How to make model from

[pavol.rak9]

Hi everyone, I have a problem with my dwg file. I have dwg file with mesh which representig 3D object. Now I need from ths "3D" object create an actual 3D body. It is posible make an extrusion. I try to project dwg geometry make an extrusion but I'm not able to crop the 3D body around this geometry. I would appreciate if anyone has a solution.

Picture for illustration

[SharkDesign]

You can't. Inventor has very limited mesh editing.

To quote Johnson on another thread:

"you can use Mesh Enabler on Inventor App Store to convert Mesh to Brep. Also, you try it on Mesh Design in Fusion 360, which has extensive mesh modeling workflows."

[cadman777]

Can you post the file?
Best if it is a pointcloud.

In addition to JW's comments, you can use another software to do the work (not Autodesk).

Some are public domain, others are very expensive.

The key is going from pointcloud > mesh > surfaces > solids.

The better the pointcloud, the better the mesh.

The key is jumping from mesh to surface.

Maybe you can do it using Rhino3d?
Let me try w/your pointcloud or mesh.

[pavol.rak9]

Hi I attached the file with the mesh because I cannot find dhe pointcloud file. If it not posible create the solid from this file please let me know which type of file is apropriate for this type of work, because I am new in this field.

Thank you so much

[JDMather]

What is your goal with this geometry?

I suspect this is more appropriate for something like >>Civil3D<<.

[cadman777]

Thanx for posting that file.

DWG is not a good file format to use to try to process this data.

You need an original data file in a generic format such as OBJ.

The pointcloud is the best option, whereas the mesh is the 2nd best option.

Any chance you can post an original generic format like OBJ, TXT, or STL?

[pavol.rak9]

Yes I have TXT file but in other computer so when I reach uot the file I can upload it here. Whole Idea of this is have 3D body for CNC machine. BUt I need to do some changes so this is reason why I need a 3D model not only the geometry or the pincloud.

[cadman777]

@pavol.rak9: OK, makes sense.

@JDMather: Good point. Only thing is, I read on the forums that Civil3d takes around 5 years to learn how to use competently, that is, with good training and daily use. There's plenty of Civil3d work around here, so a few years ago I thought I'd learn it. But it was WAY too much work. So I decided against it. Same with Revit...piles and piles of work. But you have to work w/the Architectural firms who only want you for this or that part of Revit, so it was another gigantic steep learning curve with not much ROI.

[cadman777]

Besides that, all the miscellaneous steel is done by detailers who used other software like Inventor, SW or Tekla.

[pavol.rak9]

@cadman777Here is the .txt file

[cadman777]

Thanx.

So let's take this in pm b/c it's now off the Inventor topic.

Everything from here on out will be other software.

I'll message you.

[swalton]

I've been following this thread because I need to learn how to convert point cloud data to something useful in Inventor.

There are many service bureaus in my area, but they focus on construction scans and don't offer a complete service.

My needs are a bit different: I want to scan 50'x10'x15' objects with enough precision to make mating parts match existing 1/2" diameter bolt holes.

Even though other software may be required, I think that there is value in continuing the public discussion.  Even if the disscussion is moved to PM, please post a summary of the workflow, once all the details are worked out.

[SharkDesign]

Check your Autodesk account subscription, there is a good chance you have
Recap which is designed for point clouds. You might be able to use this to
convert it to something more useful for you.
I have a couple of files i was going to try in recap but not had chance to
ask IT support to install it for me yet.

https://accounts.autodesk.com/
Click on the top right for the menu and there's an option to see what
products you have.

[swalton]

I tried Recap Pro.  It converted the point cloud into a format the Inventor understands, but the resulting file was not what I expected.

Inventor can snap workplanes to various point collections, but it can't understand curved surfaces.  I could find the flap of a cardboard box in the scan or the facility floor, but not any bolts on the pipe flanges or the axis of a pressure vessel.  

Anyway, I may just need to find the correct scanning service and have them come out to our facility 2-4 times a year.

[SharkDesign]

It's not really what inventor is for. Yes you can bring point clouds in,
but it's more of a token gesture for referencing. It's the wrong type of
data to be doing much else with.
I think it's really more for point clouds of rooms you want to put your
stuff into rather than components. But I might be wrong.

[gcoombridge]

@swalton I've used 3DReshaper which gives you much more control than Recap. Pointfuse had the best result I've seen for a mesh.

Convert point cloud to Mesh, 3D Model | Point Cloud Software (pointfuse.com)

3DReshaper | Leica Geosystems (leica-geosystems.com)

I've seen a demonstration of Geomagic DesignX years ago and that looked pretty useful:

Geomagic Design X | Scan to CAD Software for Reverse Engineering (artec3d.com)

No doubt none of them are cheap...

[cadman777]

The people who sent me surfaces from point clouds done in Recap were mostly general arrangements of either plant areas or exteriors of buildings. They were used to make platforms and stairs, or make ramps and walkways, etc. Most of them got their scans using a Faro Lidar laser scanner. But for scanning mechanical things, you need something else, and you certainly can't use Recap to process that data!

And you're correct that the price point is ridiculous for most scanner processing software. I got a deal on my David/HP for $500 bux back in the day. It's on a thumbdrive dongle, so it's not subject to license restrictions. It's got its uses, but it's still limited.

[gcoombridge]

One thing I liked about Pointfuse (and it's something to consider with any meshing workflow) is that it had the ability to decimate the mesh by the relative angles between triangles automatically. I mostly work on plant piping projects and it was able to differentiate between the floor (minimum triangles) and a pipe surface (high density triangles) to effectively concentrate on where the detail is needed. Either way meshes slow inventor considerably. 

It would be nice to be able to include point clouds in Inventor drawings (as AutoCAD and Revit can). Meshes can be included but don't tend to display well.

[cadman777]

Oh, OK, no worries, I'll give it a go when I'm finished.

One thing I discovered if doing big things with some detail needed is, your scan will have to be done using both Lidar and handheld. You do the Lidar to get the overall, and then go to the handscan to get the detailed sections. I read a real good paper on it on the Creaform web site a number of years ago.

Also, the guys around here who do process plants with vessels, structures and piping use only lidar. Then they process it in a special software that helps with somewhat automatic recognition of pipes, fittings and structural members. But there's a price for all of that. I believe the software was sold by the local Faro dealer for around $16k extra on top of the cost of the Lidar scanner.

[cadman777]

That's usually what people do, due to the price and learning curve of doing it yourself.

All the guys I know who do such service are really talented at it.

Compared to them, I'm just a hacker.

It's mostly b/c I don't have the expensive software though...