Converting stl to solid with 3ds MAX

[piotrekdoro94]

Hi, Im trying to import .stl files to inventor. I cant use MeshEnabler or Fusion 360 so I've decided to do it with 3ds MAX. I've tried to convert my .stl to .sat format, but after succesfully stiching the sat file into a solid (i think) in Inventor I still can see what I think are mesh lines. I can't select any face and edit my model in any way.

Can you help me come up with a proper workflow?

I'm attaching an original stl model, sat model created with 3ds MAX and ipt created in Inventor

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

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@piotrekdoro94 wrote:

1. ... I still can see what I think are mesh lines.  

2. I can't select any face and edit my model in any way.

3. Can you help me come up with a proper workflow?

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1. STL is triangular faceted planar faces - no curves, not one.  Those are the edges of planar faces.

2. Your file looks fine to me (for a converted stl faceted rubbish).  The Direct Edit tools work fine on your  model.

3. Model from scratch in Inventor rather than import faceted stl rubbish.

1b. I suspect that you are not familiar with the geometry of stl files.  It is always triangular planar facets coarsely representing curves (in this case cylinders and a helix).  Fusion 360 has some tools for interpolating the triangular facets as cylinders, but I would wager that Fusion will not interpolate the helix geometry.  And there will be no sketch/feature history - editing can only be done with Direct Editing techniques.

Edit: Also, watch your units.  STL is unitless so you have to Import into correct unit file or scale.

Well, I tried in Fusion 360 and as I suspected it did not convert the Helical geometry...

[mcgyvr]

Why can't you use Mesh Enabler? Makes the process simple. 

[piotrekdoro94]

I work on an old (2016) Design Suite with permanent licence. I'm not a subscriber so I can't download add-ons

[piotrekdoro94]

I've tried direct edit as you suggested and it did work, at least on flat faces on the bottom of the part. I guess what I was hoping for was some kind of smoothing like in prismatic mesh conversion in Fusion 360 or the ability to sketch on those tessellated faces, which should be possible since they are all flat triangles.

Thread converted fine enough for 3D printing. I have a bunch of these stl files and as a workaround I've had to simply create workplanes using exposed mesh vertices. I guess that's a fine enough solution for me, thank you for help.