Wireframe cave mine to 3d printing.

[Anonymous]

Hi ! I have a friend that send me this DWG arquive from a mine cave and he wanted that i 3d printing but i`m starting on autocad and i have no ideia on how to do this... i have tried some tutorials but i can't found the right answers.

This is the following arquive.  

Thanks !

[pendean]

Read this https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/AutoC...

and

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/AutoC...

Be aware that AutoCAD for MAC is not fully equipped like AutoCAD for Windows.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I took a look at your file. In order to get it to a 3D printer I wanted to export the data to SAT  (ACIS format) or STL (Lithography)

I tried exporting the model but it indicated that it was not watertight. So, I ran CONVTOSURFACE on the entire model and then exported to SAT format. The resulting file is nearly 700 MB's in size.

This is only the first step as there is no guarantee that it is clean enough to print. I have not done any kind of 3D printing from the Mac side so I apologize if my information is incomplete.

I am taking the SAT file into Fusion 360 next. This will take a while and I will post back with the results.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

HI @Anonymous,

I apologize for my delay in getting back to you. I did bring this into Fusion 360 but the model is so massive and so complex that my computer couldn't handle it.

I imagine that if you broke it down into smaller pieces that you could check for gaps and holes in order to make this a solid.  From Fusion 360, you could sent to 3D Print Studio to check for errors, add supports, and ultimately print

I question though, what the value would be to print this in 3D? Can you tell me the intended purpose?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

I am checking back to see if my post helped you with your problem or if you need additional assistance or information. Please add a post with how you decide to proceed and your results so other Community members may benefit.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Hello @john.vellek ! First of all, I'm sorry for the delay, too. I want to thank you immensely for the help. What exactly does the CONVTOSURFACE modifier do? Can I convert a SAT file to STL? Could you send me the file of 700 mb so I can try to break it in netfabb and thus open the pieces in the fusion 360? My goal in printing this file is to start a 3D modeling cavern experience, because I'm graduating in engineering and I think of working with the construction of these models in the future with my 3d printer.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Here is an article that describes the CONVTOSURFACE feature.

I suggest breaking the model into parts first. Perhaps do this by placing a grid as a reference for naming the pieces.

Then, wblock each part into it's own file.

Open the first one and in modelspace, run CONVTOSURFACE and select ALL. Then you should be able to export.

Then, bring it into Fusion 360. I brought it in with Design from File. If it is still unwieldy, please add a post and we can try to figure out another workflow. 

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.