Exporting STL on INVENTOR 2018 will not save modified assemblies

[Anonymous]

When I open an existing IAM I can export it to an STL but when I modify that same IAM and export it as an STL it allows me to do it but when I go to the file where I saved exported it to it is not there?  I tried this on multiple machines and I am getting the same issue?  It allows me to do it but it isn't actually exporting the file.  I tried exporting it to the desktop, it allows me to do that also but it is not on the desktop after doing so either?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[JDMather]

Can you attach the assembly here that exhibits this behavior?

Can you create a Screencast recording of the behavior?

[Anonymous]

This is the file I having the problem with, I can't do a screen cast though.  I can do this on my other laptop with INVENTOR 2014 but I can not do it with 2018?

[Anonymous]

I have tried other files as well.  What I am doing is splitting this IAM with a plane then extruding half of the IAM and then trying to export it as an STL to print.  I can still do it in 2014 but not 2018

Thanks for your help

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

This is the file I having the problem with,...

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No part files attached?

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have tried other files as well. 

What I am doing is splitting this IAM with a plane then extruding half of the IAM and then trying to export it as an STL to print.  I can still do it in 2014 but not 2018

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Have you tried with a single *.ipt file, perhaps of a simple cube?

I cut an assembly as you describe and saved it as stl in 2018 without any issues.

Have you installed Service Pack 1 for 2018?

[Anonymous]

I did try with an individual IPT no problems, I do not know about service pack 1 I will have to find ask if they did that before they created the image for our computers.

Thank you for your help, it is greatly appreciated

[JDMather]

Are you aware that an assembly must have parts to be of any use?

Your iProperties indicates 2014 Service Pack 0.

The translation report indicates Creo file with many errors?

[Anonymous]

I downloaded a STP file and this is how it comes in.  I only need to print the individual parts.  I have done this many times before with 2014 but my students are now using 2018.  It comes in as an entire assembly but you can not 3D print it whole so we cut the parts in half and print them all individually so that they will come out on the 3D printer.  We simply delete the individual parts we dont want to print then save as an STL,  We do not need the assemblies for any other purpose other than 3D printing.

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I downloaded a STP file and this is how it comes in.  .....

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You still have not attached any part files or the STEP file.

My guess is that you have errors that can be fixed, but you must have unambiguous solid bodies before you are going to get a valid stl.

An assembly file (*.iam) is merely a list of hyperlinks (and a bit more) of where to find the part files.  Without the part files - the assembly file you attached here is absolutely worthless (other than the fact that I was able to determine that you had a poor import of a CREO translation that you failed to mention in your problem description).

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, I don't even know what a CREO translation is?  I went back to using 2014 and finished all the other parts and created valid STL files from the assembly files without part files.  People have been doing that a long time, then were able to print them all out on our Fusion3 printer. Unfortunately because I opened the rear head file in 2018 it now tells  me it can not find that part.  I tried doing this with another assembly I created and then brought into 2018 and I got the same thing.  I guess the thing to do now for my purposes is to make sure I don't open any of these downloads on 2018.  I wish I knew more so I could help you help me.  These are some of the type reasons schools are going to solidworks and other softwares because of these non retro issues but our school has advocated to keep teaching Autodesk INVENTOR as it's the most powerful.

I anyone else knows how to modify a part of an assembly in 2018 would love to hear it.  Till then we will keep 2014 for this process alone.

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

These are some of the type reasons schools are going to solidworks and other softwares ...

I'm sorry, I don't even know what a CREO translation is?

...created valid STL files from the assembly files without part files.  People have been doing that a long time

 I wish I knew more so I could help you help me.  

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SolidWorks assembly files without part files are useless.

Here is an example https://forum.solidworks.com/thread/211280

Many years ago, CREO used to be known as Pro/E.

Here is an example https://www.ptc.com/en/cad/creo

In CREO, assembly files without part files are useless.

No, you are mistaken - an assembly without parts cannot be used to create an stl file.  I will post video explanation when I get a chance.

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

Turn on your sound.

[Anonymous]

Awesome explanation, I tried to download the screencast program so I could show you what I am doing but I have to get an IT person to do it as it wont let me, but I will.  The reason that link is no good is because I used to be familiar with PTC wildfire about 10 years ago, but not proficient, thanks for the explanation.  I understand the whole parts, links, assembly process and so on.  I have been doing it with INVENTOR for about 5 years as a PLTW teacher. I have downloaded STP files from the internet, openened them in INVENTOR and then deleted individual parts from the assembly and then modified an existing part and then exported it to an STL file and printed it.  When I try this in 2018 though, it lets me do all that no problem, then I export to STL like usual... No problems then when I look for the file I exported there is nothing there?  It's crazy...
 
I will get some type of screencast app on Monday and record it so you can see what I mean.  That particular file was a bad choice to attach, I opened that IAM in 2014, then opened that individual assembly or part of the original IAM in 2018 and then it wont open again in 2014.

Thank you for all your patience

[Anonymous]

Okay, problem has been resolved - The problem was that I did not bring in the original STP file in 2018, I downloaded the STP file again, brought the STP file in to 2018 and followed all the same procedures and everything works just like it used to.  Apparently until the original file is either converted to 2018 or all done from the same version you get the problem I had.

Thanks for taking all the time to respond and help me out.

[Anonymous]

I thought I had the problem resolved but I am back to square one with having a problem with that same head.  I am working on the screencast now

[Anonymous]

This is the STP file and I was able to do a screencapture, I do not have a microphone though unfortunately.  The two heads are different, the front one I have no problems with but the rear one will not let me do an extrusion to split thew head into 2 separate files the way the front one does.  The problem head has a sphere attached to it and seems to me to be the root of my problem possibly?

[Anonymous]

This is a screen capture of the other head and what I want to do with but can not accomplish - possibly this screencapture will help explain my problem now

[Anonymous]

And this is the screen cast of the head that wont let me do it.

[Anonymous]

I was finally able to add the screen casts, below at the bottom of the replies.