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Working with imported step file
jayne_parker
Member Posts: 6 ✭
hello all, long time lurker and first time posting 😀
I’m trying to create a mini body that I can 3D print in 1/12 scale. I’ve found and collated step files to give the outline I need and modified to suit. But the file is just planes with zero thickness. I’ve tried to thicken (to 2mm) and all the other methods I can think of, but no joy. Does anyone have any bright ideas on how I can make this work?
Also (secondary question!) is there a method to combine all the separate planes into one continuous surface?
TIA 😃
0
Answers
Went to a car show last summer and saw some original Austin Minis. I don't think you need to scale it. It should fit on your desk at full size.😜 Had forgotten how tiny they were.
It would help to post a link to your document for review if you can.
I think my previous reply has disappeared… see the link below:
I have tried and some of the faces will thicken and some not! 😖
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/4513f2bad3a5e7c9806cd7b3/w/ffa8d076b52f6f726086f4b2/e/12790925ae1021cb1f50de97
The source of this model is likely some subdivision modeler for a rendering, which is not great for mechanical CAD or creating anything for 3D printing. The surfaces are very densely parameterized in awkward ways, and the topology is awkward. For instance instead of large simple surfaces with small fillets at the panel gaps, the surfaces include some very tight curvature at the edges. It will be impossible to thicken these directly as the minimum curvature of the surfaces massively exceeds the thickness that you're trying to achieve. Your best bet is to manually create some flanges on the edges of the outer surfaces and then through fills/lofts/extrudes/boundary surfaces - create the insides. The inside surfaces don't need to be exact offsets, but just something that can be 3D printed.
You may already be doing this, but "highlight boundary edges" under the view menu can also help you find/see some of the defects in the model. The A-pillar comes down into the body and has a break in the surfaces. Also below the boot, there's a gap.
Showing curvature (shift-C) on the surfaces will show some of the extremes in radius which prevents offsets from working. Here's the B pillar. Also, notice that right above the highlighted surface is a "star point" where 5 surfaces come together. This kind of topology is likely to cause issues.
The fills that you've created to glue the panels together are also all not ideal for thickening.
Looks painful to do. ha. no special tricks. I'd probably edit the individual pieces as you've done… delete all the faces except the outer face to be thickened but don't thicken it. then insert those pieces as you've done and bridge the gaps with new surfaces. and then when thicken it and when it doesn't work find a trouble area and split/delete/reconstruct the area with new surfaces. repeat till thicken works.. best I can think of atm.
Thanks both for the great replies.
I'm thinking that as I only need a basic outline as a representation of an '80s Ministock i'll create a simple version that is much easier to alter. 😀
Making scaled down models of cars even from the original high quality surfaces is a pain. We've been doing that in the past, to mill or print them. Even an experienced professional surafae modeller (using catia/ cem) usually required more than a week pder car to get it done properly. It is not impossible, but just a lot of detail work.
So, S1mon is ceetainly right. Taken them on one by one, rebuild a lot. Think in greater shapes first, only then add the details. You don't need these on the inside, so reconsider the thickening idea.
Use what you have as an outline for new simplified surfaces
I started again and this is where I got to… not half bad I think and 3D printed ok. Still have a few mods to get the fit perfect. But I learned so much 😃
Woah! Very nice. Congrats. It is a learning process. 👨🎓