topic Re: Convert STL to solid body. in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Convert STL to solid body.

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 00:09:37 GMT

I am hammering my head against a few issues here and have no idea how to approach it and have been googling and baning my head against the table for hours..

i have a couple questions.

First one is when I download a Thingiverse file in STL, I can insert it into Fusion360, but that ends up being an empty shell.. I need a solid body for CNC and 3D printing.. I also want to edit the object..

When I try to convert to T-Spline, I get errors about too many triangles?

Do do I import a STL and convert that mesh into a solid body instead of an empty shell?

STL file here: http://www.thingiverse.com/download:1832634

Re: Convert STL to solid body.

TrippyLighting — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 01:39:06 GMT

That simple model can be re-created with the solid modeling tools in Fusion 360min a few minutes.

Also, this topic has been discussed in great detail about a thousand times in this forum.

Re: Convert STL to solid body.

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 02:02:01 GMT

I tried a search and have not landed on a thousand results..

I used this simple model to prove the concept and the question was not how to re-create a model, the question was how to import a Thingeverse STL file and make it a solid body.

no-offense, but if you don't care to contribute a constructive answer, best might be not to answer at all.

Re: Convert STL to solid body.

davebYYPCU — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 02:09:01 GMT

Don't make it too complicated for yourself, that stl, will print as it is,

stl's that are solid or hollow will print without problems, if you imagine they are full of water and don't - can't leak.

As we don't know what edits you want to do, some can be done in Modelling programs that use STL as default files,

I can't speak for CAM methods.

Again you can import, but not easily "edit" that file, - As Peter says, you can "Copy" it with modelling tools in Fusion,

Might make things clearer,

Re: Convert STL to solid body.

TrippyLighting — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 02:15:24 GMT

When the geometry is not as simple as this example I'd provide different advice.

General advice is hard to give and it really depends on a specific case. For more complex geometry than the file you attached but prismatic and mechanical, as opposed to freeform surfaces, the mesh workspace has a few tools that can be used. You can make a cross section through a mesh body and use that as a basis for a spline that then can be used with the modeling tools in Fusion 360.

If you are looking for CAD precision I would not consider this.I would not even consider working with .stl files as they are not CAD files.

If you have freeform surfaces there is a variety of tools that can be used. You can use InstantMeshes or Autodesk Remake to turn that triangulated .stl rubbish into quad faces that you can then import into a T-Spline and then solid model. However with these tools you usually loose detail in the process.

The best option in terms of retaining features re-tpologizing, but that takes some skill and is also the most work intense.

If you can get a hold of solid model files on tThingyverse that is always better than the triangulated .stl files.

Re: Convert STL to solid body.

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 03:48:53 GMT

Ah - Thank you. It sounds like STL's are bad for importing and using as a 3D model. thats a bummer, I was really hoping there's an easy answer to make it a solid and join all the triangles easily.

thanks again for this knowledge, it helps a lot.

Re: Convert STL to solid body.

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 19:39:05 GMT

I would like this Guitar neck a solid to machine it. Any help would be great.