topic Re: Combine small surfaces to one surface in Inventor Forum

Combine small surfaces to one surface

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 03:46:32 GMT

I have this assembly that I need to export as step and open using ansys. The problem is that the exported step file is not in solid form. As you can see from the picture, the assembly consist of a lot of surfaces. Is there any way for me to combine all these surfaces to become one smooth surface? If that is not possible, what other way I can do to export it to step in solid? Thanks.

Re: Combine small surfaces to one surface

johnsonshiue — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 03:57:36 GMT

Hi! The geometry looks like triangular mesh. Is it still mesh or it has been converted to composite node with a lot of small surfaces. If it is still mesh, you can go to Autodesk App store to download Mesh Enabler (free for subscriber) to convert the mesh to a composite node. If it is already a composite node, you can use Stitch command to stitch them into a piece of surface with many faces. Then you can export it to STEP.

I think you might be looking for a way to generate nice surfaces based on the mesh or triangular surfaces. Currently, Inventor is not able to do that, you will need to recreate the surface manually based on the mesh or triangular surfaces. Inventor has limited mesh modeling ability at the moment.

Many thanks!

Re: Combine small surfaces to one surface

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 06:17:31 GMT

That part actually started from a mesh. I used the mesh enabler to convert it to solid and did some solid split. It worked and that part is a portion of the original part. It is now not a mesh actually. I assembled it with other parts and intend to do some analysis using ansys. I exported it to step but when open in ansys, it is not solid but looking like a mesh. I tried patch and stitch but not working either.

Re: Combine small surfaces to one surface

I_Forge_KC — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 14:34:44 GMT

Because you used the mesh enabler to convert, what you end up with is a very faceted model. The mesh enabler takes each individual triangular facet of the mesh and converts it to a trimmed surface instead. As you've discovered, this is kinda terrible and is a last ditch effort to get mesh data as a solid.

In order to get a smooth form you will need to either remodel from scratch or go through one of many different possible workflows for conversion. The downside to these conversion workflows is that every single one of them creates additional error (approximation) in the resultant model. Even the very high priced tools in this space (e.g. SpaceClaim or Geomagic) are not a pleasant experience in reverse engineering.

Re: Combine small surfaces to one surface

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 01:27:55 GMT

Thanks.