topic Re: Import STL file and how to generate a drawing in Fusion Support Forum

Import STL file and how to generate a drawing

Bernd_CAD — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 19:40:16 GMT

Hi, I have some STL files which i imported into fusion 360. I created a fusion design. Now I would like to generate a drawing to put some measures on it. But that's not possible. Even if I export them as a STEP or IGES and import them again. Message: Contains no bodies.

What can I do to get a solid body? Thanks again for your help.

Re: Import STL file and how to generate a drawing

paul.clauss — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 19:57:59 GMT

Hi @Bernd_CAD

Thanks for posting! The Drawing environment can currently only use solid brep bodies from Fusion 360 - mesh bodies from an inserted STL file will not be included in the drawing.

You should be able to get the mesh bodies converted to brep solids by using the procedure at this link. As mentioned in the article, you may need to consider reducing the mesh if it is too large for Fusion 360. After converting the mesh to a solid body, you should see the solid body included in the drawings.

Hopefully this helps! Please let me know if you have any questions.

Re: Import STL file and how to generate a drawing

RichardmBernstein — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 17:24:38 GMT

Hello,

I usually get full body scans or highly sculpted .stl's, currrenly I have had no luck with converting these objects to get them into drawings based on their file size. Is there any new way developed to handle this type of issue, extension or add-on?

Re: Import STL file and how to generate a drawing

rjmelohn — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 23:36:12 GMT

YES, PLEASE!

Is there an answer to this issue?

Re: Import STL file and how to generate a drawing

jhackney1972 — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 01:04:30 GMT

The answer is given in Message #2 of this post. If you have a specific STL file that you are having issues with, please attach it to a reply post.

Re: Import STL file and how to generate a drawing

rjmelohn — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 16:12:29 GMT

The issue is that all of the .stl's I have to work with are well over 10K triangles, and decimating them to allow for a BRep to solid change is not an option for both detail loss and the amount of time that would take.

Re: Import STL file and how to generate a drawing

TheCADWhisperer — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 21:35:08 GMT

You can create 2D drawings of 3D stl meshes in Autodesk Inventor Professional.

Attach example file here if you would like to see illustration of the functionality.