by a specific distance in X, Y, or Z.
Use Presspull to fill the hole in the chassis.
Move the cylinders back into the chassis.
Use the subtract command to remove the cylinders from the chassis.

Viola!

Try it on your own now to see if you can.

Re: Edit .stl file

Alfred.NESWADBA — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 17:19:47 GMT

Hi,

>> Can you explain me how you did it?

First I created 4 cylinders which fill the wholes, run command _UNION to make one object from all.

Then I used command _SUBTRACT and used your 4 inner cylinders to create wholes in the body.

- alfred -

Re: Edit .stl file

GianniSorrentino — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 17:32:23 GMT

Okay, thank you all for the help, I'll try it soon as I have enough time.