Creating a single shell for 3D printing

Creating a single shell for 3D printing

Anonymous
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Message 1 of 5

Creating a single shell for 3D printing

Anonymous
Not applicable

Try as I might, I can't get this to shell.  I have been able to get it from supplier shelled as .stl file, but I need it as a .stp or .sat.  The .stl shows good geometry, but I can't get it to shell in F-360.  Any suggestions?

 

 

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Message 2 of 5

TrippyLighting
Consultant
Consultant

It is unlikely that you are going to get this shelled in Fusion 360, either as a solid, or a mesh.

The geometry, aside from being pretty crappy (the filleting is just horrible) it has too much detail and when thickened with create self intersecting surfaces. Fusiosn 360's shell command does not have good strategies to deal with such self intersections.


EESignature

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Message 3 of 5

PrecisionDesign
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I thought your geometry looked fine but as trippy was saying the A side geometry detail will not allow it to shell.  The .STL is not a true shell  (consistant thickness throughout) it looks like it uses some offset surfaces that are then blended where the intersections get messy.  This can be done in the patch workspace by creating those offset surfaces from the larger flowing areas and blending the intersections.  This is a process and can get time consuming but gives you better control over the model.

 

Brandon

Precision Design

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Message 4 of 5

TrippyLighting
Consultant
Consultant

@PrecisionDesign With "horrible" geometry I was referring to some of the fillets. 90% of people working with CAD software are working with solid modeling and never leave that area. The disadvantages of that can be seen in the fillets that are very segmented and can easily turn into sliver geometry that is very difficult to deal with.

A little bit of surfacing here and there e.g. a loft or sweep instead of a solid modeled fillet can make a model look much better and much more high quality.

 

The concern with inconsistent thickness certainly applies to a solid model, but if the end goal for the shelling is to 3D print this anyway, then you end up with a mesh anyway, resulting in the same thing. Thus, in this case I believe Meshmixer is going to get results quicker then trying to do this in Fusion 360. 


EESignature

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Message 5 of 5

Anonymous
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Thanks for the advice
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