How to make a freeform model completely solid

[katherine.hannaford]

Hi,

I have given my freeform model internal thickness, but I need it to be completely solid, or have the end capped so I can add additional geometry such as a screw thread. How do I make the model completely solid or cap the end? My end goal is to have a model with a protruding threaded screw that is all 3D printed.

ipt file attached.

Many thanks

[Xun.Zhang · Accepted solution]

Howdy @katherine.hannaford  I see that you are visiting as a new member to the Inventor Forum.
Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

Just edit the freeform and delete all inside faces, make a sheet body and then stitch them together.

Check out the details from enclosed file. 

For the thread creation, threadModeler can help you out.

Or check out the solution from below link -

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/real-thread/td-p/7350554

Hope it helps!

[katherine.hannaford]

Thanks for the great links- when I get to that step, I shall try them out.

I removed all the interior faces, and applied a patch to close the form. Everytime I click on the Sheet metal tab, I get an error message as shown in the attached screenshot. How do remove the free form features to allow the sheet metal step to happen? 

Thanks so much

[Xun.Zhang]

Hello @katherine.hannaford,

I don't know why you have to convert such model to sheetmetal, however, Convert to sheetmetal is not allowed for a freeform body. 

You can export it to step and reimport in, try to convert then.

Hope it helps!

[katherine.hannaford]

Sorry, I misunderstood since you suggested making a sheet body- I don't know how to do that- but I could see sheet metal as an option in the ribbon.

How do I get to the point of making a solid body like you did? The freeform shape and patch are under the word sculpt in the file you sent me. I am not sure how you got there? I am quite new to Inventor.

many thanks

[Xun.Zhang]

Just open the attached file in the previous thread and can find the steps in the source file itself.

Here is a demo video to show how it works.

Hope it helps!

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

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@katherine.hannaford wrote:

Sorry, I misunderstood since you suggested making a sheet body...

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Boundary Patch

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi! Here is another solution using surface modeling workflows.

Many thanks!