Why do .Stl files have so many extra lines

[champshire91]

When I upload a stl file to fusion 360 it comes as a mesh and I turn it into a regular object and it still has like a bunch of extra lines throughout the whole thing. Why does it do this? Is there any way to fix it? Thanks!

[TheCADWhisperer]

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

[jeff_strater]

STL is a triangle mesh format.  That means the shape is totally composed of triangles, called facets.  It is just the nature of that format.  There is no easy way to convert a mesh to a BRep (short for "boundary representation"), which is the native format of Fusion (and most CAD products).  In a solid BRep, the boundary is defined by precise mathematical definitions of surfaces such as planes, cylinders, spheres, etc.  You can easily convert BRep to mesh (in fact, that is how the graphics card is able to display a BRep, since it cannot display these surfaces natively).  But, the other way is very hard.  So, the automatic conversion just produces one face per mesh facet.  The result is pretty useless, IMO.  So, you will often see the experts on this forum say:  Don't ever start with a downloaded mesh, unless you just want to print it.  And if that is your goal, you don't need Fusion, as all 3D print slicers directly understand STLs and other mesh formats.

[champshire91]

Thanks for the explanation! This makes sense. I was trying to edit a file from printables to make it more to my liking. Trying to do that, would that be easier by re building the whole model? Thanks!

[g-andresen]

Hi,

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@champshire91  schrieb:

 Trying to do that, would that be easier by re building the whole model? Thanks!

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Yes!!!

günther

[TrippyLighting]

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@champshire91 wrote:

... would that be easier by re building the whole model? Thanks!

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Absolutely!!!

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@champshire91 wrote:

…would that be easier by re building the whole model?

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@champshire91 
I typically only use stl for reference in recreating proper geometry from scratch.

Since you had to ask the questions I am going to assume you don’t have much experience.

I’m going to suggest the absolute easiest technique - Attach the file here and one of the experts here will model the geometry for you and explain (in the form of a History Timeline recipe and perhaps with a video) how it’s done.  Can’t get any easier or more efficient than that.

[champshire91]

Ok thanks! I know about parametric timelines if that is what you are talking about. Is that what you were talking about? Thanks!

[TheCADWhisperer]

@champshire91 

I was talking about Attaching your attempt here so that the experts here can demonstrate the most efficient technique for solving this type of problem.

[champshire91 · Accepted solution]

ok I will do that when I get home. Thanks!