Combining Multiple Derived Bodies

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I've gotten myself into a real bind. I have previously created a model for 3D printing, however, the pattern maker notified me the file needs to be cut with a CNC. I've been working to migrate the 3D print .OBJ files through Fusion 360 to make them .STP files, and now have all pieces in Inventor, but am now totally lost on how to clean them up to combine into a single, solid body.

Attached is the main Full Breast file and a few of parts files that are derived into the main file (since I can only add 3 attachments). Any tips on how to combine these bodies? Any better way to recreate the bodies to combine them?

Thanks so much for any suggestions. 

[Anonymous]

Added more attachments.

[Anonymous]

Last parts.

[swalton]

Without opening your files....

1. Start a new assembly file (.iam)
2. Place the logical starting component at the assembly origin.
   1. Use Ground and Root, or flush constraints between the part origin planes and the assembly planes.
3. Add each additional component to the assembly file
   1. Use constraints or joints to position and lock all 6 degrees of freedom of the components
   2. Add work features or other geometry to the individual part files to help make the constraints if necessary.
4. Save the assembly frequently
5. When done, start a new part file
6. Use the Derive command to bring in the assembly file to the part.
   1. Set the command to product a single merged body.
7. Export this last part file into a format your vendor can use.

Are your files faceted messes from .stl exports?  If so, you may need to remodel from scratch to get nice smooth curves for the CNC pattern.

[swalton]

You might look at the Combine command to merge all the solid bodies in the Full Breast part.

Is the scale right?  These seem small.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! There is a simple way to get what you want. You can simply start a new part and import the assembly STEP file. Then all the "parts" become solid bodies. Then you can use Mirror Body to mirror all the bodies.

Is this what you were looking for?

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply,@swalton! I need to try the assembly file to bring the parts together. Luckily, I converted all the parts to BRep formats in Fusion 360 from mesh, so they're not all faceted messes anymore. Haha.

The major problem I'm running into is the piping doesn't connect cleanly/overlap with the base body. Initially the pieces were going to be flat surfaces for 3D printing, not solid forms for joining. So there's gaps between the pipes and the body and the piping doesnt align perfectly to edges in some cases (screenshot attached). Again, these were all going to be trimmed in the 3D surface file, but converting it to a solid for CNC is what caused the design issues.

Anyway to easily fill the gaps and trim the "extra" bits from the piping to align the edges?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply, @johnsonshiue! I think that's similar to the solution @swalton offered above. This will probably work when I get the design right. I'm running into gaps/alignment issues with the piping to the main body as they were originally designed to be flat 3D printing surfaces and not solids.

Any suggestions on cleaning up issues with solids like this?

 

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have previously created a model for 3D printing... 

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Exactly what program did you use to create the ORIGINAL geometry?

Do you still have the ORIGINAL geometry?

If so, can you Attach that file(s) here?