Convert from STL to Solid Body?

[d.c.123]

Hi,

I've received a model of a part from a supplier. The file is an STL. I can convert it to surfaces, but I can't get it to turn into a solid.

The part has errors with Duplicate Vertices and Intersecting Faces, but I don't know how to correct these problems. Please see attached file and screenshot.

Thanks for your help.

[YannickEnrico]

I don't know of a better way, than to import as separate surfaces and work your way through it.

You can import as individual surfaces and work on one at a time. If you make sure they aren't translucent, you can easily see what is open. Then introduce boundary patches and surface modelling and stitch it together one piece at a time.

[James_Willo]

Hi, it will only become a solid if every hole is patched and unfortunately this can take some time to do. The best option is to get a different file from your supplier in STEP for instance. If you're having problems patching everything, sometimes Fusion is better with mesh geometry.

[CCarreiras]

Hi!

There's a lot of issues in this part: missing faces, overlapping, etc.
it will be hard and time consuming to fix... but it's always possible to fix it.

[CCarreiras]

Anyway, you can use it in assemblies, apply constraints or use it as a reference to design other parts.

[JDMather]

@d.c.123 

What version of Inventor are you using?

BTW:  *.stp and *.stl are two very very different file types.

You mentioned stl but Attached stp

(stp is generally superior to stl)