Loft problem in reverse engineering application

[Anonymous]

Good day all,

I have been experiencing a problem with the loft command while trying to reverse engineer a pump liner and would greatly appreciate help or input. The liner was 3D scanned in Polyworks and sketch outlines were drawn and imported into Inventor using a PWSF plugin. The sketches were recognized with dimensions. 

In essence I need to loft 4 sections in an almost circular closed loop. I found that using a single rail and manual transitions I get the best result. For some reason however, the space between the sketches that should be empty are filled in with a solid. Inventor does not allow me to cut these sections out using the loft function again. Does anyone have any advice on how to solve this issue? I have attached pitures to illustrate the problem.

 I'm using Inventor Professional 2014

[CCarreiras]

Doesn't let you use again Why?

The sketches are under the first loft you use, Share the sketch, or put the visibilty for each one on.

[Anonymous]

I have tried this but for some reason the "OK" button is greyed out when I select the regions I want to cut out with a rail intersecting all four sketches? The attachment shows this.

[JDMather]

I don't see a *.ipt file attached here - so I am going to guess that you have more than one solid body and Inventor is waiting for you to select the solid body on which you wish the cut to have effect.

I see a lot of extraneous geometry that I would never expect to see in a file?

I see what I would expect to be a Revolution rather than Loft (even if a portion should be Loft)?

I recommend that you attach your *.ipt file here and indicate your level of experience/training and release of Inventor that you are using.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for replying, I am using release: 2014RTM Update 2 build 170. The extraneous sketches were imported from Polyworks (3d scanning program) and I will have to use it to complete the reverse engineering of the part. I have attached the .ipt. I have attached another picture showing the strange undesired geomtery in the centre of the part.

I truly appreciate you help!

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for replying, I am using release: 2014RTM Update 2 build 170. ,..

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iProperties of the file would seem to indicate that you have not install the Service Packs.

Go to Help>About Inventor and verify that you have installed all Service Packs and Updates for 2014.

As I suspected - you have multiple solid bodies in the file.

Sketch1 is not constrained (most of the sketches are not constrained.)

Lots of extraneous geometry that is not needed.

Lofted features where Revolve should be used (only a portion of the involute body need be loft any feature that could be turned on a lathe (and in fact I will wager is turned on a lathe) should be Revolve feature).

[CCarreiras · Accepted solution]

Hi!

Is this what you seek?

[CCarreiras]

Hi!

Here is my attempt in 2014.

[Anonymous]

Hi, Yes yes yes! How did you manage that? I am busy updating my service packs, do you think that using a not up to date version might have caused the error? Thank you so much for the help, kave been struggling for ages! 

[Anonymous]

Everything is perfect thank you!

[CCarreiras]

Hi!

The question was in the rails. Also, instead one only loft, i made 2.

[Anonymous]

I have almost finished the model but I can't figure out how to remove the inlet section that protrudes into the volute. I had to use a sweep for the inlet section but I cant sweep "to next" which would have been ideal. Can you think of any way to remove this section? I tried to remove it with a loft but I can'tremove the exact same shape.

My attempt using loft

I know this is happening because I only used two sketches instead of all four but Inventor wont allow me to loft with all four.

[CCarreiras]

Hi!

I will send you the file in a couple of minutes... when you receive it, go to sketch 15 and repair it (make first a copy of the file).

Note: When you the see the red cross glowing, repair the issue asap, if not, you will have always sick features later.

[JDMather]

Something like this?

[Anonymous]

I'm using Inventor 2014 so I'm getting a reading RSE stream error when I try to open the file

[CCarreiras · Accepted solution]

Hi!

You have to start using surfaces, boolean operations, multisolid mode ... you will have new powerfull possibilitiesfor these kind of geometry!! 🙂

File attached. V.2014

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much Carlos, I will start learning about surfaces, boolean operations, multisolid mode asap. Cheers from South Africa! 

[rdyson]

Easiest way to remove the unwanted bits is Delete Face with Heal