How to use .stl and other mesh files in Inventor?

[Anonymous]

We are trying to use 3d scanned data in Inventor to help our design process. We don't need perfect and good looking 3d scanned models ready to produce, but we need some accurate measurements from holes and faces that we can use to design our own products.

So mine problem is: How I can get those scanned meshes to Inventor that I can get some dimensions from it, project some geometry to my sketches, add some constraints between scanned surface and mine designs, etc...?

I have tried some Add-Ins like Sycode's STLImport and Sycode's software called Mesh To Solid to get those mesh files open and I can open those "converted" files in Inventor, but those are only some kind of surfaces called Composite or Surface which consist of tiny triangles.

[mflayler]

...and that is about the quality you will get from any translator considering stl files are HIGHLY faceted surfaces and not quite the same as what the Inventor kernal uses.  I have a free add in I have been using for some time for this visual representation, but if you want true scanned and usable geometry you will probably have to go through an intermediatary like Geomagic first.

Here is a good look at the process:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7sMf7eDC_w

[Anonymous]

So there is no way to do solid models or "simpler surfaces" from mesh file in Inventor? Geomagic would be a nice software, but I think it's too expensive... So I'm looking for cheaper and simpler way to do this job.

Mark: Where did you get that free Add-In and what's the name of it?

[KevinLi-Autodesk]

Hi joni,

Very appreciate for your report about this, unfortunately this is a known limitation with the Inventor at the moment and we have already noticed this requirement and will do some enhancements in future release. I will log your issue into our tracking database and it will increase the possibility of this issue being enhanced in the future.

Regards,

Kevin Li

SQA Engineer

Autodesk, Inc.

[mflayler]

http://modthemachine.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/working-with-stl-and-obj-files.html

[Anonymous]

I have tried that Add-In too, but I didn't get it to work. When I pressed import button, picked up the .stl file and tried to import it nothing just happened and I don't know why?

[Anonymous]

The link below can tell you exactly how to go froma  mesh to a solid in ivnentor.

Let me know if it works and/or if you have any other questions

-Khash

[Anonymous]

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/inventor_mesh

[Anonymous]

Is there a way to import an STL file into Inventor 2014?  I need it to be a solid model, to add or subtract profiles to it. 

I checked out the mesh converter; I downloaded it but it says it needs Inventor 2013.

Any help would be appreicated.

Thank You.

[JDMather]

There is a 2014 version available for subscription customers here

http://apps.exchange.autodesk.com/INVNTOR/en/Detail/Index?id=appstore.exchange.autodesk.com%3ameshen...