Need clarity about assembling

[Anonymous]

I have three .STL meshes that represent a single servo component. My goal is to connect these three meshes to form the single servo as a component.

To accomplish my goal, I performed the following steps 3 times:

1- Imported a mesh.

2- Reduced mesh.

3- Converted mesh to Brep

4- Applied a physical material to the Brep

5- Exported Brep as a .f3d file

Then using File>New Design From File 3 times I ended up with three separate browsers each containing only 1 body.

What I want is to have a single browser encapsulating all three Brep bodies, so I may connect them. How do I do that with my three .f3d files?

Once they are in a single browser: To connect the three bodies, do I create a blank component first and then add the bodies to the component and then arrange/connect them graphically and then turn them into a rigid group? If so what are the exact mouse clicks/selections involved? 

I looked at several of your videos but I still didn't see how to do what I want because the videos show how to assemble "created" components (which is great BTW !!) but not .stl files converted to Breps.

[etfrench]

1. Import the three stl's into one file
2. Convert to BReps
3. Make BReps into components
4. Use Align command to position the components
5. Join the components (p.s. This step isn't necessary unless you want the three components to appear as one)
6. Set the physical appearance

You can also just copy your three existing BReps into one file, then proceed from step 4.

If you need more help, then post your file with the three BReps or stls.

[etfrench]

It may be easier to use the Mesh workspace.  You need to load it first: Preferences|Preview|Mesh Workspace

[Anonymous]

I had already loaded the mesh workspace to reduce the meshes.....so how would it be easier to use the mesh workspace instead of what you described earlier?

When you wrote "You can also just copy your three existing BReps into one file, then proceed from step 4."....that's exactly what I want to do! How do I do that?

and also...... Thank You for being so helpful!

[etfrench]

I think it will depend on how hard it will be to find matching faces in either workspace.  I'd start with the Mesh workspace and if that doesn't work well, try the Model workspace.

[Anonymous]

When you wrote "You can also just copy your three existing BReps into one file, then proceed from step 4."....that's exactly what I want to do! How do I do that?

and also...... Thank You for being so helpful!

[etfrench]

You can either insert a drawing into an open drawing from the Data panel or copy a component from one open drawing to another.  I usually use the later.  You may first have to turn your BRep objects into components by right clicking on the BRep object and selecting 'Create components from bodies'.