How to generate 2D or 3D patterns intended for reducing volume of a model?

chris_8

I'm looking into SLS for manufacturing of some parts, and the key to making SLS affordable seems to be reducing the volume of nylon needed.  For that reason I've been sketching rectangles or circles on faces of a part, extruding those sketches to remove material from the part, and ending up with a part that's much lighter, but looking like swiss cheese.

This method works to reduce volume and price, but it takes a while and the part doesn't look great in the end.  Is there a tool around for making good-looking patterns on surfaces, or throughout a part, which I could then remove?   Like a voronoi generator or other geometric shape generator?  

chris_8

Maybe answering my own question here:  Duh, there's a nice pattern tool in Onshape already.  Maybe that can provide what I need

TimRice

To reduce the internal volume, you will want to use some sort of hex or square infill pattern. Many compiling programs (like Makerbot's package) will do this for you. However, if you are looking to achieve this in Onshape I would suggest taking a look at this FeatureScript, it should do the trick!

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/5729ffb4e4b077d8431a8cea/v/bba4125ec64df8c43c6e876c/e/8cb802c1a9080d5481747743

chris_8

timrice said:

To reduce the internal volume, you will want to use some sort of hex or square infill pattern. Many compiling programs (like Makerbot's package) will do this for you. However, if you are looking to achieve this in Onshape I would suggest taking a look at this FeatureScript, it should do the trick!

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/5729ffb4e4b077d8431a8cea/v/bba4125ec64df8c43c6e876c/e/8cb802c1a9080d5481747743

@timrice Thanks for the feedback!  I've used HexInfill for some projects before, and it works great for FDM style printing.  However I'm trying to reduce volume of some walls that are already too thin to be shelled and filled.  Also the HexInfill tool only works vertically I believe, and I'm trying to come at different walls from different angles, which should be ok for SLS I believe.   

Some before/after pictures showing a couple crude attempts I've made so far:


Is there a simpler way to do this sort of lightening, or am I just on the wrong track here?

TimRice

Oops, my bad! How about this FeatureScript: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/573f7d70e4b0fddafb52148c/v/a8a36f6d743269e1b6886711/e/2dc22a6a95896a5243812d07?

or alternatively: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/57361ad4e4b00e5012c3857c/v/eb8bfe2edd984a315033e6e2/e/14aa44d127806651b248b9c6

chris_8

timrice said:

Oops, my bad! How about this FeatureScript: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/573f7d70e4b0fddafb52148c/v/a8a36f6d743269e1b6886711/e/2dc22a6a95896a5243812d07?

or alternatively: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/57361ad4e4b00e5012c3857c/v/eb8bfe2edd984a315033e6e2/e/14aa44d127806651b248b9c6

Yes both of those suggestions look like exactly what I want.

I already had the Lighten featurescript added... its small "Li" box has been in the top right of my toolbar for quite a while.  But honestly I didn't know how to get to the instructions for it and I'd forgotten how to use it.  I need to learn how to navigate the FS areas

chris_8

Maybe answering my own question here:  Duh, there's a nice pattern tool in Onshape already.  Maybe that can provide what I need

chris_8

Tried the OnShape Pattern tool and it works, but it's very time consuming for this purpose.  The entire systems slows down when I have 50+ hexagons onscreen, and it's not easy to play with different shapes to see what looks best..   Any other good tools out there?

TimRice

To reduce the internal volume, you will want to use some sort of hex or square infill pattern. Many compiling programs (like Makerbot's package) will do this for you. However, if you are looking to achieve this in Onshape I would suggest taking a look at this FeatureScript, it should do the trick!

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/5729ffb4e4b077d8431a8cea/v/bba4125ec64df8c43c6e876c/e/8cb802c1a9080d5481747743

chris_8

timrice said:

To reduce the internal volume, you will want to use some sort of hex or square infill pattern. Many compiling programs (like Makerbot's package) will do this for you. However, if you are looking to achieve this in Onshape I would suggest taking a look at this FeatureScript, it should do the trick!

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/5729ffb4e4b077d8431a8cea/v/bba4125ec64df8c43c6e876c/e/8cb802c1a9080d5481747743

@timrice Thanks for the feedback!  I've used HexInfill for some projects before, and it works great for FDM style printing.  However I'm trying to reduce volume of some walls that are already too thin to be shelled and filled.  Also the HexInfill tool only works vertically I believe, and I'm trying to come at different walls from different angles, which should be ok for SLS I believe.   

Some before/after pictures showing a couple crude attempts I've made so far:


Is there a simpler way to do this sort of lightening, or am I just on the wrong track here?

TimRice

Oops, my bad! How about this FeatureScript: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/573f7d70e4b0fddafb52148c/v/a8a36f6d743269e1b6886711/e/2dc22a6a95896a5243812d07?

or alternatively: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/57361ad4e4b00e5012c3857c/v/eb8bfe2edd984a315033e6e2/e/14aa44d127806651b248b9c6

chris_8

timrice said:

Oops, my bad! How about this FeatureScript: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/573f7d70e4b0fddafb52148c/v/a8a36f6d743269e1b6886711/e/2dc22a6a95896a5243812d07?

or alternatively: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/57361ad4e4b00e5012c3857c/v/eb8bfe2edd984a315033e6e2/e/14aa44d127806651b248b9c6

Yes both of those suggestions look like exactly what I want.

I already had the Lighten featurescript added... its small "Li" box has been in the top right of my toolbar for quite a while.  But honestly I didn't know how to get to the instructions for it and I'd forgotten how to use it.  I need to learn how to navigate the FS areas

chris_8

Yes Lightening is much faster than my manual attempts were.  Thanks @timrice !