Editing part: better if use "Edit Face" or if create with "Sculpt Body"

[Anonymous]

To the attention of the Autodesk Community.

I'm new to using Autodesk software (Windows x64).

I tried to create a tailored part (a fully customized orthopedic insole) using Fusion 360 for a for a group work for a university project (that has been already delivered).

My insole was made starting from a .stl file that was coming from the work environment of Solidworks. This was because the members of my group used different software (as required by the instructions of the exam) to simulate working with different software.

This .stl file was imported in Fusion 360 and was then modified with the "Edit Face" function.

However, the final result had not 100% satisfied my (and my classmates) expectations.

I therefore ask you, for future tailor made projects that I will have to do in other courses, if it is better to use the "Edit Face" function or to create a draft of the part in the "Sculpt Body" environment (and then use the editing functions of "Sculpt" Body "to modify it better).

Thanks in advance for the help.

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

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@Anonymous wrote:

1. My insole was made starting from a .stl file that was coming from the work environment of Solidworks. 

2. This .stl file was imported in Fusion 360 and was then modified....

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1. The SolidWorks team made a critical beginner mistake.  *.stl is an end product for 3D printing, NOT a starting product for an engineering design.  The SolidWorks team should have simply given you the native SolidWorks files or STEP or Parasolid or IGES or ACIS format geometry.  *.stl is coarsely faceted planar triangular surfaces for 3D printing, not for engineering design.

2. If my only source was stl file (for example - from a scanner), then I would remodel the geometry correctly from scratch using the coarsely faceted planar triangular surfaces ONLY for reference in creating proper engineering geometry.

Back in the last century we would use the term GIGO (Garbage In - Garbage Out) to refer to the end result of using inferior input data.  The stl was inferior input for your project.  

Can you ask your instructor to join this discussion?

[TrippyLighting · Accepted solution]

.stl is a triangulated mesh and is by far the worst export option available in Solid Works if the goal is to modify, or further refine the geometry in another CAD application.

If you can get your co-students to export this as a .step(.stp)  ot .iges(.igs) file that should be directly usable in Fusion 360. 

[Anonymous]

Hi @TrippyLighting.

Thanks for your advice. I think, however, that next time, I (and my classmates) will start directly working from Fusion 360.

[Anonymous]

Hi, @TheCADWhisperer.

I guess that my teammates that used Solidworks not knew how to use properly that software. In addition, I forgot to add to my original message that, when me and my grouo gave him our results, my intructor told us that we misunderstood him: he told us to use different software in different groups (per example, Solidworks for Group A, Fusion 360 for Group B, Rhinoceros for Group C, etc.) ... His purpose was to compare the software performaces, comparing in the class the work all the groups did (with all the statistics of time spent for the project, quality of the project, etc.).

Finally, since I've already passed the exam for this projcet, I presented this question to the community of autodesk for my personal curiosity (since, for most of the CAD exams I have to give, there is a certain freedom of choice for the choice of CAD software) ... for avoiding to make the same mistakes again.

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Solidworks for Group A, Fusion 360 for Group B, Rhinoceros for Group C, etc.) ... His purpose was to compare the software performances, ....

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Comparing software performance?  Or really really comparing student performance?

Can you ask your instructor to join this discussion?

It sounds like the students did not get professional instruction in how to use SolidWorks?

It sounds like the students did not get professional instruction in how to use stl files and Fusion 360?

Autodesk Inventor is the Autodesk product equivalent of SolidWorks, not Fusion 360 or Rhinoceros.

It would probably be more useful to compare "apples-to-apples" by professionals (connoisseurs).

[Anonymous]

@TheCADWhisperer, I don't know if my instructor will join this discussion ... in that case, I'll let you know. If not, know that I will show him your (right) observations ...