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Problem with converting surfaces to solids

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Message 1 of 8
Anonymous
378 Views, 7 Replies

Problem with converting surfaces to solids

Anonymous
Not applicable

Hello, I have been working on a DIN box for my car, but have been struggling to convert it into a 3D solid. From the beginning of design, I basically used lines to form the skeleton of the box and fill in the box with surfaces instead of solids which i should have done. I tried using the convert to solid command, but the program said that it failed to convert. From my understanding, there are no spaces that could prevent the surfaces from converting. I have looked at many forums, but have found no answer. This is my first design, so feel free to tell me what I did wrong. I would really hate to start over, so if you can help that would be great. Side question, If the inside is hollow, could it still be printed? Thanks.

0 Likes

Problem with converting surfaces to solids

Hello, I have been working on a DIN box for my car, but have been struggling to convert it into a 3D solid. From the beginning of design, I basically used lines to form the skeleton of the box and fill in the box with surfaces instead of solids which i should have done. I tried using the convert to solid command, but the program said that it failed to convert. From my understanding, there are no spaces that could prevent the surfaces from converting. I have looked at many forums, but have found no answer. This is my first design, so feel free to tell me what I did wrong. I would really hate to start over, so if you can help that would be great. Side question, If the inside is hollow, could it still be printed? Thanks.

7 REPLIES 7
Message 2 of 8
leeminardi
in reply to: Anonymous

leeminardi
Mentor
Mentor

If the surfaces defined a watertight volume you could use surfsculpt to create a solid from the surfaces.  You model is not watertight.  Note the gap in the image below.  You are correct that you should have used solids and not surfaces to start with.  You  should also make use of layers in the creation of the model.  For example, create the wire frame model on one layer and the surface or solid model on another.

snp1.JPG

I suggest deleting all the surfaces leaving just the lines in 3D.  Define a new layer with a different color and create boxes (solids) and extrusions to define the geometry.  Remember that you can use union and subtract to simplify the process. You might want to set the visualstyle to X-Ray 

 

YOu could start with an extrusion like I show below then subtract the blue boxes.  Create a box or extrusion to subtract from the inside if the object is hollow.

snp2.JPG

Good luck!

lee.minardi

If the surfaces defined a watertight volume you could use surfsculpt to create a solid from the surfaces.  You model is not watertight.  Note the gap in the image below.  You are correct that you should have used solids and not surfaces to start with.  You  should also make use of layers in the creation of the model.  For example, create the wire frame model on one layer and the surface or solid model on another.

snp1.JPG

I suggest deleting all the surfaces leaving just the lines in 3D.  Define a new layer with a different color and create boxes (solids) and extrusions to define the geometry.  Remember that you can use union and subtract to simplify the process. You might want to set the visualstyle to X-Ray 

 

YOu could start with an extrusion like I show below then subtract the blue boxes.  Create a box or extrusion to subtract from the inside if the object is hollow.

snp2.JPG

Good luck!

lee.minardi
Message 3 of 8
Anonymous
in reply to: leeminardi

Anonymous
Not applicable

Hi Guys,

I don't want to hijack this thread but I have a similar problem.If I am intruding please let me know.

 

I have created the teeth on a helical gear but am having trouble making them solid. Is any one able to point me in the right direction please

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Hi Guys,

I don't want to hijack this thread but I have a similar problem.If I am intruding please let me know.

 

I have created the teeth on a helical gear but am having trouble making them solid. Is any one able to point me in the right direction please

Message 4 of 8
leeminardi
in reply to: Anonymous

leeminardi
Mentor
Mentor

As can be seen here your model does not define a watertight volume as there are hole at the top and bottom of the gear teeth.

h1.JPG

To fix this your need to define additional surfaces that will make it watertight when using the surfsculpt command.

The first step to do is to explode the arrayed teeth converting them to surfaces.

Next create planes to define the top and bottom of the teeth.  Since you want to maintain the hole through the gear you need to have a hole in these planes.  You can make the hole by using a Boolean subtract of a cylinder that has a radius less than the gear OD and greater than the hole's minimum ID. 

h2.JPG

After the Boolean subtract you are left with this.

h3.JPG

You can now use surfsculpt to make a solid of the geometry.

h4.JPG

 

 

 

 

 

lee.minardi

As can be seen here your model does not define a watertight volume as there are hole at the top and bottom of the gear teeth.

h1.JPG

To fix this your need to define additional surfaces that will make it watertight when using the surfsculpt command.

The first step to do is to explode the arrayed teeth converting them to surfaces.

Next create planes to define the top and bottom of the teeth.  Since you want to maintain the hole through the gear you need to have a hole in these planes.  You can make the hole by using a Boolean subtract of a cylinder that has a radius less than the gear OD and greater than the hole's minimum ID. 

h2.JPG

After the Boolean subtract you are left with this.

h3.JPG

You can now use surfsculpt to make a solid of the geometry.

h4.JPG

 

 

 

 

 

lee.minardi
Message 5 of 8
Anonymous
in reply to: leeminardi

Anonymous
Not applicable

Ok, I will try to do that. Do you convert it from a surface to a slid using the Mode when using extrusion? Also, how would i create the hole inside to make it a hollow box to put things in. With my design, is it possible to create a solid fillet around the bottom edges? How would I do that?

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Ok, I will try to do that. Do you convert it from a surface to a slid using the Mode when using extrusion? Also, how would i create the hole inside to make it a hollow box to put things in. With my design, is it possible to create a solid fillet around the bottom edges? How would I do that?

Message 6 of 8
Anonymous
in reply to: leeminardi

Anonymous
Not applicable

Hi, sorry to bother again, but when I decided to start over again with just the lines I couldn't even extrude any lines or poly-lines. I also could not create a box and subtract with my dimensions as it wouldn't allow me to reach the other corner of the box. If you could direct me to a solution that would be much appreciated.

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Hi, sorry to bother again, but when I decided to start over again with just the lines I couldn't even extrude any lines or poly-lines. I also could not create a box and subtract with my dimensions as it wouldn't allow me to reach the other corner of the box. If you could direct me to a solution that would be much appreciated.

Message 7 of 8
parkr4st
in reply to: leeminardi

parkr4st
Advisor
Advisor

for the gear

close pline on end of one tooth

select teeth eXplode to get one of the edges of a tooth

extrude the pline using Path on the edge

polar array

BTW clean up the overlaps on the inner radius of the gear teeth first

attached

 

 

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for the gear

close pline on end of one tooth

select teeth eXplode to get one of the edges of a tooth

extrude the pline using Path on the edge

polar array

BTW clean up the overlaps on the inner radius of the gear teeth first

attached

 

 

Message 8 of 8
leeminardi
in reply to: Anonymous

leeminardi
Mentor
Mentor

Extruding lines and polylines is pretty basic stuff.  Polylines must be closed to extrude them into a solid.  Read up on the pedit command and how to use it to join lines and polylines together. As for working with solid boxes see if you can find a few tutorials or an intro book into 3D modeling with AutoCAD/

lee.minardi
0 Likes

Extruding lines and polylines is pretty basic stuff.  Polylines must be closed to extrude them into a solid.  Read up on the pedit command and how to use it to join lines and polylines together. As for working with solid boxes see if you can find a few tutorials or an intro book into 3D modeling with AutoCAD/

lee.minardi

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