Intersect plane with mesh?

aaron_everman · January 21

Hi Everyone,

I imported a 3d scan stl file of a power tool battery pack. Is it possible to create some section curves from the mesh by intersecting it with a plane at different heights? I was thinking this would help me model some of the geometry I need for a 3d printing project.

eric_pesty · January 21

You can split the mesh along a plane though, this will give you a face you can sketch on and allows you to use the edges (I think…)

jelte_steur814 · January 21

it would be cleaner just to make those planes, open the sketches, make a section cut and trace it yourself with lines/arcs. that'll make a lot cleaner geometry.
else try the 'intersect' command in the sketch. (not sure it works with meshes)

MDesign · January 21

It doesn't.

eric_pesty · January 21

You can split the mesh along a plane though, this will give you a face you can sketch on and allows you to use the edges (I think…)

MDesign · January 21

That does indeed work. good thinking.

https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/comment/112603#Comment_112603

aaron_everman · January 22

Yeah, I was able to split the mesh with a plane and then project the new mesh edges onto a sketch. Kind of a round about process but it does work. It seems weird that one can split a mesh but not intersect a mesh with a plane.

GregBrown · January 22

Yes, you can split the Mesh part (whether it is watertight or not) using a Plane. It maybe necessary to Enclose the the split part and plane(s)… Once you have a solid part you can, as @eric_pesty mentions, sketch on it and Use the edges.

Quick example: This mesh has been split into various sections. Note it is useful to have Highlight boundary edges turned ON. Better still, make a custom keyboard shortcut (mine is shift-6) to toggle in on and off :)