Can't extrude merged faces

[Anonymous]

So I've downloaded an STL from thingiverse, and I'd like to take the numbers which have already been extruded, and re-extrude them as a cutout from the background.

When I imported the STL as a mesh (Image 1), I created a base feature so I could convert to a BREP and merge the faces through the Base Feature Surface menu (Image 2).

However, after I do this, I can no longer select the new solid face to extrude (Image 3).

If anyone could point out what I'm missing, that would be great.

Image 1:

Image 2:

Image 3:

[HughesTooling]

You're not really missing anything apart from the merged faces are probably not flat. If you right click on one is there an option to create a sketch? If not it's not flat. Really working an converted meshes in Fusion is not going to go well, for something this simple just redraw it.

Mark

[Anonymous]

No, there isn't an option to create a sketch on it.

I don't fully understand what you mean by "not flat", as I'm pretty much a beginner to all this. You're probably right that recreating it would be easiest, it's just that this is one part of a bigger model and some of the other sections would be a bit more awkward to recreate, so I was looking for an easier solution if one happened to exist.

[HughesTooling]

The trouble is merge can create twisted faces. If one of the triangles around the text is up or down 0.001mm merge will create a single surface fitted to the inaccuracies. 

Mark

[Anonymous]

Alright, thanks for the advice.

So if the best solution is to recreate this, do you know of any way to take the basic outline of the numbers and create a sketch from them so I can extrude them that way instead? I've been trying to select the edges with Include 3D Geometry but with the curves it's really finnicky.

Or even how I could skew my own text to match something similar to this 18.

[MRWakefield · Accepted solution]

I'd use a Mesh Section Sketch for something like this.

Once you've created your mesh section edit the sketch and use 'Fit Curves to Mesh Section' to create and refine geometry you can extrude.

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Awesome, this is exactly what I needed.

Thanks for the help.