3D Mesh to Solid

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I have a 3D mesh with multiple faces which is solid as an STL, but as a DXF file which is compatible with AutoCAD, only the mesh edges are present without the solid fill. Anyone know how to make it appear as it does on the STL, as a solid? (I've attached a screenshot of the STL and the DXF file.) The CONVTOSOLID command doesn't work because the mesh isn't watertight. 

Thanks,

Abi

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>> I have a 3D mesh with multiple faces which is solid as an STL

An STL is not a "solid", an STL has faces which are (hopefully) waterthight.

>> The CONVTOSOLID command doesn't work because the mesh isn't watertight

Which program converted the STL to DXF?

Who verified that the STL was watertight?

Upload the STL or let is know where it is from so we can check that...

Try that steps/sequence of commands:

_MESHOPTIONS ==> that creates meshes from 3D-faces (make sure that variable SMOOTHMESHCONVERT is set to 3 (faceted, not optimized)

_UNION with the option to convert the meshes to facted ....  ==>

_CONVTOSOLID

That has it done on my AutoCAD 2017, please find the file attached.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Hi Alfred,

Many thanks for your reply and the attachment! I exported the STL from the program Meshlab, thank you for the info re STL files.

Just to clarify, can a solid 3D image still have holes on AutoCAD? I used the CONVTOSURFACE command (which resulted in a surface with smaller holes) and then managed to form an imprint using the IMPRINT command.

Many thanks for all your help,

Abi

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>> can a solid 3D image still have holes on AutoCAD?

Please specify "solid 3D image" ... 😉

An object of type "3D-solid" is always a watertight object, even if the object might have wholes (see screenshot), but as long as the wholes do have a lateral surface the result is again a watertight volume.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Hej,

I tried to "meshsmooth" and "convtosolid" but couldnt get the volume of the solid? Tried everything I knew and still doesn't work. Have autocad 2017. Anyone can help?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

welcome @Anonymous.autodesk.com!

When I open your drawing AutoCAD tells me that the dwg was created from a different product. So I have 2 questions:

• Which software did you use?
• Has this software the option to merge these 2 objects to one object before exporting it?

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

I use Autocad 2017 and the file was sent to me so I don't know which 3D program was used. I tried even MESHSMOOTH and CONVTOSOLID on simplier meshes, but don't know why my autocad won't let use CONVTOSOLID even if some other people have done it with the same object...

*Could you look the file attached below? Why doesn't CONVTOSOLID work on my AutoCad?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> Why doesn't CONVTOSOLID work on my AutoCad?

The drawing you have shown here is correct. The last object is a 3D-Solid, why do you think that it has not worked?

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Hei!

Yes, it's 3D solid there (was done by some other autocad user). Right now I can only get the MESHSMOOTH done with the same object and it won't do the CONVTOSOLID. I get the error ("Mesh not converted because it's not closed...").  I wonder if my autocad has different settings and that's why I can't use CONVTOSOLID. Any idea?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

From your screenshot:

First please do not smooth objects when the form should not be modified!

Then my AutoCAD reports that this dwg-file was not created by an Autodesk product, which software did create this file?

At least look to my video and tell us what you do different (or it it's working if you do the same steps than I have done).

- alfred -