topic Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid in Inventor Forum

Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

Mohammad.choudhary — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 10:05:12 GMT

Hi,

I appreciate this topic has been discussed numerous times however I have spent hours researching watching videos of how to repair a surface model into a solid model. Is there a simple method of converting surface to solid? Can you convert to solid from importing window? I am importing a SAT file into inventor and converting to an .IPT. I have attached a typical file I need converting to a solid. Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

JDMather — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 12:17:50 GMT

Do you have an image or link to what this is supposed to represent in the real world?

What is the source of the original geometry?

Can you Attach the native file from the source?

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

Mohammad.choudhary — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 08:47:36 GMT

Hi,

Below is the link to what this is supposed to represent in the real world:

https://www.spirotech.co.uk/products/spirotop/spirotop--brass--hight-158/

I have attached the native file. I am exporting the native file to .SAT and importing into Inventor.

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

JonathanKruger — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 08:40:50 GMT

Could you share the SAT file you are importing?

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

Mohammad.choudhary — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 08:45:56 GMT

Hi,

I am unable to attach the .SAT file but I have attached the Revit file .RFA

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

JonathanKruger — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 08:47:50 GMT

Can you zip the SAT file and then it should allow you to attach the zip file?

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

Mohammad.choudhary — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 08:49:45 GMT

I have zipped the .SAT and .RFA files for you.

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

-niels- — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 09:10:41 GMT

Is this the same product?
https://b2b.partcommunity.com/3d-cad-models/spirotop-air-vents-spirotech?info=spirotech%2Fspirotop20-20air20vents.prj&cwid=4794

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

Mohammad.choudhary — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 09:15:26 GMT

Yes

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

-niels- — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 09:52:01 GMT

If you haven't already, i'd suggest creating an account there then and download it from that site instead.
They offer many filetypes including Inventor, so you can skip the entire conversion of the .RFA file.
It's a great site with loads of different supplier content.

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

cadman777 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 12:00:54 GMT

In the past, in cases where a vendor did not supply 2d or 3d files for their parts on their web site, and when I could not find them on an alternative we site like @-niels- has shown, I took the time to make it from scratch in Inventor. If I was going to use it in different sizes, I made sure I thought through how to make it so I can make an iPart or easily update it to the correct sizes when changed. This process takes time, especially with gear reducers. But today, almost anything is available online if you look hard enough. I have read in the past that going from Revit to Inventor and vice versa can be a problem.

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

TheCADWhisperer — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 13:01:38 GMT

Is there a reason that you cannot use as a Surface Body rather than as Solid Body?

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

cadman777 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 14:03:55 GMT

I just opened the SAT file.

The stupid translator created 3 separate part files for this single part.

It should have created only 2 parts:

the main body
the threaded insert at the bottom.

So you have to do some work to fix this if you want to use it.

First thing you need to do is separate the 2 true parts.

Then join all the rest of the solids & surfaces of the main part into one part.

The way I did that is open one of the parts and derive the other parts into it.

Then delete all the unwanted features and export it as a STEP file.

Then reopen the STEP file and save it as a part file (ipt) and do your edits to make it a solid.

Here's how I did that:

Find where all the separate features join and figure out which surfaces are unnecessary.

Delete them and take another look at the surfaces where they joined.

Also look at which faces are defective.

Delete all the features you don't need, whether defective or good.

Where the top nut joins the body needs work.

The end faces of the top nut also need work

You will also see defective faces on some of the chamfers that need work.

You have to delete all those bad faces and remake them.

After doing all of that, then Stitch everything together and you should have a complete solid.

Same with the other (small) part.

This process took me about an hour to do.

See attached model to visualize my work-flow.

The lesson in this is to see if you can find the part online for free.
That could save a lot of time.

But sometimes it's just easier to make it from scratch as a native Inventor part, or do what I did to this vendor part.

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

cadman777 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 14:17:56 GMT

Inventor 2010 did this to the SAT file.

Is this how yours came in?

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

SBix26 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 19:24:52 GMT

Unless the solid body is needed for additional editing or for material properties (volume, mass, etc.), I agree with @TheCADWhisperer , there is no benefit to spending the time to make it solid.

Inventor 2023 offered the option of opening the .SAT file as a multi-body part file or an assembly. I opted for the part file, then turned off translucent surface appearance and gave the surface body the same appearance as the solids. Now it looks like it's ready to drop into your assembly.

Sam B

Inventor Pro 2023.0.1 | Windows 10 Home 21H2

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

Mohammad.choudhary — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 06:04:53 GMT

Thank you, this would work in this instance as the part is available - but i would like to learn how to fix this issue.

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

Mohammad.choudhary — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 06:13:38 GMT

Inventor brings mine in like this

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

Mohammad.choudhary — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 06:19:31 GMT

This looks good !!

Would there be a video of how you did this. I would like to learn how to fix this issue in the future. I agree with the others, the easiest option is to find the part from a library but in the instance its not available I would like to at least know how to solve the problem. I struggle with repairing the geometry for example identifying the bad faces and features.

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

JonathanKruger — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 06:20:29 GMT

Toggle the surface to not be Translucent

Re: Converting Inventor Surface Models to Solid

Mohammad.choudhary — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 06:22:20 GMT

when I do this it doesn't look right.