Slow and crashing

[jpmxrider489]

The program runs extremly slow when working on larger files or a mesh with a lot of triangles. Simple things like cutting, extruding, converting are slow. Sometimes its so slow I restart or the app freezes. I believe the issue lies because its a cloud based system? The program is almost unusable. I have the latest driver and I prioritized performance. Computer is a ryzen 9 5950x, rtx3090, 32gb ram, and using a ssd.

I tried uploading a f3d file but its to large. 

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@jpmxrider489 wrote:

The program runs extremly slow when working on larger files or a mesh with a lot of triangles.

I believe the issue lies because its a cloud based system? 

I tried uploading a f3d file but its to large. 

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Nope!

The issue is you are attempting to edit rubbish.

Try Autodesk MeshMixer, but might not get anywhere there either.

[hfcandrew]

Even a 'good' .stl is rubbish, as noted by Meshmixer's creator Ryan Schmidt: 

"As mentioned in the Import Formats topic, STL is the worst mesh format, ever. Here is why. Inside Meshmixer..."

"The canonical 3D printing format. Unfortunately this is also just about the worst way to store a mesh! "

Source: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MSHMXR/2019/ENU/?guid=GUID-A2B92145-066E-473B-ADE3-2226E547EF8E

haha!

Anyways yes if your mesh non-manifold, or being interpreted wrong on import, or even its its perfect, but just large (like 100K+ triangles) Fusion struggles. Meshmixer should run it fine though.

[jpmxrider489]

Do you happen to have a link to mesh mixer? So unfortunately, most of the things I do come as STLs. So if the stl is the worst format, is there a converter or another process that I should try? 

[jpmxrider489]

Found meshmixer. Ill give it a go and report back. 

[jpmxrider489]

So I am a little confused on when to use this tool/program. Is it to replace fusion or replace cura? Or to be used with fusion or another? Im going to need to learn as this look pretty in depth from the outside. 

[hfcandrew]

Use Meshmixer to edit/modify/repair any pre-existing .stl. The program is really really good at this. Anything is possible.

In every other CAD scenario use Fusion.

[jpmxrider489]

So I find a STL that i put in fusion to modify. Meaning, I may cut a side to make shorter or extending something. So ill convert the mesh into a body and make modifications that way. This is where fusion is completely unusable due to the freezes and lack of computing. So what would be best used to do this task or maybe a better process?

I only use the student/trial version. But for a expensive program like this, the trial is lacking. 

[HughesTooling]

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@jpmxrider489 wrote:

I believe the issue lies because its a cloud based system? 

I tried uploading a f3d file but its to large. 

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Fusion's design workspace is not cloud based, only the file system, generative design, rendering, and a few other features can be offloaded to the cloud.

Fusion is not a mesh editor if you want to mess around with meshes use a mesh based program, Blender perhaps. You are really wasting your time trying to convert big meshes to faceted bodies and edit them in Fusion.

Mark

[hfcandrew]

Meshmixer can do whatever you need. Blender too, but Blender is not near as intuitive and user friendly.

This forum can only upload files up to 75MB, so if your file is bigger than that, upload to a file share (google drive etc) and post the share link here.

[jpmxrider489]

Seems like meshmixer and RevoStudio (for my scanner) take the STLs but you cant make precise adjustments. But what if you want to cut 4mm of one area to make flush with another area.  

Its not that I want to play with STL files. That just happens to be the most common when finding files in the 3d printer world.  I search thingerverse and printables.  This is one of the files I am trying to work on by combining different aspects to another version I found. After converting the mesh to a solid. I then sketch a square to extrude to make a flat cut so i have a surface to work with. Is there a better program, method, or way?

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5505087

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@jpmxrider489 wrote:

Is there a better .. …, method, or way?

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Yes, model your own high quality geometry rather than attempting to use someone else’s rubbish.

[jpmxrider489]

That kind of stuff is above my skill level. That is why I choose the process I do. So is there anything else I can do?

[hfcandrew]

Yes it is a real shame these websites operate under the sharing of an exported .stl file instead of the native CAD. It can make even simple edits hard.

For not very complex geometry like this you could remodel (reverse engineers) this in Fusion in like 30 mins, or if you have a paid subscription, convert it.

However if that is above your Fusion skill level, or financial means, Meshmixer can still do the precise edits/cuts/alignments/extrudes/scaling etc you need.

Any new software takes a few days to learn.

If you post a more detailed video of what you are trying to do I'll hopefully be able to show you how to do it in Meshmixer.

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@jpmxrider489 wrote:

That kind of stuff is above my skill level. That is why I choose the process I do. So is there anything else I can do?

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Yes, learn how to use Fusion 360 step-by-step.

Fortunately this is relatively simple geometry.

Ready to start?

[jpmxrider489]

Its sort of misleading when websites give you a STL with the expectation of editing like I'm trying to do. I normally try and create a mesh sketch so I have a idea of where the holes and stuff need to be then make my own body from that. The model I uploaded is what I made. It is 3 different STLs that got Plane Cut then edited each to fit my need. Then I combine to get what you see here. If its one big body/mesh, its to much for the pc to do. This is my "reverse engineering".

I have the student version of fusion. 

I know this is a Autodesk forum, but that's why I asked if there was a more suited program. But I will give MeshMixer a try. Like you said, it takes time to learn. 

This model is finished and is functional but definitely feel like I didn't achieve it by the most efficient method.  

The video is just trying to show a example of what the program will do. What isn't shown in the capture is the left side going black screen. I dont know why its not in the capture. Sometimes it will finish the process. Sometimes it will say to close the program. Sometimes I just simply get tired of waiting and restart.  The video is just me converting mesh. But the same thing happens when doing things like extruding, cutting, combining, ect. 

I would not mind having a little how to in meshmixer. In fusion, its easy to see the square I'm extruding/cutting and I don't really see how meshmixer will do this type of thing. But I have only played with it for a little. Didn't have much time with the holiday. But this skill is something I want to learn. 

[jpmxrider489]

Of course Im ready to start LOL. 

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@jpmxrider489 wrote:

Of course Im ready to start LOL. 

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@jpmxrider489 

Download and Open the Attached file.

Turn on the visibility of the Origin.

Start a New Sketch on the XY Plane.

Sketch and dimension these lines relative to the Origin as shown (Mesh body Visibility turned off for clarity.)

(Tip:  I used the Line command to create the lines.  I used the Dimension command to add the dimensions.  Nothing complex.)

Attach your completed work for next set of steps.

[jpmxrider489]

I uploaded the file. The mesh while sketching doesn't look like your image. I also was able to type the dimensions you have but when I try to make it without knowing your info, the dimensions are off a few. I believe Im doing it wrong. 

[TheCADWhisperer]

@jpmxrider489 

To get started we will have to do only ONE line at a time and then we can pick up speed.

1. Download the file again and we will start over.

2. Expand the Bodies folder.

3. Click on the eyeball for the Biqu_h2 imported mesh to temporarily turn off the Visibility.

4. Start a New Sketch on the XY plane.

5. Click on the Origin Visibility if it is not already visible.

6. Sketch ONE vertical line to the left of the Origin.

7. Add the three dimensions show (don't confuse the extension line (shown here as blue) as sketch lines - you don't need to sketch these - Fusion will add the Extension lines for the dimensions automatically. 

Attach the progress file here.

If this is still too tricky to sketch ONE line - I will create a video of the process.