Tryting to convert STL file to solid Fusion 360 Hobby licence

[chrisTVJG9]

I have a rather large stl file that I want to convert so a solid, but when i try it appears to remain a mesh file. never done this before and would appreciate a idiots guide if possible, have tried to reduce mesh to about 15,000 but still can't get the hang of it

Can email the .STL file if that helps

[TheCADWhisperer]

Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

(And/or the stl file.)

[chrisTVJG9]

Many thanks here is the file

[TrippyLighting]

This mesh has over 300,000 triangles, so that's not going to work out of the box. If you reduce the number of triangles using the builtin functionality, you'll probably loose some detail.

Can you explain what you want to do with the end result ?

[chrisTVJG9]

Looking to reduce it in actual size and make a stamp for leather with it combined with other solids to emboss leather

[TrippyLighting]

How do you want to manufacture that embossing tool and out of what material ?

The model you imported is a triangulated mesh and as such not native CAD geometry. "Something" has to be done to transform it into useful geometry in Fusion 360. Reducing the facet count is one such thing, although I am not recommending it. 

[chrisTVJG9]

The facet count wont harm it as it will be quite small, but as a solid I can do so much more with it and modify it as required, I can obviously 3D print it as it is as a .stl file but prefer it as a solid

Rather annoying in that the professional version automatically converts and not sure why they ban us hobby guys from that action option which is far more useful to us than the other more advanced options

[TheCADWhisperer]

@chrisTVJG9 

You did not really answer the question.

What material will you make the stamp out of?

How will you manufacture the stamp (are you really really going to 3D print it)?  If yes, how long would a 3D printed stamp last in stamping leather?

I would scale in free MeshMixer and close back face. I would be very reluctant to reduce mesh as you will lose detail.

You would have to make decision about how much is acceptable.

But bottom line - do you observe that there are no curves in the design?  Not one!  All planar triangular facets.

[chrisTVJG9]

The end result will be back to solid and 3d Printer in either PET-g or Nylon, both give a reasonable print and last well

[TrippyLighting]

---

@chrisTVJG9 wrote:

Rather annoying in that the professional version automatically converts and not sure why they ban us hobby guys from that action option which is far more useful to us than the other more advanced options

---

The paid subscription would not convert this either!

It can convert certain prismatic objects. Obviously, your object is not prismatic 😕

I created the video below a good while ago, but it still applies:

[chrisTVJG9 · Accepted solution]

Many thanks Peter, that gives me a lot to go on, so I will do some experimenting after watching the video a few more times

Many Thanks

Chris

[hfcandrew]

I made a sort of stamp, MM did some weird stuff with the triangles, but its watertight and printable, or the base is easy to further modify in MM.

Boolean failed for some reason. I think it was the jagged potentially non manifold boundary, I smoothed the edges with robust smooth sculpt brush then just put the model near an open 'box', made a few bridge connections, then inspector.

But that probably overkill. You slicer should be able to handle a reasonable slightly non-manifold model. So just extrude the base down until it intersects with your desired model stamp base.

[hfcandrew]

I tried the boolean again and this time it worked, I donno, thats MM for ya. Much cleaner result though. See attached.

[chrisTVJG9]

Many thanks, never used meshmixer will have to open it and have a play as never understood what its real purpose in life was. guess time for some Youtube lessons

Chris

[hfcandrew]

Basically:

Fusion for solids/CAD

MM for meshes/organic

[TrippyLighting]

---

@hfcandrew wrote:

Basically:

Fusion for solids/CAD

MM for meshes/organic

---

Amended :

MM for triangulated meshes/organic

TW-Splines and similarly Sub-D quad meshes can be done in Fusion 360, or Blender, or ....

The crux for many users, hobbyists and pros alike is figuring out which is which 😉