Can't Edit Imported Object.....

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

I've been searching the forum and internet for days now trying to find an answer before posting this. I can't for the life of me figure it out.

I have a design I originally made in Maya 2019 which I exported as a DWG file. Upon opening it in Cad it only contains one grip for the whole solid object and is covered in a triangular mesh of sorts. I need to remove said mesh and any extra details that are not required and save it as a new file.

Is there any way of doing this in cad or is it something I've missed in maya?

[pendean]

Can you share your DWG file here for others to examine?

[vinodkl]

Hi,

Select that object and press Ctrl+1. what do you see object to be "block reference"? if yes then select the object and use the command EXPLODE. If not share the drawing, so that we can see.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the quick replies.

I've attached a few files to look at.

The wireframe is what comes out in Maya. All Quads which should still be easily transferable for cnc machining.

The shaded 3D image is an idea of what the final product should come out as.

The 3rd file is the DWG file exported direct from maya yet everything comes out as triangles when it's imported into cad, which the cnc machine/software really doesn't like.

It'd be nice if I could somehow edit and use this model to save on workload but if not I'm looking at rebuilding it in fusion360.

cheers.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> everything comes out as triangles when it's imported into cad,

Which export options do you have in Maya (seems to be more a questions about Maya export functionality)

>> which the cnc machine/software really doesn't like.

Which objects and file-formats does your CNC machine can read?

>> I'm looking at rebuilding it in fusion360

Not rebuilding, converting this model might work too.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Hi Alfred,

Unfortunately, there's little to no options in maya when it comes to DWG, DXF or STL except exporting in file type. The owner of said cnc machine asked for an STL file which almost gave it a complete melt down due to all the extra stuff in the file. I've downloaded a few different pieces of software for cnc and 3D printers etc... to double check the files which seem to load ok but it seems to be the Maya to Cad conversion that has things a little screwy. I kind of need to go from Hi-res 3D to simplistic 2D so to speak. The problem there I think is something to do with all the faces and mesh or something but I can't seem to delete the faces and leave the edges due to the make up of the design.

The desired result is a simplistic cylinder with a couple of beveled edges, a few rivets, a tap and some simple lettering. So far starting from scratch in fusion is achieving that. I just have to learn how to use fusion properly first.

[Edit: Attached are the Maya options for STL exports. DWG and DXF Have no options]

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> The owner of said cnc machine asked for an STL file

Well, in that case ... and because of Maya has the option to create STL please use this direct conversion.

>> it seems to be the Maya to Cad conversion that has things a little screwy

Well, as you have Fusion360 load the STL into F360, if that works well the source of any issues might have to do more with the software from your partner.

>> The problem there I think is something to do with all the faces and mesh

Well, that is STL, it's just a list of triangles. If that does not work for your partner he should not ask for a STL.

Which other formats can the partner import?

What I see in the DWG-file ... the mesh is not complete, some triangles are missing, hopefully the STL-export does not have these issues too.

- alfred -

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

So it turns out the issue was the amount of triangles in the STL file was way too much for fusion to handle as far as turning the object into a solid or even being able to lower the number. 

Ended up starting again in fusion and only took me a couple of hours rather then the previous couple of weeks.

Wish I'd learnt fusion sooner.

Thanks for all the advice.