Unwanted Edges- cannot delete!!

[stevetinter1]

I have a weird issue. I modified a design that I imported from a STEP file that some one gave me. I have attached a sketch and also the 3fd file to show what I mean.

I modified the design and scaled and did some operations to make it how I want it to look. Now I have an unwanted edge that shows up in wireframe view and also shading with visible edges view. It does not who up in render view. Now - I can select that edge, I can seemingly delete that edge but it never actually goes away? is there anyway to force the deletion of that edge? Does it really matter as it does not who up in renders and seemingly has no impact on the shape of my solid object at all.

Screenshot showing the line.

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

That edge does not matter to your design.  Sometimes, you will see these kinds of "seam edges" in closed surfaces like this.  I've not seen one that looks exactly like this, but if this design came in from STEP, it could well be an artifact of the source CAD system, or the STEP translation in/out.

There seems to be no way to get rid of it that I can see at the moment.

[stevetinter1]

That is reassuring - I was worried it might mess up when I got to get this solid machined. Thanks.

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

I did find a way to get rid of this edge, using a clever technique I learned recently - cut away some material, then delete the new faces created by the cut, and if you are careful, the model will heal itself nicely:

So, if you really want to get rid of it, you can use this method.

[stevetinter1 · Accepted solution]

That is one very cool out of the box solution. Brilliant!!!

[intelinc]

This issue had been driving me nuts on imported .step files. These extraneous edges can cause a lot of errors when modifying faces. Thanks for the simple but effective hack!

[pawelwod]

Sometimes edge is created even you are not importing any step file. It's enough to convert your model to DM and back.

The edge (or some other invisible object there) is messing with the model to the level you are unable to modify it properly. Like in screens bellow. If you cut a squere containing "ghosty" edge is there you are left with some artifact. Only cutting it two direction will remove this artefact as well. See attached screenshots.

Edit: Just checked that extruding distance of -0.0003973348229280304 mm removes this artifact and -0.0003973348229280303 mm does not. You really should check you math there 😄